Laser Eraser
date: label: date made
content: 1968
name: label: maker
content: Schawlow, Arthur L.
notes: label: Description
content: This laser eraser was made and used by physicist Art Schawlow while at Stanford University. If he made a mistake while typing, Schawlaw could simply press a button and vaporize the typewriter ink, thus removing the incorrect characters. The wavelength of the laser was optimized for the absorption characteristics of the ink. Only the ink, not the paper, went up in smoke. Though the eraser was too expensive for commercial production, Schawlow received US Patent 3,553,421 for the invention and used the eraser on his office typewriter.
label: Description
content: The object includes a power supply (to convert alternating current of 120 volts to 900 volt direct current pulses), the laser emitter, a connecting cable and carrying case.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Invention
label: Subject
content: Business
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
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content: Energy & Power
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content: Lasers
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Arthur L. Schawlow
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0144.01
label: accession number
content: 1985.0144
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0144.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: laser eraser
label: Object Name
content: eraser
label: Other Terms
content: eraser; Lasers and Masers
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (cords material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (tube material)
label: Measurements
content: case: 19.5 cm x 23.2 cm x 36.2 cm; 7 11/16 in x 9 1/8 in x 14 1/4 in
label: Measurements
content: eraser: 4.3 cm x 5.7 cm x 25.7 cm; 1 11/16 in x 2 1/4 in x 10 1/8 in
label: Measurements
content: power supply: 9 cm x 16 cm x 25.3 cm; 3 9/16 in x 6 5/16 in x 9 15/16 in