Tens of thousands of Violet Ray Generators were sold for home use between about 1915 and 1950. The manufacturers claimed to cure just about everything including heart disease, paralysis, wry neck and writers cramp! A hand-held coil feeds radio energy into a low-pressure gas electrode. The energy is capacitively coupled into the human body, providing warmth via diathermy. At the same time, the gas discharge creates ozone and ultraviolet light, which were said to be effective in many diseases. More powerful versions of this apparatus were found in many physicians’ offices.
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This 1930s Hovenite Ultraviolet Ray has better controls and more attachments than our Object #10 at WornOverTime.com. The Hovenite was made in England. Quackery was global! #whatisit #whatsit #antiques #antique #curiosity #curiosities #oddity #oddities #mystery #museum #history #cabinetofcuriosities #cabinetofcuriosity
1. About Museum of Quackery
Founder Bob McCoy retired and closed the St. Anthony Main location of the museum in 2002, donating his devices to the Science Museum of Minnesota, which still displays a number of items in their Collections Gallery. MuseumofQuackery.com features all of the items Bob had on display, many of which are also featured in his book: Quack!: Tales of Medical Fraud from the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices.