Radioactive Pencil

["Mcelrath Susan S." <MCELRATHS@rscpo1.wilm.ge.com>]

I was given a rather interesting pencil earlier this week. The eraser end 
has been extended with a clear plastic sleeve, capped with an eraser. Inside 
the sleeve there is some powdery-looking uranium ore.

On the plastic sleeve it says, "Actual Sample URANIUM ORE The start of 
ATOMIC POWER."

On the pencil part it says, "Give Your Dollars Atomic Power By Investing At 
WILSON'S SAVINGS & LOAN ASSN. THIS IS ATOMIC PENCIL STYLE 506 AMSTERDAM CO. 
Amsterdam, N.Y."

There is also some very light print on the pencil that says, "ATOMIC ENERGY 
COMM LICENSE NO. C-3569."

The pencil isn't contaminated and the plastic sleeve holding the ore is in 
good shape.

I measured the activity through the plastic sleeve and saw about 900 cpm on 
a typical GM frisker.

Does anyone know how old this pencil might be, or any of the history about 
it? I'll probably add it to my collection of training material.

My e-mail address: MCELRATHS@rscpo1.WILM.GE.COM