Can someone help identify this item?

[jun_cordero]

<p>I got this item from a bunch of darkroom stuff I bought at the flea market but got no idea what it is - it's marked Durst. If I depress part of the handle there is an electrical discharge on the three points at the curved end of the thing (got zapped by it). Can the knowledgeable folks here please help me identify it - and what it is for? Your help is much appreciated. Thanks!<br>

<a title="Durst_S by jun.c, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4931626352_64a78570b2.jpg" alt="Durst_S" width="500" height="278" /></a></p>

[john tonai]

<p>You use it to reduce static electricity on negatives (and negative carriers) by zapping the negative.</p>

[jun_cordero]

<p>Thanks John</p>

[will_frost]

<p>John Tonai,<br>

Does it actually help?<br>

Will</p>

[photo5]

<p>I have a Discwasher "Zerostat" that is intended to use on records to do the same thing. Never thought of using it on film before scanning. A good idea!</p>

[Mike Gammill]

<p>If it is similar to Zerostat then it has a a small piezo electric crystal. Somehow the charge produced can neutrallize the static charges.<br>

I've always used Static Master brushes. They have a strip of Polonium which emits alpha particles. Since an alpha particle is a helium nucleus "in search of two electrons" it has the ability to counteract static charges if correctly used. Lately I've noticed these brushes are quite expensive.</p>

[john tonai]

<p>Jun,</p>

<p>Sorry for this late answer, yes it does work. The only real issue with it was that it originally cost much more than the Zerostat that Dave Mike mentioned. I used the Zerostat with a lot of success.</p>