The Cathode Ray Tube site, Geissler rotators.

The Cathode Ray Tube site
150 years of CRT evolution
The Dutch collection

Geissler rotators
Fun with tubes

Geissler tube rotators

These are fine pieces of artwork and early technique, they were used as
demonstration apparatus in physics lessons and some times even sold as
educational physics toys in a box together with a Grenet battery,

Most of them were used at the end of the 19th century. These motors were
sold by companies like Max Kohl, Leybolds Nachfolger, Pericaud and
Radiguet.
It must have been a fantastic light show those days, electrical motors where
just like the Geissler tubes a new phenomena.
There were several motor designs, in most cases Froment or Wheatstone
models.

Wheatstone's linear motor model

Most of this motor designs make use of a soft iron circular core, within this
core spins a set of coils. There are 4 and 6 pole models mostly with a tapered
core. On the wooden base are the connections for the motor coil and for the
high tension. A Ruhmkorff coil or static machine together with sufficient power
for the motor, often Grenet cells were used, completes the setup.

The look of a fast spinning Geissler tube.
Look here at YouTube for another working example!

close up of the
breaker system

This model is slightly different than the
common Wheatstone models. It has an
iron stem and the poles are not tapered.
The height is about 20 centimeter.
Probably a French model.

Collection of rotators from an old french Pericaud catalog.
(picture courtesy of Alastair Wright)

A Pericoud Geissler rotator
This is the most common model Geissler motor with an height of 21 cm. This model is displayed in the Pericaud catalogue from the early 20th century below.