A simple source for spectrography in the far uv region is described; in this source the discharge of a capacitor in a capillary tube is triggered (without introduction of gas) by a sliding spark, even when there is a good vacuum in the capillary. According to the characteristics of the high voltage power supply, either a line spectrum or a continuous spectrum is obtained. The pulse repetition frequency and stability of the source allow recording with a standard potentiometric chart recorder.