History of an unknown Electron Microscope, from TEKTRONIX

This microscope has no name? yes no name at least not very well known because not marketed, superb project,

  The following story will give you more information …
In the early 1960s, Tektronix worked with Gertrude Rempfer and began developing an Electrostatic Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). This microscope focused on the low cost of competition in the education market. In fact, the vertical column of an electron microscope is similar to a cathode ray tube, and Tektronix possessed great expertise in the design of lenses and cathode ray tubes. Competitive systems were much more expensive and the main feature of the Tektronix microscope was complete automation. In an electron microscope, there are many doors, valves and vacuum systems. The Tektronix microscope has automated the process of controlling these devices for the microscope to be ready for operation. The microscope had a direct phosphor display that could be moved to capture images on 2 “x 2” glass slides. Specimen numbers could be added to the edges of the images for easy reference. The museum presents the prototype TEM # 2 of 1968, as well as a number of slides and copies of real images.

Bert Cathery was the project manager and this picture shows Bert at the helm during development, the years are past what 45 years and passion intactBert Cathery was the project manager and this picture shows Bert at the helm during development, years went by what 45 years and passion intact

The University of Portland, which has the only working copy, had the honor of receiving Bert in 2013 and sharing his knowledge and history on this fascinating product. Bert was surprised to find that the University of Portland has a prototype of the episcotist (a small device located in front of the column in the top photo). The Episcotist has been synchronized with the Wobbulator to generate a 3D image. The beam would be modulated from left to right and the Episcotist had a drum with 90-degree slits that rotated synchronously with the modulated beam to produce the 3D effect. Realized all this in 1968! Tektronix finally chose not to produce this transmission electron microscope. The market, the distribution, the sales and even the service channels were very different from today, from those used for tests and measurements. The development team is from Tektronix and formed a new company called Elektros with Bert Cathery as president. They completed the design and produced 8 pre-production units. Unfortunately, a slowdown in the economy in the early 1970s forced Elektros to cease operations, but some of these units are active. A unit is entrusted to Erik Sanchez, professor of physics at Portland State University. He has one in his laboratory Bert Cathery had the chance to visit him and see him in demonstration.

Members of the original TEM design team, visit the museum for a meeting, then attend a microscopy and microanalysis show in Portland in 2015, almost 50 years later,

where Erik Sanchez exhibited the Elektros microscope.

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Nacer Benmeradi