I took in a old 50s Altimeter to work today, to use various instruments to see if there was any gamma radiation being emitted from it..

also i noticed when i took it into the dark room, it had “Lost ” its luminescence .

A Colleague of mine said, what about the half lives of this paint, re the decay.
its a point worth mentioning, as as the isotope decays to try and stabilize, eventually it becomes harmless over a very long time, some isotopes taking a few years, and others, hundreds of years.

due to the instrument losing its luminescence over 50 odd years, and having no gamma readings what so ever when i tested it… can i take it this radium has decayed to a point that it is now stable ???.. probably not,.. but it did make me think .

and i do have to add ,i agree with the above about wrist watches etc,

and i wont ever be panicking about it,

I have also worked with various isotopes, hence my cautious and considered approach.

Merkle has also posted on this topic before; sadly my searches cannot find his or my previous comments.

They did however throw up some other interesting threads like this one http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=66015&highlight=Radiation

I hope he wears his film badge or dosimeter whilst working on his cockpit projects!

This isonly my PERSONAL opinion …

Firstly I am and have only been writing regarding “Private” collectors/restorers,as We know that any organisation,business,or museum, is guided by strict rules regarding isotopes,and perhaps it would be a good thing if the Private collector etc took a interest in this to satisfy him/herself of the dangers of ionizing radiation.

regarding dosemeters, never without one !,and theres been no reading up to present.. and i have taken my instruments ( complete items) into work and checked them for radiation .. gladly i can say, no readings what so ever, with calibrated equipment,and yes deteriorating radium dust is the main issue, i agree the stuff is dangerous,No.. Lethal
. but personally feel, and have been told by my higher ups, with 80 years between them of working with radiation about this problem, ,that the risk is extremely minimal, with the correct care and respect… all be it ,I can say my work is not in Aviation but with the industrial civil engineering .

now a few sealed instruments or a panel i cant see a problem with,as long as treated with respect, storing a few hundred .. a different matter. this is another reason why i love rocketeer’s work with his panels, totally safe, and pleasing to the eye

and if the problem was really that serious.. how come so many pilots, crews from the past 100 years of flight have had long and happy lives ???.

Please dont think i am getting on a high horse, because i am not, just raising a point, and would ask, where do you draw the line ,
, what shall we do with old instruments ?..

It is only my opinion, and until i learn otherwise, I will stand corrected .

Now added Later..

I have BEEN corrected !!!

i personally dont see a problem with a few sealed instruments, but DUST from decaying radium paint is the main issue.. which can be ingested and prove fatal,

this makes me retract from my previous remarks, after looking more into the subject, that to just varnish a dug up instrument is safe, it probably is not, and as such should be treated with great care, the few i have i will now take back into work, and have them checked for any traces of radiation .

the same for panels,i cant see a problem with them personally, just treat them with the respect they deserve. but any instruments with lose parts etc, i would be worried about and want to replace them,with great care,

put it this way.. i wouldnt want a full panel hanging over my kitchen table .
this is only My personal opinion , on what i have been told, in the past,by many..
i am no boffin, just a radiographer, there are higher ups with much more knowledge than me, i suggest anyone with any genuine worries, contact there HSE , and ask !,

I know for museums, and “Public ” or business there are strict laws to be adhered to for the safety of all, however, Private life is a different matter,it would be a good idea for private individuals with a interest in panel restoration to take into account the Advice of the HSE and the experts .this is surely a good thing for any collector. restorer, as personal safety.. must be paramount .
🙂

I had a similar thought, the port side, with the bottom of the windscreen frame still attached top left? :confused:

its the same colour too .

gather it all up, nice little jigsaw for someone, to get ready for cockpit fest :)… ..well….. its original 🙂 :D.

RADIUM PAINT.. a Radiographers advice !!

Hi All,
i notice there is a worry of the dreaded Radium Painted dials again..

Radium paint is only dangerous if ingested. !!

This is because it is ALPHA particulate radiation emitted from this can be stopped by a piece of paper…. BUT .. However.. if ingested.. it can be lethal !!.

this could be ingested via contacting a radium painted surface with your hands, and then perhaps eating a sandwich etc,

the HSE has issues with this subject, this is rightly because there is a potential for someone to have a exposure to radium,

however with a bit of common sense and treated with respect, i feel the risks are none existent.

the reason so many deaths were from radium is because in the olden days, workers working with radium paint used to “LICK”:eek: the Tips of there brushes to a fine point, whilst painting gauge ,or pocket watch faces, and the amounts they ingested over a period of time, inevitably killed them.
this was obviously many years before the dangers of radiation was realised.

HI ALL,
spotted this gem just off the road at melksham ,wiltshire today..

must be her new home.. as a gate guard to a mot station, garage etc;)

did have a pic. but wont load up onto the forum 🙁 anyway , its a very nice Hunter T.7 XL578 🙂