Karlsson KA4205 in the Form of a Cathode

Our Clock of the Week is a table clock from the manufacturer Karlsson. It is called the Karlsson KA4205 Cathode. But why the word Cathode, where does this term come from, and what does it have to do with a table clock?

A cathode

The term comes from chemistry: A cathode in a component is an electrode to which electrons are supplied. The component may contain a vacuum, a gas phase, a plasma, or an electrolyte. According to the definition, reduction reactions can take place at this electrode, e.g. positive ions (cations) can be discharged.

The cathode is the counter-electrode to the anode. Ions or free electrons move between these electrodes. The cations move to the cathode and the anions to the anode when current flows.

But this still does not explain what our table clock has to do with it. There are also cathode ray tubes. A cathode ray tube is an electron tube that generates a focused electron beam. This can be deflected or modulated by magnetic or electric fields, creating a visible image when the electron beam hits a phosphor layer attached to the inside of the tube. For other purposes, the generated electron beam is not used for direct display, for example in the electron microscope, betatron, or X-ray tube. The best-known application is the picture tube in television sets, although it has now largely been replaced by plasma and LCD screens.

The Cathode Karlsson KA4205

Karlsson also took inspiration from this cathode ray tube for the design of the KA4205 table clock. It has six small glass tubes (cathodes) protruding vertically from a white wooden housing. Beneath each glass cathode sits a small black panel that can display an Arabic numeral. When switched off, the numbers are white; when they light up, they are red. This means the time is displayed digitally through the cathodes. The table clock is powered by a power adapter.

You rarely see this special look in a home clock, which makes the Karlsson table clock something truly special!