Radioactive Antiques

[Mark=Linsley%occsafe%sep@sep2.sep.bnl.gov]

While shopping for additions to my Fiestware collection, I ran into a real 
surprise which some of you might be interested in if you too are into 
collecting radioactive antiques. A vendor specializing in old medical 
equipment had a large white ceramic pot which was labelled "Radium Ore 
Revigator, Patd 7-16-12". It was in nearly perfect condition, with only a 
small crack in the lid. The printing on the jar included the following;
	The Radium Ore Revigator Co.
	Revigator Building
	San Francisco, CAL
	1. Fill jar every night
	2. Use hydrant or any good water
	3. Drink freely when thirsty and upon rising and retiring average six 
	or more glasses daily
	Scrub with stiff brush and scald monthly.

	It's at times like these I wish I had a monitor with me,'when what to 
my wondering eyes did appear', sitting right next to this jar was a Victoreen 
CDV-700! And it was working! Accurate, probably not, but it responded to its 
check source quite nicely. If the meter reading was accurate, the interior of 
the jar was on the order of 30 mR/hr.
	If your interested in this piece of nostalgia, reminiscent of the 
good old days when the general public actually went out and sought 
radioactive material for its beneficial purposes,(Oh, but if we could only 
convince them now that a little radioactivity might be good for you, but 
things were simpler than, AND A HELL OF A LOT LESS REGULATED! (sorry, just 
venting some frustration), the cost was $225.00. I would have bought it 
myself, but Christmas always leaves me short on cash. By the way, the CDV-700 
was only $90.00. A bargain even at twice the price!
	Anyway, I have the vendors business card and will pass the info on if 
anyone wants it. You can reach me at the locations below. Happy Holidays!

Mark E. Linsley
Brookhaven National Laboratory
email: linsley@bnl.gov
phone: 516-282-3556