Medical Linear Accelerator High Voltage Engineering Corp. New Orleans ? 1960's for Sale

Medical Linear Accelerator High Voltage Engineering Corp. New Orleans ? 1960's For Sale

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Medical Linear Accelerator High Voltage Engineering Corp. New Orleans ? 1960's:
$31.25

Up for sale is an unusual vintage medical photograph. It shows a patient, on a gurney underneath an enormous (multi-story) medical treatment machine, made by the High Voltage Engineering Corporation (whose name appears near the top of the machine). This treatment machine ends in a long probe that is being aimed by a (female) doctor at the patient's upper chest or lower neck region. Another (male) doctor stands at the side holding a corded electronic trigger, or activator, that is plugged into the treatment machine above. At either side of the gurney is an early video-camera mounted on a tripod.
This black and white photo is vertically oriented and measures 10 inches tall by about 7.75 inches wide. About 1/4 inch has been sliced off the left edge of the photo, which I believe was to allow the photo to be stored in an album
I am not an expert in radiation oncology, but suspect that this very imposing treatment machine is a linear accelerator (or LINAC). The High Voltage Engineering Corp. was founded in 1947 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) physicists Robert J. Van de Graaff, Denis M. Robinson, and John G. Trump. Van de Graaff is best known today for his electron generator (a popular attraction at science and technology museums everywhere). The MIT researchers (and others) used high energy electrons strike a radioactive target, thereby producing high voltage (1 - 2 MeV) X-rays, which could be used for medical radiotherapy. Alternatively, a related device known as a "betatron" could generate a very high voltage (50 MeV) electron beam which was directly used in medical treatments. These clinical applications, to treat cancer, were gaining in popularity in the late 1950s and 1960s.
The photo I am selling was taken by photographer Frank Gordon, 806 Andry St., New Orleans 17, La. Of particular note, the address contains a local code ("17") but not a zip code. This would suggest that the photo was taken prior to July, 1963, when 5 digit zip codes became mandatory. [NOTE: Of course, it is possible that the photographer used his (outdated) rubber stamp on the backs of photos taken after July, 1963.] The two video cameras in the photo were made by DAGE. According to the website of "early television", DAGE made its first "vidocon" industrial cameras in 1954.
The location of the photo is not stated. I obtained this photo from the estate of a deceased radiologist. He is the (male) doctor holding the electronic trigger in the photo. He was a radiology resident at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana between about 1960 and 1962 and then joined the radiology staff of Ochsner Hospital, where he remained for the rest of his career. I do not know the identity of the female doctor in the photo.
Please see above for complete description of condition and photos. Sold as is.
SPECIAL NOTE: I have two other vintage medical photographs, from the same source, for sale in sales that are synchronized to end on the same day and at the same time as this one. If you win more than one of these sales, I would be happy to combine shipping. In that case, please allow me to send you an invoice for the combined shipping before paying. (Note: Combined shipping may not apply for international buyers.)Attention US Buyers: I will ship by USPS Ground Advantage (until recently known as USPS First Class Parcel) or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice. Attention International Buyers: I am exclusively using e-Bay International Shipping. If you win this sale, I will ship it to an e-Bay facility in the United States. e-Bay will be responsible for sending it to your international address. Please familiarize yourself with e-Bay International Shipping before offerding. Thank you.