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

["baumbaug@nosc.mil" <baumbaug@nosc.mil>]

        Ron,

        You are (as usual) a "fund" of valuable information!!

        I have one of these babys (doesn't everyone?) which I use (with
other goodies) for my show-and-tell when I give my Rad. Instruction classes.

        I just now put it on the MCA and yes-in-deedy-do it IS a radium-226
(and progeny) source.  Mine is <1 mrad/hr (<10 micro Gray).

        MINE is not leaking (I have wiped it recently).   Remember, these
things were built for the Navy and are meant to be Sailor-resistant...(grin).

        I have no further information,  I found this in a drawer at my
facility during a routine survey.

        
        Joel

        Std. Disclaimer - The opinions above are mine.  The fed. Govt., the
Navy and my supervisors do not necessary agree with any of the above
statements etc.
        
..

At 10:54 AM 4/18/97 -0500, you wrote:
>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!!!
>>
>>
>>
>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
>>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 ...
>>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
Joel T. Baumbaugh (baumbaug@nosc.mil)
Naval Research and Development (NRaD)
San Diego, CA., U.S.A.