As old as I am I do not know why I did not know this. I play around on ebay. I found a large compass from the 30's or 40's.
I just like this sort of thing and it was only 20 bucks including shipping. Very heavy and well made. For a large aircraft. My plan was to clean it up, put an led in it and mount it in the forward berth of my wife's sailboat. It would be a neat night light and because of the way it is made it can be viewed from about 200 degrees.
So I entered "compass refurbish" and found out don't take it apart because of the radium that glows at night. The use of radium was stopped about 1970. After the inside parts are dried the radium will dust. If this dust is ingested via breathing or getting it on your hands and picking your nose you have problems. The same is true of old flight instruments. My 1965 Omega graduation watch would glow across the room on the dresser. Not after it was cleaned.
Wonder if the watch repairman is still alive?
will
I just like this sort of thing and it was only 20 bucks including shipping. Very heavy and well made. For a large aircraft. My plan was to clean it up, put an led in it and mount it in the forward berth of my wife's sailboat. It would be a neat night light and because of the way it is made it can be viewed from about 200 degrees.
So I entered "compass refurbish" and found out don't take it apart because of the radium that glows at night. The use of radium was stopped about 1970. After the inside parts are dried the radium will dust. If this dust is ingested via breathing or getting it on your hands and picking your nose you have problems. The same is true of old flight instruments. My 1965 Omega graduation watch would glow across the room on the dresser. Not after it was cleaned.
Wonder if the watch repairman is still alive?
will
