Radioactivity and our hobby

[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

[rob love]

As I recall, when the drivers took their 5 tons over to supply to turn them in, they parked the trucks out back and had to bring the control panels in to the R&D guys. I think all those trucks went to Cold Lake for targets. Most of them were 1976 vintage, so likely would not have had the radium gauges anyway unless some old stock turned up.

Back in the 90s, I helped set up an outdoor museum display at the Moose Jaw armouries. A few years after I left that province, the geiger counter guys went through and if the alarm read any amount of radioactivity from any one of the guages, they undid the four screws on the control panel and ripped the whole thing out.

[Harry Moon]

My CMP set off the radiation detectors at the border a couple of times. Kind of an interesting exercise for them. My speedometer and oil pressure gauge are the only original ones and while they don't even glow after holding a flashlight on them they still set off the detectors. I'm actually quite happy that they can pick up that minute amount.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Those guys should go to Russia. I had a talk with an oilfield worker who worked over there and he told about a glass-like patch of ground they crossed. Oh, that's just where we put out a well fire with a tactical nuke! Nobody even considered that there might be a radiation problem! I told him to get a personal radiation detector and carry it at all times.

[Eric B]

A few years back i borrowed a radiation detector and tested various vehicles and gauges that i had access to.

The 19 set on/off switch (glow in the dark removable cap) and the 1953 M38, 1953 M38A1 Convoy light switch cap had the highest readings while the needles on the original MB gauges were also high. These were very localized and the readings dropped drastically when the detector was moved farther away.

The 1967 M38A1 and 1974 M151A2 gauges did not pick up any substantial radiation.

The original WW2 gauges did have radioactive readings, higher than personal limits permitted.

The reproduction gauges had no readings.

If the gauges are off white, closer to a cream colour, thicker than normal, cracking, flat finish, then there is a good chance that it is original and is radioactive. Do not take these apart to rebuild.

I have talked to US Border Patrol Supervisors and they suggested that we notify them in advance if we plan on taking a MV across the border, which might have radioactive gauges. So that when the sensor alarms go off they have an idea of what it is.

The article was published in CMP #42 2007.

Thanks

Eric

[chris vickery]

Opening up a can of worms, great is all I can say. Just a nail in the coffin to yet another nice hobby we all enjoy...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

All, well done bringing this to our attention. Again, an example of the wealth of knowledge and experience available on MLU!

If you believe it or not, this is part of our hobby and we have to take care of it. Thanks to those concerned for bringing this to our attention.

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Opening up a can of worms, great is all I can say. Just a nail in the coffin to yet another nice hobby we all enjoy...

Sure Chris, stick your head into the ground like an ostrich. I'm sure no-one will find out, even though the radiation experts know the risks and the governing bodies have policies in place to protect you from the dangers of radiation.

I'd like to second what Lynn said on the thread close up picture of Mk1 Speedometer required:

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I have to thank you for the efforts you have made to to bring this risk to the public attention.
I realise you needed to ask all the questions to satisfy your own worries, but you didn't have to make it public. We appreciate the fact that you have given us the warning.
I have to wonder how many of us have already had exposure to some degree, as children, playing with old surplus aircraft instruments and the like.
Your concern for the rest of us, means that we can now make an informed choice on how we go forward.
I am sure that you will have changed someones life for the better.
Life is fragile