Calibration and Work in the X-Ray Economy, 1896-1928
2000; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 30; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1177/030631200030003003
ISSN1460-3659
Autores Tópico(s)Twentieth Century Scientific Developments
ResumoIn this paper, I juxtapose three periods in the history of x-rays: the 1890s, 1900-18 and 1918-28. During these three periods, x-ray work went from cacophony to symphony: to begin with, x-ray workers each `did their own thing', and comparison of results was difficult, if not impossible; but by the 1920s there was great coordination, culminating in an international standard of x-ray intensity. I show this development by characterizing calibration techniques, the organization of x-ray work and the x-ray economy, in each of these three periods. The aim of the paper is to show that standards (a topic of central concern in science studies) can be applied with great utility in fields that are usually compartmentalized and isolated: history of science, labour history and economic history.
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