[Milsurplus] Re: VR Tubes, radiation, etc

[Gregory W. Moore]

GE all,

Now, I can't possibly speak for all of those who collect Mil gear, or 
operate Mil gear, or who own "things which glow inna dark", but
from personal experience, over many years, and more watches than I 
personally can count, leaning against all sorts of Milspec equipment 
with "glow in the dark" meters, I can personally vouchsafe the following..

 (a.)I do not glow in the dark.

 (b.)I have neither the carrier level meter nor the audio output meter 
indicia burned into my back, and I have literally spent hours and hours 
leaning back against many R390's, drinking coffee, without a care in the 
world....

 (c.) None of my family has horns growing anywhere from their bodies ;-)

 (d.) While meeting and having reunions with fellow techs and 
communicators who worked with the same gear, we assembled in
large, compact groups, no asymptotic rise in radioactivity was noted, 
nor was critical mass approached.

 (e.)  Having been involved with "stuff that makes large mushrooms"  I 
will personally also state that I didn't pick up any "hot stuff" there, 
either, have clean film badges and dosimeters, and never, ever worried.

 (f.) OK, ya wanna hear something bad to bandy about... so, yes, I do 
have skin cancer ( Bowen's syndrome).. this is probably due
to sun exposure, or due to the (gasp) exposure to a certain defoliant 
years ago.  It sure has nothing to do with the 'ol radioactivity...

All the previous being said, it is well to remember that any luminous 
meter, especially prior to the tritium exited ones, where the tritium is 
in a sealed capsule and excites a phosphor used to mark the actual 
indicia on the panel, (I am discussing here the radium dials, are
Alpha emitters... Alpha particles are very weak, and can be stopped by 
so much as a sheet of paper, not to mention the glass in the meter.  The 
danger came from those who painted the dials and ingested the radium day 
after day, and thus were exposed to the Alpha
radiation internally..  Even the tritium-excited phosphor dials have the 
tritium encased in a capsule, the same as a night gunsight, and for that 
matter, much better protected.  IMHO there is nothing to worry about..

OPNOTE/DISCLAIMER  The above advice and counsel are the rantings of an 
old phool.  He has had one too many volts thru his head and heard one 
too many code characters.  Your mileage may vary.  Always drive on 
roads, not on people.  Void where prohibited or taxed.  Spokesperson is 
an actor, not an actual lawyer.  Always remove control surface gustlocks 
before flight. Do not extend landing gear or flaps without sufficient 
utility hydraulic pressure, unless you are prepared to pump very, very, 
hard. . Use of over 5KW output may be in violation of all sorts of laws, 
and you may be severely penalized by beating around the head and 
shoulders.   Have a Nice Day.....

73 es happy collecting
de Greg "GW" Moore WA3IVX/NNN0BVN



D C *Mac* Macdonald wrote:

> I have no idea as to how much radioactive stuff
> is in there, but I wouldn't worry too much unless
> I were walking around with my pants pockets
> full of them all the time.
>
> Mac, K2GKK/5
>
>
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "Falls, Jim" <Jim.Falls at conservation.ca.gov>
> To: <Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [Milsurplus] Mil Surp and radiation
> Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 10:01:46 -0700
>
> I have heard that early VR tubes had something in them to keep the 
> ionization up in the gas so they would start easier. Anyone have a 
> list of what ones these would be? I have a box of them and am now 
> dubious. Should I buy a "dentists x-ray bib"?
>
> Jim Falls
> KG6FWT
> Eureka, CA

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