Radioactivity and our hobby

[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

[RichardT10829]

Good show Rick, nice to know folk are looking into this..... Rob, its also interesting to note different organisations treat the issue ith different approaches, this echo'd in the initial thread between Medical and Industrial companies...... problem is that not enough is known YET but hopefully with raised awareness folk can take steps to protect themselves and familie's or know what steps to take if they need a gauge removed etc etc

[Casey B]

Well I knew there was something weird looking about those gauges in the jeep! They looked crusty and well old Haha like many of us so I was thinking of redoing the faces etc..this winter. Hey I could save on Xrays or even better open my own private X-Ray lab out here in BC! That's the latest... private medicine right?
All kidding aside I'll check to see if they glow with a light and then the black light...and no I will leave em where they are for now. They seem to work so no need to wreck it right?

Thanks for the info good thing to know especially when buying a rebuilt guage! Was it opened and repainted with the bad stuff lurking under the new paint?

From the wet west coast...Casey

[Casey B]

Nope no glow but I did check it with a LED flash light? Light is light right?
Pretty much white with the cream coloured end of each needle and the numbers look a little like the day old whip cream...a little crusty and off white?
I am not gonna run out and buy rent a gyger counter to make sure.
Maybe the radiation chick that goes to Chernobyle will come and check for us...? just a thought.

[Lang]

This is a good description of the dangers of old instruments.

Basically, leave them alone. If you use them as designed they offer little danger so long as you don't carry them around in your pocket continuously. Looks like we all have to destroy our pre-1960's watches!

http://www.trademarklondon.com/Radiation/index.html

Lang

[RichardT10829]

AAAAARGH ! I have my grandad's field compass and have had since I was eight ! I used to take it everywhere with me, in my pocket!!! I always wondered why the direction of travel marker appeared rusty and brown.... It's painted in the outside of the glass too...... Oh lord !

[chris vickery]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

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.

Hanno, I agree that we should be safe and be informed etc but I do not think this is a case of sticking my head in the sand as you point out.
This topic has been covered in the past on MLU as well as in various MV publications, I believe that hobbyists have knowledge of the situation.
Pointing out the obvious and drawing attention to the hobby IS counter-productive. Involvement of Government in our hobby is also detrimental.
All it will take is a motion to outlaw or ban publicly owned military vehicles because of the "dangerous nature" they pose to the greater good of our society.
If you do not believe there are already motions afoot to do such things, then you my friend are the one who has his head in the sand.
Personally, I am a purist when doing a restoration. I like my original equipment. Should those in power decide for us that it is in everyones best interest to ban, destroy or outlaw this part of MV equipment, WE are forced to use civilian parts. I can see this happening as was pointed out in a previous post when the Government pulled dash boards before auction.
Perhaps the military nature of these vehicles will also be brought forward as they become deemed "threatening to the public". I can see some bureaucrat deciding whats best as well and having US paint them in bright colours to differentiate publicly owned MVs from real in service equipment. Personally, I do not want a red army truck nor a yellow one. If I did, I would collect fire trucks but then again I can see someone thinking that WE should not be able to own those either.
We are aware of lead paint, radioactive gauges etc. In industry, the control measures to eliminate such things are a never ending stream of redtape, paper, documentation and government inspection and control, not to mention the tremendous costs. Metal refinishing is already under the microscope because of lead, remediation, control and disposal of waste being looked at. It could get to a point where even sandblasting becomes cost prohibitive to the average hobbyists. Imagine having to pay for HAZMAT disposal for your luminous gauages as well? Or maybe having to aquire special licensing to own, use, transport, buy, sell, trade etc your MV or to even work on it with special training and tools?
I have been through all this crap before in the gun collecting hobby with those in power deciding whats in the best interest of the public with zero to little knowledge of facts, smoke screening the public from real issues (such as crime, drugs etc) and blaming law abiding people for their lack of control and responsiblity. I digress.
In the best interest of OUR hobby I believe in letting sleeping dogs lay, instead promote positive aspects to Officials instead of the negative and possibly detrimental ones which may bite US in the END.

[Frank v R]

what Chris said, this stuff went out the door 50 years ago , we've been living with this stuff our entire lives , from desert nuke tests to all the MV's at the bottom of every ocean , in every forest , in every desert , in every jungle, not to mention all the aircraft , radios , etc,and all the nuke accidents , nothing they could do now will ever make any difference, other than to ruin our lives with more regs.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

This topic has been covered in the past on MLU as well as in various MV publications, I believe that hobbyists have knowledge of the situation.

Chris, I am not sure this is a correct assumption, seeing the myriad of questions coming back up on this forum during the past decade alone. New people enter the hobby all the time, not having the collective knowledge yet. Hence it is important to point out the pitfalls, plus publish new information on a certain subject like Rick has done.

Pointing out the obvious and drawing attention to the hobby IS counter-productive. Involvement of Government in our hobby is also detrimental.
All it will take is a motion to outlaw or ban publicly owned military vehicles because of the "dangerous nature" they pose to the greater good of our society.
If you do not believe there are already motions afoot to do such things, then you my friend are the one who has his head in the sand.

In today's transparent society, not talking about potential "dangers" is counterproductive and will bite you in the tail when the "sleeping" dogs wake up. Do not think the governing bodies are asleep!

I think the Canadian example is a good one on how to handle a potentially dangerous situation. The risks are minimal if people know what to do, and are not to be compared to the risks of firearms which therefore require other rules & regulations.

H.