Chuck Johnson, Fairbanks, AK is the winner!

A vacuum dessicator is the answer for Week 242 of Orofino History Trivia a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country. This week we had a special trivia. Clearwater Historical Museum was asking for our reader's help to identify the object below and Chuck was able to do that. Learn more about it below.

Join in the discovery!

Monday: Used at State Hospital North

Tuesday: It appears to be about 5-6 quarts in size. In the bottom of the device is a white granular substance with the feeling of chalk. Over that is a porcelain piece with holes, so things can filter through.

Wednesday: The photo below shows how the top of the device comes off. It must be slid sideways before lifting it up. It will not lift straight off when it is closed properly.

Thursday: On the top is a glass piece like a tube with a small opening that looks like a flexible tube of some sort may fit over it. The outside of the piece that protrudes is threaded.

Friday: Below is a closer shot of the top of the device that shows the protrusion better. The upper part, just below the rubber ring, is calibrated, though it is hard to see what type of measurement is being used.

Saturday: Stamped in several places on the device is "Made in USA" "Kimax". The round porcelain plate inside is stamped "Coors 28K"

Chuck wrote: "Well, this took some digging. It appears to be a desiccator or vacuum desiccator. It is used to keep moisture sensitive things dry. The white material under the bottom plate absorbs moisture and is called a desiccant. The barbed glass tube sticking out of the top would have a hose attached to a vacuum pump to create a vacuum in it."

There is more at this web page that Chuck sent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiccator.

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