"Murray Green, K3BEQ" wrote in message
...

In this weekend's Radio Amateur Information Network (R.A.I.N.) audio
news, they featured Michael Crestohl, W1RC, at the 2000 Dayton Ham-
Vention. Michael was deeply involved at the time in working with the
U.S. government to remove or reclassify collectible surplus radio
gear from its demilitarization list.

In the interview, Michael mentions that the meter needles in the R390A
were "radio active" and had to be removed before the equipment could
be demilitarized by the government. (It was not clear if this pertained
to all of the R390As or certain models.)

Just a FYI to R390A owners. The broadcast can be heard at:
http://www.rrsta.com/rain/ (The statement about the meter needles
comes in around 11:15 minutes into the approximate 15 minute audio
news.)

Just how radio active the needles are was not mentioned. Also I
suspect that some R390A went to MARS members and may not have been
demilitarized. I had one for many years and this was the first I
heard about the needles.

The R-390 meter needles, and a number of other equipment models, were
painted with a Radium compound that made them glow in the dark. The intent
was to allow the radio shack to be operated in low-light environments. The
idea didn't last very long, because although the needles would give off a
faint glow, the meter dials weren't illuminated enough to make them
readable.
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!