Apparently, the first cathode ray tube oscilloscope was invented by Karl Ferdinand Braun in 1897 merely as a curiostity of science, and while they went on to become essential tools of frequency and electricity, they still today have a certain wonder about them – those ghostly serpentine sine waves that can so easily fracture, square or squish at the turn of a knob or change of input.  And so it was that Mr Andrew Smith (after finding a small cathode ray tube in his loft) decided to build a miniature, mostly ornamental oscilloscope as a talking piece!

The page linked to above goes in to some very technical detail if you have the skills to recreate it, and the Gadget Freak blog has the same write up, but slightly easier to read, but to me, knowing that there’s a slightly-larger than palm sized oscilloscope, with mahogany base and glowing valves sat on a table somewhere is enough for just now.  Also, do check out the other ‘traditionally’ mounted electronic projects – some delightfully Steampunk!  Thank you Mr C Jones for pointing these lovely things out to me.