Hello everyone.  Included in my modest collection of 'quack'
medical machines is a deliciously constructed early 1920s
British-built "Ultrozone".

Handcrafted circuitry and coils are fitted into a fine mahogany
case with a power toggle and intensity adjustment knob on the side.
The central Bakelite cylinder holds two cylindrical metal grids
separated by a milky white glass liner, which emits a purple glow
in the dark.  Actually it is so strong you can see the glow in broad
daylight.

The maker's gold decal sensually illustrates the intended soothing
effects, although the intense crackling buzz emanating from the device
when in operation would no doubt require the box's placement on the
far side of a large room.  The Ultrozone pumps out ten times the
'electrical' smell than any post-1980s home ion generator I've
experienced.

Michael Woolf wrote:

> There are probably folks around collecting and restoring antique
> examples.  As for the smell of ozone: think yourself by the ocean --
> the air is "bracing."  Then consider the atmosphere at Niagara Falls.
> I believe it has one of the highest concentrations of ions of
> anywhere in the world, and can rightly be called "highly charged."

Very well put, Michael.  Whenever I feel the need of an ozone fix
I flip this baby on and think of Niagara Falls.  <LOL!>  Or I'll pause
backstage before our current production of "My Fair Lady" begins and
I'll give a hefty crank on Professor Higgins' desktop "Vandergraff
Sparker".  Whatever it is called, it's that familiar science class
static electricity demonstration machine, with the counter-rotating
Bakelite disks with radial metal sections.

Personally, I like the odor, but then I also like the smells of zinc
organ pipes, gasoline and freshly laid asphalt -- for some reason these
smells remind me of childhood.  I would be interested to hear from
anyone else who has vintage ozone generators.

Dave Kerr - sweltering in Stratford, Ontario, Canada

 [ Dave sent me some nice photos of the "Ultrozone" machine which
 [ I'll place at the MMD Tech site, http://mmd.foxtail.com/Tech/
 [ I welcome more photos of both "quack" machines and legitimate
 [ ozone generators.  Despite the hazards (see the articles by
 [ Paul Morris and James Heyworth), ozone is nonetheless a powerful
 [ and useful way to destroy annoying odors when other methods
 [ aren't practical.
 [
 [ The electrostatic generator with counter-rotating discs is the
 [ Wimhurst or Wimshurst machine, first described in 1883 by its
 [ inventor, English engineer James Wimshurst.  Like many other
 [ devices which produce impressive sparks, it was quickly adopted
 [ by quack healers and pseudo-science practitioners.  Visit
 [ Jeff Behary's informative and entertaining web site at
 [ http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Introduction.htm  and
 [ http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/index.htm   -- Robbie