Radium Dials

["Aperans, John E. SFC" <aperansj@MCCLELLAN-CMLS.ARMY.MIL>]

Greetings, RADSAFERs:

First, belated thanx to all who answered my previous
question on tritium compasses.

I guess this is as good a Friday topic as any.  Recently, while
doing my sealed source inventory, I visited the Chemical
Corps Museum, just down the road here.  

After the curator pled ignorance to the presence of any
sources, I demonstrated to him that the control panels
on four vehicles parked outside have radium dials.
[THE METER WENT WILD!!!!!  (grin)]

On one amphibious vehicle of WWII vintage, the dial
crystals were broken.  Dose rates on contact were recorded
at 0.8 mR/hr with a G-M detector.  Wipe tests of the control 
panel and dial faces showed no removable contamination 
(dial faces had been spray painted over?).  

THE QUESTION.  Should I remove this control panel,  
or am I worrying too much about it?  The curator says 
that removing the dials, even if I replaced them with mock-ups,
will destroy the vehicle's value as an otherwise fully functional
artifact.  
The control panel is open to the environment and it does 
not take a lot of effort to climb into the vehicle, even though
signs are posted to keep visitors off.  Is there some happy 
middle ground?  

Please reply directly to me at the address below.
John E. Aperans
Health Physics Office, US Army Chemical School
Ft McClellan, AL
aperansj@mcclellan-cmls.army.mil
Voice (205) 848-5044    FAX (205) 848-4615        DSN 865
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are solely those of the author (me). 
The Department of the Army and DoD have no knowledge of this message,
and would not approve it if they did.

Duct Tape and Binding Energy . . . Form following function?