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bncapass1 · 20 December 2015, 04:18 AM

As a watch collector, I thought you might find this interesting. One of the many fascinating areas in horology for me has been with the lumincent materials used over time, dangerous radium paint being the first. If you get a chance, watch the documentary made in Ottawa IL in the 1980’s. There is also a book on the subject called Radium City about the Radium Dial Co. and the female worker becoming sick from radium poisoning and cancer. Here is the you tube link to the documentery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLS6NCZPiSY
Ironically, the company moved from NY to Ottawa IL in 1920 due to health concerns although they claimed it was to be closer to Westclox Co. in La Salle Peru, IL. Remember, this was pre-OSHA days.

I’ve recently purchased a few inexpensive vintage Westclox watches on eBay. The first one being a Westclox La Salle model I’m guessing form the 50’s or possibly 60’s. I’m not exactly sure. What surprised me was the dial and hands obviously have Radium which was being fazed out around this time in favor of lesser radioactive tritium.
The first photo is of the SOEKS Defender which made in the country by people who know radiation. It shows normal back ground levels which range from 8-13 millisieverts where I'm located in Illinois.
Rad1.jpg
Westclox La Salle watch from approx. the 1950’s-60’s
Rad2.jpg
Look at the level of the La Salle. I would have thought this be tritium by this time instead of Radium.
Rad4.jpg
I’m guessing this smaller Westclox model was produces around the 40’s.
Rad5.jpg
The reading is down right unbelievable. Much higher than a dental x-ray I believe.
Rad6.jpg
I have two tritium Rolex watches with the original dials and hands. One from 1972 and the other 1995. Neither show levels higher than normal back ground. This is due to tritium’s half life of 12 years. Radium has a half life of 1600 years.

eco8gator · 20 December 2015, 01:57 PM

https://youtu.be/bAcApQYsATA

GEORGE505 · 20 December 2015, 03:23 PM

Check out the history of the Elgin watch company when it was still operating in Elgin. They have a huge story about this and all the ladies that died from it. That's what made the U.S. government ban the use of that paint after years of investigation. It's some crazy stuff. Wttw in Chicago did a story about this too.

20 December 2015, 04:18 AM	#1
bncapass1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Midwest Watch: Rolex Pepsi 1675 Posts: 62	Radium in watches As a watch collector, I thought you might find this interesting. One of the many fascinating areas in horology for me has been with the lumincent materials used over time, dangerous radium paint being the first. If you get a chance, watch the documentary made in Ottawa IL in the 1980’s. There is also a book on the subject called Radium City about the Radium Dial Co. and the female worker becoming sick from radium poisoning and cancer. Here is the you tube link to the documentery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLS6NCZPiSY Ironically, the company moved from NY to Ottawa IL in 1920 due to health concerns although they claimed it was to be closer to Westclox Co. in La Salle Peru, IL. Remember, this was pre-OSHA days. I’ve recently purchased a few inexpensive vintage Westclox watches on eBay. The first one being a Westclox La Salle model I’m guessing form the 50’s or possibly 60’s. I’m not exactly sure. What surprised me was the dial and hands obviously have Radium which was being fazed out around this time in favor of lesser radioactive tritium. The first photo is of the SOEKS Defender which made in the country by people who know radiation. It shows normal back ground levels which range from 8-13 millisieverts where I'm located in Illinois. Rad1.jpg Westclox La Salle watch from approx. the 1950’s-60’s Rad2.jpg Look at the level of the La Salle. I would have thought this be tritium by this time instead of Radium. Rad4.jpg I’m guessing this smaller Westclox model was produces around the 40’s. Rad5.jpg The reading is down right unbelievable. Much higher than a dental x-ray I believe. Rad6.jpg I have two tritium Rolex watches with the original dials and hands. One from 1972 and the other 1995. Neither show levels higher than normal back ground. This is due to tritium’s half life of 12 years. Radium has a half life of 1600 years.

20 December 2015, 01:57 PM	#2
eco8gator "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida Watch: 5060/a Posts: 1,119	https://youtu.be/bAcApQYsATA

20 December 2015, 03:23 PM	#3
GEORGE505 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Real Name: George Location: IL, USA Posts: 197	Check out the history of the Elgin watch company when it was still operating in Elgin. They have a huge story about this and all the ladies that died from it. That's what made the U.S. government ban the use of that paint after years of investigation. It's some crazy stuff. Wttw in Chicago did a story about this too.

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