Re: Mystery Radium device

["David Case" <cased@erols.com>]

Having spent over 20 years in the Air Force and responsible for radioactive material control, the mystery item looks like a self-luminous ripcord for a parachute - you know, so it can be found during night jumps.

Although the item does not glow now, it probably did when new.  As may or may not know, these radium self-luminous devices lost their glow after several years of service because of radiation damage to the phosphor.  Exposing the item to UV usually causes some glow.

Anyone else from the military community want to give it a try?

Regards,
David Case
cased@erols.com