Among the most popular of the vintage and antique scientific and medical devices that we restore, are violet ray machines.

A violet ray is a antique device used for the application of low current, high frequency electricity to the body. Violet ray devices first became popular in the early 1900s with the birth of electricity. These instruments were originally sold as medical devices that claimed to be useful in treating various skin conditions and for the minor relief of pain.

The basic Violet Ray machine was (and is) a portable form of a Tesla Coil.  It is based on some of the early coils designed by Nikola Tesla (1856-1943).  Tesla was a world-renowned inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer. He is regarded as one of the most important inventors in history. His patents and theoretical work form the basis of modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems. Unfortunately, Tesla, because of bad business deals and a habit of never paying much attention to his own finances, died impoverished and forgotten at the age of 86.

Tesla's original design called for the operation of the coil to resonate at a particular frequency range and produce a magnetic field. The high frequency of the output was such that human nerves did not feel it once it entered the body. The devices also emitted a small amount of ultraviolet light at the point of spark and a large quantity of ozone. The combination of high frequency electrical energy, magnetic field, ultraviolet and ozone must have been quite a sight (and smell) back in the day, and this led to the many claims of medical cures.

During the depression, small violet ray sets became very popular for home use despite their expense. Physicians on the other hand used huge sets with up to 2 dozen different electrodes. The number of medical cures the violet wands were said to provide included insomnia, asthma, catarrh, gout, and even female hysteria. An added bonus for these machines was the ability to operate on both alternating and direct currents, so even if a patient's home did not have electricity (and many, if not most, did not), these devices could be powered from portable battery banks.

The earliest sets were hand made using the finest materials available including mahogany, marble, real silk and silk velvet linings, engraved brass plates, gold leaf and joined boxes with leather handles and high carbon steel fittings. Dozens of different types of glass discharge tubes were manufactured for different uses, and built into the violet ray device sets.  These annealed glass tubes were constructed under low vaccuum and filled with different noble gasses that became excited by the electrical output, to glow in different colors depending upon the gas used.  The most popular gas was argon, which glowed a brilliant purple.  Since the glass electrodes were filled under low vacuum, and there was no specification as to the gas purity, an entire range of purple colors can be found in argon-filled electrodes.  These early kits are rare to find in good condition.

Eventually the cure-all claims were put to trial and in 1951, the Food and Drug Administration banned the manufacturers from claiming violet ray devices provided medical cures and began seizing and destroying the devices.  This past destruction of these amazing antiques has made them rare.  This has led to their collectibility today.

One major misconception about Violet Rays is that they emit ultraviolet radiation.  This is not the case.    The only Ultraviolet Radiation emitted from these machines is from the actual sparks generated from them.  All electric sparks produce Ultraviolet Radiation as part of the full spectrum white light they produce at the point of spark.  They can not cause UV burns.

Collecting Violet Ray Devices

The pre-depression antique violet ray high frequency generator 'luxury' sets are highly collectible.  These will be manufactured in the date range of 1919-1929.  WWII violet ray sets continue to have some value in violet ray collections as earmarks of their history.  The most collectible of these will have evidence of WWII era.  Post-WWII violet ray devices have no collectible value except as novelties or in their personal use as dermatological tools.

For those interested in collecting Violet Ray Devices, here are some key points in what to look for:

• Look for well-maintained, working devices free of dry rot or rust, with clean leather handles that show no signs of mildew or rot.
• Hinges and clasps, if any, should be present and free of rust or discoloration.
• Signature ribbons made of silk, will probably have weakened, but look for those still in good condition and where the gold leaf has not been worn off.
• Interior linings should be free from fade or excessive wear marks.
• Electrodes should all be present, unbroken and in working condition.
• Check to be sure end caps on the electrodes are tight and free from rust.
• Antique violet rays of fine materials and two-part design (handle attaches to a separate electrical box) have highest collectible value.
• Vintage (transition of two-part design to single-part design, increased scarcity of materials in construction) have varying collectible value.
• Modern single piece (post WWII) design violet ray devices have no collectible value except for personal or novelty use.