Storeroom Discoveries: X-Ray Gloves

There’s a new video in our Storeroom Discovery series! Collections Coordinator Adam T. Johnson discusses a pair of Wolf brand gloves (SMD0472.0093) that were used to protect the hands of X-ray operators from radiation.

Produced by Wolf X-ray in the 1930s - The Wolf X-ray company began making these in 1931, this pair is thought to be from that decade. Unlike modern X-ray gloves, this leather pair is lined with lead. 

X-ray technology was discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen (1845-1923) who was awarded the first Nobel prize for physics in 1901. Early x-ray technology was dangerous! Adam points out that there were about twenty years between the advent of the first X-Ray equipment and protective wear. After repeated and unprotected exposure, radiation could lead to cancer for the X-ray operator. Adam also brings up the immediate danger of electrocution when working amid exposed, high-voltage wires that carried power from the unit in the cabinet to light the X-ray tube.

These gloves were part of a donation to the museum from U-M’s School of Dentistry graduate Carl Hubinger. Also a dentist, his father, Herman Hubinger (U-M DDS 1938) probably used these gloves in his Bay City dental and oral surgery office. The class of 1938 didn’t have the traditional composite photo to commemorate their graduation, but photos of Herman and his cohort plus an interesting explanation can be found here in our catalog.

Check out our playlist on the School of Dentistry's YouTube channel where you can also find the Chronicles of Outstanding Leaders in Dentistry, an oral history series of important historical dental figures speaking about their work, and technical dentistry videos