In article ,
"Fred W4JLE" wrote:

The radio activity is caused by the glow in the dark meter markings. More
tree hugger bull crap.



A few years back I put a Geiger counter within inches of an old Timex
watch with a "radium dial" and it pegged out the meter. It was a
significant amount of radiation if worn on your wrist. Worth the risk?
Not for me.

Anyway have fun with your R390 and it's "radium dial" meter.










"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.