Re: U.S. Navy/WW II - Infra Red

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

Mike --

It likely is a radium source and I urge you to take care: it may well be
leaking.  Please call me at 509-375-5643 or 1-800-375-9317 if I can offer
further help.

Ron Kathren
Director, USTUR

>Hi RADSAFERS!
>
>I was contacted today by a volunteer at our hospital about a "radioactive"
>device he found in his father-in-law's garage.  His in-law apparently bought it
>as war surplus and has now passes it on to the volunteer as a heirloom.  
>
>I surveyed it with a pancake GM and get a reading of ~ 1 mR/hr at 2.54 cm.  I
>wipe tested it with a 2 x 2 NaI SCA system with a window from 100 - 1000 keV
>with a negative result.  The radiation appears to be high energy gamma, (little
>attenuation with 3.2 mm lead), so I'm assuming it has a Radium-226 source
in it.
> If there are any "Old Navy" types out there or anyone else for that matter who
>could provide me with some more info, I'd be beholden!
>
>This is the available information from the device's casing:
>
>Infra-Red Light Receiver
>Type US/AM
>Serial No. 12957
>Navy No. Nan. R-1400
>Navy Cont. No.  NOBS 20418
>Lewyt, Corp.
>Brooklyn, N.Y.
>
>Thanks for your support!!!
>
>
>
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>Michael J. Bohan, RSO   |  e-mail: mike.bohan@yale.edu
>Yale-New Haven Hospital |    Tele: (203) 785-2950
>Radiological Physics    |     FAX: (203) 737-4252
>20 York St. - WWW 204   |    As usual, everything I say may be plausibly
>New Haven, CT    06504  |    denied at my employer's convenience ...
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