"the Bell Jar" Vacuum Technique and Related Topics for the Amateur Investigator ISSN 1071-4219 The Complete Newsletter and Journal for the Vacuum Experimenter A USEFUL LIST OF SUPPLIERS Kurt J. Lesker Company 1515 Worthington Ave. Clairton, PA 15025 Mentioned frequently in "the Bell Jar", Kurt J. Lesker's catalog is comprehensive and is chock full of useful tables and charts. Of note is a new line of evaporation sources in addition to the broad selection of fluids, pumps, and hardware. DiverseArts 35 Windsor Drive Amherst, NH 03031 A line of low cost modular kits and components. Designed expressly for the amateur these complement many of the projects presented in "the Bell Jar". Also available is a low cost, two stage direct drive pump. Catalog. OE Technologies P.O. Box 703 La Madera, NM 87539 Surplus suppplier of optical, nuclear, vacuum and high voltage components and equipment. The prices are good and some of the items (scintillators, ignitrons, laser mirrors) are quite unique. A frequently updated catalog is available. Lindsay Publications, Inc. P.O. Box 12 Bradley, IL 60915-0012 Specializing in technical books on mechanical and electrical topics, Lindsay's catalogs are treasure troves of good material. This company has a wide selection of reprints of old and obscure books as well as newer material. On top of this, Lindsay's humor is truly sick. E. McGrath, Inc. 35 Osborne Street Salem, MA 10970-2599 Specializing in used and rebuilt vacuum equipment and components, Ed McGrath's company has supplied much of the editor's equipment base. A catalog is available. However, as surplus stocks tend to change rapidly a call, visit, or letter is recommended. Duniway Stockroom Corp. 1600 N. Shoreline Blvd. Mountain View, CA 94043 A good supplier of new and rebuilt vacuum equipment and components. Catalog. Eurocom Imports, Inc. 10031 Monroe Drive #303 Dallas, TX 75229 Supplier of quality European equipment and components for the neon sign trade. A request will bring an informative catalog and some samples of electrodes. Fair Radio Sales, Inc. P.O. BOx 1105 1016 E. Eureka St. Lima, OH 45802 A long time supplier of real military electronic surplus, Fair Radio has a good selection of transformers, chokes, capacitors, insulators, etc. R&D Electronics 1224 Prospect Cleveland, OH 44115 Another surplus supplier, R&D has some high voltage components such as rectifiers, wire, and resistors. American Science and Surplus P.O. Box 48838 Niles, IL 60714-0838 Mostly small items are contained in this company's catalog. However the diversity is tremendous and frequently you will find that 'critical item' that's needed to finish off a project. From sticky tape to optics to small pumps and rubber chickens, if it's surplus they will have it at one time or another. Electronic Epicenter 304 Townsend St., Bldg D Santa Ana, CA 92703 Occasionally has vacuum related surplus such as evaporation sources. C&H Sales Company P.O. Box 5356 Pasadena, CA 91117-9988 Lots of electro-mechanical and optical surplus, much of which is in like-new condition. C&H also has a good supply of miscellaneous high voltage energy storage capacitors. The inventory on these tends to vary rapidly so a note or phone call is advisable. HTE Inc. 1001 Shary Circle Concord, CA 94518 Remanufactured vacuum systems and components. HTE has a large computerized listing of a wide selection of items from fittings and gaskets to pumps to complete systems. Fort Apache Electronics Trading Company, Inc. 31902 Hayman Street Hayward, CA 94544 Vacuum surplus, electronics, and optics are represented in Fort Apache's catalog. If they don't have what you want, you are invited to keep a want list with them. Wale Apparatus Co. 400 Front Street P.O. Box D Hellertown, PA 18055-0201 Wale has several catalogs which cover glassware, glassworking apparatus, and supplies. The two most useful catalogs for the amateur are Glassworking & Laboratory Products and Standard and Special Glass Products. A wide selection of stuff and you don't have to buy an entire crate of a given item. ACE Glass Incorporated P.O. Box 688 Vineland, NJ 08360 Complete line of fabricated scientific glassware including the ACE-Thred line which was featured in the Spring 1993 issue of "the Bell Jar". While not specifically a supplier of vacuum hardware, some very useful adaptations of ACE's stock items are possible. ACE will do custom fabrication. ************************************************************************** * ----------------------------------- ---------------- * * the Bell Jar (electronic version) * * ----------------------------------- ---------------- * * * * This newsletter contains material which has been extracted from the * * hard-copy newsletter of the same name. Devoted to the vacuum * * experimenter, the intent of "the Bell Jar" is to broaden interest * * in vacuum technology through useful discussions of theory and * * technique, and to present ways in which a variety of apparatus may * * be assembled using common and inexpensive materials. Information * * on "the Bell Jar" may be obtained by sending email to the editor, * * Steve Hansen, at shansen@tiac.net or by writing to 35 Windsor Dr., * * Amherst, NH 03031. Please feel free to circulate this electronic * * version, intact, to others who might be interested in the subject * * matter. New numbers will be mailed at approx. quarterly intervals. * * Email subscriptions are free and may be obtained by contacting the * * editor. Comments, contributions and criticisms are always welcome. * * Copyright 1994, Stephen P. Hansen. * **************************************************************************