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Thread: 50 Year Old Argon Ion Laser

  1. 12-16-2018, 18:14 #1
    Eidetic's Avatar
    Eidetic
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    Default 50 Year Old Argon Ion Laser

    I present today the c1969 model 200 argon ion laser from Carson Laboratories of Bristol, CT. The ad and new product introduction below are from Laser Focus of May, 1967.

    LFMay67Carson.jpgCarson LF5:67.jpg

    The laser is long and heavy and missing its feet so it will be a while before I get a replacement set made and put it back together, but I wanted to post anyway. The pics below show the cover and bottom pan, the plasma tube mounted on an I-beam resonator on the workbench, and a few close-ups.

    Carson Cover Front.jpgCarson Cover Rear.jpgCarson Port Side.jpgCarson Passbank Side.jpgCarson Window.jpgCarson Cathode.jpg

    Notice the passbank that's in the head, nice large Brewster's window, glass way covers, and some kind of optic that's 8" in front of the HR. I'll disassemble more later and take pics of it. There is also a unique mechanical monitor for the position of the mirror adjustments, seen in the pic below. The target is seen through the glass window on the ends of the head. This feature alone is worth a few hundred of the price for the laser.

    Carson Adjustment Monitor.jpg
    Last edited by Eidetic; 12-16-2018 at 18:26.
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  2. 12-17-2018, 08:05 #2
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    That little XY grid for mirror adjustments is neat, haven't seen anything like that before!
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  3. 12-17-2018, 10:21 #3
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    mixedgas
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    You probably just made Sam Goldwasser's day. He has been wondering for years what a Carson was. I love the grid feature...
    With the huge amount of 3320 Glass in those glass to metal seals, it had plenty of pre-ionization, too...

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  4. 12-17-2018, 10:28 #4
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    mixedgas
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    OK, I just found this using search engine at work. I'll put it up for educational purposes then take it down. See Attached...

    So when you look at 375 Lake AVE you get this:

    https://www.google.com/maps/place/37...!4d-72.9226272

    PS, EDIT, It is official, Dr. G is happy...

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  5. 07-11-2019, 21:09 #5
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    Eidetic
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    Sorry for the necropost, but maybe it can be excused for adding to documentation of old lasers posted here. Anyway, I just found this picture of a Carson argon ion laser in the 1976 French book "Les Lasers" by Marc Ferretti. Notice the outrageously extended feet. Whatever THAT designer was smokin' ... pass it over here!

    Carson Argon.jpg
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  6. 07-17-2019, 12:50 #6
    Laserbuilder
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    Do you have plans to run it? Not many glass argon lasers can be seen in action now.
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  7. 07-18-2019, 05:42 #7
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    No plan to try and run it Andrey. Just don't have the time, electrical experience, or a partner.
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