This article is fairly good at explaining a few thoughts and views on the 109

http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/articles/109myths/

Are you after details of components or, do you want to know how these systems worked? As you may know, there are major differences between the equipment fitted to variants of the 109. Please give me more info and, I can advise. Rgd’s, A

That’s not necessarily original, as the instruments will slip in either way. Must admit, that it looks like they are installed as intended, as there probably would have been marks on the panel.

True, But the pipes are bent so the gauges are fitted from behind and not the front if they had been fitted the other way round someone would have had to rebend the pipes a bit to refit them from behind. From what I know of german wooden panels the usual method of instrument attatchment is using wood screws with the instruments mounted form the front that just use the screws to hold them in, here it looks like nuts and bolts have been used and the instruments are mounted from the rear which is a bit different

The americans have a similar gauge and its called a blinker, on the german wachter the luminous ‘arms’ swing in and out of view as the user breathes to show oxygen is flowing

very true Baz,
Heres my guess just for fun, probably all completely wrong.

I’ve found with a DRSB 01 surveymetre that from about 2 feet away and in a detolf cabinet I only get the background number of clicks, going with the information I posted in the link and my own surveying of my instruments I’m not concerned, the main thing in my eyes is to be aware that some instruments are radioactive, the dust can be dangerous and to therefore take the necessary precautions to prevent unecessary exposure to it.

One other thing…..stick an instrument panel in a thick lead crystal glass cabinet and the only way you prove it is a ‘problem’ is to take it out! A bit like saying, the only way to prove a sheathed dagger is dangerous is to take it out and cut yourself!

Just to add to Rocketeers interesting post. With German WWII instruments later in the war lots of instruments are only luminous and not radioactive, the non radioactive paint is quite thick and has a green tinge to look at, german radium paint looks a bit more ‘sandy’ and has a more yellowey colour to it, However there are many german instruments with non radioactive faces that have radioactive hands on them. I have seen switches etc that were painted with non radioactive luminous paint that have been vandalised by someone removing it obviously thinking it was radioactive, which of course if it was would have been massively more dangerous than just leaving the thing alone. The germans were keen on using thick blobs of radium on selector switches such as the kuhlerklappen schalters and the magneto switches, These have no glass in front of them so are a bit more hot than other items.