Radioactivity and our hobby

[Rick DeBruyn]

In light of the discussion that went on here

close up picture of Mk1 Speedometer required

I thought I would provide this information on how Canada's regulator views these gauges and instruments. In Canada there are no restrictions in owning the gauges and equipment, however if you want to do any restoration work on the equipment you must have a CNSC Licence, which is very difficult and involved to get.

You will see a press release that came out today below

Best, Rick

CNSC Radiation Protection experts are participating in two upcoming Ottawa events to help educate the public and collectors on how to identify, safely handle and dispose of historic artifacts known as “radium luminous devices”.

A radium luminous device is a consumer or military product produced before 1960 and manufactured using a radium-based, glow-in-the-dark paint. The most common radium luminous devices are marine compasses and aircraft dials. Radium is a radioactive element found naturally in the environment. Although the radium in these devices remains radioactive for thousands of years, the paint itself breaks down and may no longer glow, making it hard to identify.

Ottawa Military Heritage Show
Nepean Sportsplex (Ottawa, ON)
October 28, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Visit CNSC Radiation Protection experts at the Ottawa Military Heritage Show on Sunday, October 28, 2012. Staff will be available to answer questions and to educate and help participants identify whether their military collectibles could contain radium.

Canadian Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway (Ottawa, ON)
November 4, 2012
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As part of the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum's "The Passion of Collecting” event, CNSC radiation experts will deliver a presentation on radium luminous devices, and educate collectors on how to identify, safely handle and dispose of broken or unwanted devices.

Read more about radium luminous devices:
http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/r...ices/index.cfm

Read more about the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum’s “The Passion of Collecting” event:
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/v...e_to_remember/

[maple_leaf_eh]

"... the paint itself breaks down and may no longer glow ..."

So, I shouldn't be licking the dust out from behind the guages' glasses?

BTW, I will try to get to the Nepean Sportsplex on Sat and will see if the nice men from the government have anything to add to the press release.

[rob love]

The radioactive folks actually booked a table and came out to the Military collectors club of Canada show in Winnipeg this summer. It was a very small show, but it seems they have the funds to get the word out. Overall, they seemed a lot more mellow than the radiation guys from the DND, whose policy seems to be "rip it all out, sieze it, bag it and tag it".

They have a number you can call if you have damaged or old radioactive items, and they will arrange collection.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi All

Just finished reading all the material and resulted linked documents, my compliments to the Canadian Government and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for actually putting out informative and not alarmist information, and for willingness to interact in a constructive manner with the collector hobbies. Well done.

Did a search for similar information on the US Government Web site us.gov using the search phrase "radium luminous device" got lots of results 37-41,000 but nothing identifiable as useful. Interestingly I did find one US Army document date June 1999 that basically said all vehicles and aircraft produced before 1969 should have the gauges removed before the vehicles are disposed of by the US Government. The search did turn up some interesting reading but generally long winded and technical.

My reading of the situation, won't be taking any of the military style gauges apart.

Cheers Phil

Cheers Phil

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

I did find one US Army document date June 1999 that basically said all vehicles and aircraft produced before 1969 should have the gauges removed before the vehicles are disposed of by the US Government.

That's why the Netherlands Army's GMC CCKW trucks disposed of in the 1980s had their dials removed. They were supplied under MDAP so were handed back to the USA after being struck off service. The US government did the correct thing by having the second careful user remove the hazardous material before selling off the trucks on their behalf.

H.

[Richard Farrant]

I remember back in the 70/80's, a lot of the lorries in Britsh Army had their guages checked for radioactivity. Most "amusing" thing was the air guages on the AEC Militants, they affixed a warning triangle label on the face so you could not read the air brake pressure

[Bob Carriere]

What if the Canadian Guverment finds out the risk of working on CMPs.... dropping axles off the axle stand, smearing ourselves in cancer producing petroleum compounds, sandblasting lead base paint, siphoning gas with our mouthes, and eating breakfast at Rosa without washing our hands......countless mind numbing hours on the web looking at MLU postings....

.... we will all be confiscated !!! bagged and tagged......


We are heading for H*ll .........

Bob