The Legal Definitions behind the differences

Original Author : Murlach / Date : 2005-11-14 02:00
 

This is a little bit more about Roughtrader's article; the legal definitions in the USA for differences between the three types, that will fill in some missing puzzle pieces. I've included summary of some actual definitions from state and federal sources.

They ARE very similar machines: they all had their origins based on Tesla’s disruptive discharge coil patent of 1896. Because they are based on that design they will light noble gas tubes, but other types of transformers will also do that and Tesla didn’t invent that capability. But there are enough differences between the devices to warrant separate definitions in the US.

Violet rays: Subject to US FDA regulations. Legal for sale as medical collectibles only. Antique quack medical device based upon a patented disruptive discharge coil design that utilizes radiofrequency radiation between the frequencies of 400-500 kilohertz to excite primarily argon that then produces a purple glow in a glass electrode.

High Frequency: Subject to FDA regulations, and individual state cosmetic and aesthetic licensing regulations. In most states legal to sell to anyone, but can only be used by licensed aestheticians. Some states illegal to sell except to licensed aestheticians.
Solid state device or UL listed grounded electrical coil device that excites gases in a glass electrode for the purpose of providing oxygenating and antibacterial properties to the face.

Violet wand: Free from FDA regulations (so far), legal in all US states to sell, buy, and use. An electrical BDSM apparatus that passes current through noble gas in a glass electrode by means of a transformer for the purpose of facilitating human sexual pleasure.

Some of the actual construction differences have been discussed, but here’s -why- the differences in their constructions make them just different enough to be treated and regulated differently by law in the USA:

Violet rays are illegal to manufacture in the US since 1954 after the 1951 lawsuit as stated. Most companies had already stopped production because of WWII, but by 1954 all remaining manufacturers were forced to cease production and the FDA called for remaining product to be seized. Master Electric company was the defendant in that lawsuit, but subsequent to the lawsuit the FDA did allow them to continue to manufacture a 2nd generation (single piece ungrounded unit) violet ray as a High Frequency beauty device.

But there's another chapter in that story.... in 1997 there were new FDA definitions for the construction and use of a High Frequency cosmetic device…. The Master Electric product then fell outside the parameters that the FDA would allow in a cosmetic High Frequency device and the FDA overturned their 1954 decision and forced Master to cease any remaining production.

In the past few years both New Jersey and New York have both considered enacting state regulations that would make it also illegal to –sell-- violet rays within their states. It further might interest US readers to note that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection used one of our OWN Guild member's findings members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3cw3z/ during their 2004 review over violet ray devices regarding their ultraviolet and radiofrequency levels, so thanks to that, violet rays remain legal to buy or sell as collectibles in New Jersey.

High Frequency devices on the other hand, are defined in the US with vastly different parameters than a violet ray. They are not allowed to have anywhere NEAR the output that violet ray machines had, and they also must be grounded (unlike violet rays), UL listed, and don’t produce the interference that Violet Rays do. The FDA allows their sale and use as a cosmetic device, but they are also subject to individual state cosmetic licensing regulations. These are mostly solid state since they are subject to seizure if they come too close to a violet ray construction or output.

Where do violet wands fit in? They have thus far escaped FDA or US state regulations because they are …just….different enough than violet ray devices. That 2nd last remaining US company manufacturing violet rays in 1951 was Bleadon Dun. Bleadon Dun escaped the FDA ruling in 1954 because they changed their design as well as grounding the open circuit. These BD (Bleadon Dun) 10s were marketed as leak testers by ETP. This change in the design was good for the kinky folk, since the construction of all modern “Violet wands” in the US are based upon this last Bleadon Dun modification and an additional modification in the design is still made beyond the BD-10 to make it a violet wand. With this last design change, a violet wand coil construction is several modifications away from being identical to Tesla’s original disruptive discharge coil design (violet ray coil) and so because they aren’t strictly violet ray machines by definition or construction, violet wands fell out of the scope of existing federal and state regulations. Thus they still remain legal to use, buy, manufacture, sell unlike violet rays. (so far, anyway.)

Just goes to show you what type of red tape and legalese we have in the USA! Three similar devices regulated completely differently.

Tags: Wands | Rays | Coils | Violet Ray

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