freddy333 Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 As the cloud of (highly weakened) fallout is now reaching the western US, I decided to dust off my old radiation monitor (Geiger counter) to get a reading of the ambient radiation levels in my house, so I would have a baseline measurement against which to compare any changes that may occur as the particles make their way across the US over the next days/weeks. I was pleased to find that the ambient levels have not changed since the last time I tested, which was shortly after 9/11, nearly 10 years ago. However, while I had the monitor out, I decided to do a quick check of my DW A7750 6263, which I am wearing today. I tested the watch, mainly, just for kicks (after all, I did spend 15 minutes digging the monitor out of the back of a closet), but, also, to quash a slight nagging concern I have always had over the contents of the paints used on the dials of rep watches. Of course, my fears were allayed as the DW caused no deviation of the monitor's otherwise eager-to-please needle. While I was testing, it dawned on me that if any of my watches emitted anything out of the ordinary, it would be my vintage gens. So I pulled them all together & began testing. Fortunately, most showed little significant radiological activity. However, I was a bit surprised to find that my 60+ year-old OPD still has a bit of life in her. Nothing serious, but enough to make the needle do a little Watusi, which caught me a bit by surprise. Here are sample videos of the results of my DW 6263 & my 1959 OPD http://s95.photobucket.com/user/freddydynip/media/MVI_1736.mp4.html http://s95.photobucket.com/user/freddydynip/media/MVI_1735.mp4.html In case you are unable to clearly view the meter's scale, just note that the blue area (at left) is the (generally considered) 'safe' zone. Still, considering that my OPD contains relatively little tritium, if you have vintage watches with tritium or radium that have a cracked crystal, it might be worth having them checked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaifender Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 God I hope you're not taking potassium iodide, like too many naive americans on th west coast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Nice! I used to worry about my 1958 Sub and wouldn't sleep with it under my pillow. Now? Not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted March 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 God I hope you're not taking potassium iodide, like too many naive americans on th west coast No, but I keep it on hand, just in case. I used to worry about my 1958 Sub and wouldn't sleep with it under my pillow. Now? Not so much. I read somewhere that 1 of the 1st signs of radiation poisoning is a sudden lack of concern for one's well-being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 I read somewhere that 1 of the 1st signs of radiation poisoning is a sudden lack of concern for one's well-being. Huh? What makes you think that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valerian Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 Huh? What makes you think that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeSentier Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 Darth Maul's brother? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praetor Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 well, it only takes 1 uranium atom lodged in your system to cause cancer. Those vintage panerais are more likely to cause cancer than some event in japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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