Warbird Information Exchange

hey fellas !

i just received my magnetic compass today: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181062135717?ru ... 26_rdc%3D1

i love it! however im a bit concerned because i was told the liquid inside is radioactive! im just worried that maybe someday the seals may become loose and leak out this material!

the compass does not look like it's wet but because of its age, im just concerned that maybe the equipment could be emitting out some radiation.....

any thoughts>>??? please help. i don't want to end up growing a third arm or leg!

thanks in advance.

-andrew

Andrew,

I'm no Japanese instrument expert, but with US compasses like the B-16, the liquid isn't radioactive but the numbers and letters on dial are painted in radium paint (to glow in the dark). From what I hear, and people correct me if I'm wrong, the radium paint doesn't really pose a problem unless it flakes and is ingested... I wouldn't worry about it. My desk here at school has 8 radium gauges on it that I'm looking at while I type!

Good buy, by the way.

T

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Taylor Stevenson

hey thank you for your response and help. i feel a lot better. i actually pm'd tom and he educated me about this issue and i feel safer! phew!!

im just very happy now to be able to display it on my bookcase without worrying about growing an extra eye!

-andrew

But, admit that the extra hand would be a help in holding a flashlight in tight places

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Hello,I mined uranium in Wyoming for thirty years.Dont drink the stuff or
chew on it and you will be fine.By the way,I dont glow in the dark,but I dont
need a flashlite to find things in the dark...old chuck

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I believe in,life,liberty and the pursuit of those that dont.

Biggest problem with the radioactive paint is finding someone to work on it if you want to use it in an aircraft. I believe there was a guy at CNO who used to work on them and the EPA shut him down.

They did considerably more than that. They confiscated his entire stock including the non-radioactive stuff & cost him an absolute fortune in lost revenue, legal fees etc.

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

oh gawd......too ease your mind and concerns, please, let me take that compass off your hands

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

andrew, gary1954's comment should sum it up as well as what i told you!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!