Vintage flying instruments toxicology…

Many thanks guys.
I will check if any problem.
A very good friend of mine is making radio images for aeronautic.
He made the landing gear scans for the Ju 52 ( casa build ) at la Ferte Alais.
I guess he will know what to do.

many thanks again
olivier

I doubt that the instruments without radium paint were destroyed, I guess the returned to the legal owner.

Because all instruments were fitted to a single panel, the whole panel was regarding as the item that posed a security risk. The whole panel was impounded and disposed of as radioactive waste. At great expense to the owner.

Thats the worst, loosing everything because a few where questionable.

I doubt that the instruments without radium paint were destroyed, I guess the returned to the legal owner.

Regards,

Mathieu.

A word of warning is in place. Asking any government related agencies – even the fire brigade – to borrow a geiger counter will set all alarm bells off in this fast-changing world. You would not be the first to have his entire collection of instruments seized ‘for the investigation’. I know of a collector near here who had his entire collection of instrument panels impounded and destroyed because some of them were radio-active. One of his instruments had been intercepted in the mail as being radioactive…

Thats the worst, loosing everything because a few where questionable.

Some web info
US EPA on glowing details: http://www.epa.gov/radtown/antiques.html

http://theaviationist.com/works/radioactive-materials-in-flight-instruments/

http://www.qsl.net/ve3bdb/hazards.html

A word of warning is in place. Asking any government related agencies – even the fire brigade – to borrow a geiger counter will set all alarm bells off in this fast-changing world. You would not be the first to have his entire collection of instruments seized ‘for the investigation’. I know of a collector near here who had his entire collection of instrument panels impounded and destroyed because some of them were radio-active. One of his instruments had been intercepted in the mail as being radioactive…

You could also ask at any of the larger Fire Stations as some Fire Rescue Units are equipped with radiation detection devices.

And don’t be tempted to try blowing or sucking on the instrument connectors to “see if they still work”.

Ah yes, thank you for pointing that out, Id forgotten that one.

Hi,
If it does have radioactive paint, and it’s something like Radium, it is still as radioactive as the day it was applied… and sadly will be long after we are gone.
The largest danger is if the paint/flecks/dust enters your body through breathing/cuts etc.

I would ask at a hospital that handles radioactive material to test it for you and they can advise on handling procedures.
It is a very quick procedure.
Perhaps keep them in a ziploc/sealed bag until you know.

Museums are (or should be) also aware of these risks by now… and if they are airtight, no problem with the public seeing them, although they are even more risk averse than this.

they may not necessarily be radioactive as there are also non-luminous and fluoescent instruments. If you look on the instrument (dial face or body) there will be a reference number preceded by 6A/, if you quote the reference number there should be knowledgeable people who can point you in the right direction. To be perfectly sure though, you’ll need to borrow a Geiger counter and check each one out

regards

John

You are correct that you would be subject to residual radiation though you’re likely to absorb more from a day in the sun. The main problem is where the glass is broken or missing when breathing in the dust from the luminous paint might not be the most sensible thing for your health. If the glasses are intact there should be little or no problem. That is my understanding of the situation but I may be wrong.

And don’t be tempted to try blowing or sucking on the instrument connectors to “see if they still work”.

You are correct that you would be subject to residual radiation though you’re likely to absorb more from a day in the sun. The main problem is where the glass is broken or missing when breathing in the dust from the luminous paint might not be the most sensible thing for your health. If the glasses are intact there should be little or no problem. That is my understanding of the situation but I may be wrong.