Happy National Radiologic Technology Week! OSRT hopes you will enjoy some relics from our imaging history. The following photographs represent the equipment used in the past to produce radiographic images along with professionals who helped form the OSRT.

Cardboard cassettes: The cardboard cassette (black) was used from the 1950 until the 1960. This cassette was made from leather with insert of black paper to house the x-ray film. With society lending toward deposable products so did  the design of the cardboard cassettes. The  Ready Pack (yellow) cassette was produced by Kodak in the late 1960s until mid-1990s. The cardboard cassette was a reusable and below, demonstrates the film placement in the cassette. The Ready Pack cassette came with film preloaded between papers. This cassette was a single-use cassette.

Aluminum cassettes: These cassettes were very thin but heavy. Various cassette sizes were manufactured from 14x17 to 3X5 inches.

Curved cassettes: These were used for axial projections of the shoulder joint and Beclere’ Method (tunnel view) for the knee. The film would be placed between the intensifying screens.

Book cassette: This cassette held five sheets of x-ray film with a 1cm space between each film.

Kilovoltage (kVp) selector: The technologist turns the black handle to the appropriate kVp markings on the control panel (not shown). By turning the handle, the RT selects the corresponding wire tab for the main circuit.

    Guess what type of image receptor was used to record these images?

If you guessed Polaroid, you are correct. The use of Polaroid Film and a special image developer was popular in the 1960’s through 1970’s.

 Can you name the modality used here? 

Did you guess Thermography? Thermography was popular from the 1970s until the mid -1980’s.

 Guess the imaging modality used here.

If you guessed Xerography, you are correct. The use of specially coated paper, in a plastic cassette then processed in a special Xerox machine to produce the image. Xeroradiography was popular to image foreign bodies of the extremities, soft tissue neck and mammary tissue in the 1960’s through the 1970’s.

Early fluoroscopy screen: On the image to the left, notice the handles on each side of the intensifying screen. This made the movement of the screen easier for the radiologist to adjust the screen during the fluoroscopy exam. The radiologist viewed the dynamic image directly on the screen.

 Revolving dark room door & ceiling safe light. 

Are you too young to remember using these image viewing tools? The device on the left is a spot light to illuminate dark areas of the radiographic image. The device on the right is the standard single panel view box.

The control panel below was approximately five feet tall! The exposure times were fraction settings and the line voltage compensator was adjusted manually.

The photographs below are past OSRT presidents attending the OSRT Annual Meeting in 1980,1988 and 2006. Thanks to all who dedicate special service in OSRT over the years for all Ohio RTs. Click to see all past presidents.

The OSRT advocates for medical imaging and radiologic science professionals by advancing professional practice to enhance the quality of patient care. Its Core Values include Professionalism, Leadership, and Education. Over the years there have been many, many RTs who have dedicated enormous time and energy to support the mission of OSRT. Many of these individuals have been recognized for their service through the OSRT's Life and Honorary Membership Awards, Technologist of the Year Award or being selected as the Penn-Hu-Mac-Par-Gill Lecturer. Do you know someone deserving? If so, nominate now! Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. 

Where will you be in the next 5-10 years? Join the OSRT and …

Join us as we celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week November 4-10, 2018! Join OSRT!