Vintage Collectable Spectra-Physics 119 Laser Head with SP-259B Exciter WORKING

Description: Viintage Spectra-Physics 119 laser head with 259B exciter. This is one of the first stabilized HeNe lasers ever commercialized is probably from the late 1960s or early 1970s - at least 50 years old. It uses a special two-Brewster plasma tube with thermal and PZT tuning using a servo system to lock to the Lamb Dip (no jelly involved). While the output power is low, it still works and locks. The power peaks at 40-50 µW and it locks around 30 µW in 2023. Running and power cycling the tube, careful alignment, and cleaning of the Brewster windows may get some more power out of it. The first two can be done with low risk but getting to the Brewster windows is impossible without removing tube. You don't want to go there, trust me. ;( ;-) The actual tube currently installed was a new/NOS replacement 10 or 15 years ago that may already have been laying around for 20 years. So strictly speaking, the tube isn't original, but no one needs to know that. ;-) It is in excellent cosmetic condition even down to the paint job and condition of the leather handle. ;-) This is the system I've petted for many years but it's time to let it go to a loving home before it really does go dead. The photos are of the actual laser. Much more information on the SP-119 and SP-259B in Sam's Laser FAQ. Search for "RepairFAQ Commercial Stabilized HeNe Lasers". Google will find it. I haven't seen another system like this on eBay in many years, and one that actually works for even longer. As a bonus, I will include a spare SP-119 tube that still lases weakly, around 70 µW in a test resonator that's not ideal (so somewhat more power may be possible), and requires daily running even to achieve that power. So it won't even lase when it arrives and the discharge color may be sickly. The last three photos show a different sample of a bare SP-119 tube, the bonus tube in my test resonator, and a closeup of the tube. I wasn't intending to include the test setup but if that's what it takes to make the sale, I will, along with an HeNe laser power supply that will run the tube. And this tube is really only good for display or experimentation, I definitely do NOT recommend attempting to install it in the SP-119 head. That would likely be a disaster. Thanks for looking! :-) --- sam

Price: 2595.95 USD

Location: Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-08-04T20:57:00.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25 USD