Posted 9 years ago
otiamaria
(35 items)
I'm scared sh*tless of this watch and am considering burying it outside somewhere, lol. I didn't know when I bought it that the "radium dial" meant it contained actual radiation.
I should have known it was too good to be true, being in like new condition, perfect working order, and in its original box (which is also well preserved). Now that I've read about the watches history, it is full of too much bad juju for me. I oh-so-carefully put the watch back in all of its packaging, and it still sits where I hid it: on top of a tall gun cabinet out of sight.
Whatcha think? Are my fears unnecessary?
http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/radioluminescent/radioluminescentinfo.htm
http://www.damninteresting.com/undark-and-the-radium-girls/
Hmmm I don't know, but it is a cool watch! :)
Nothing to worry about, those poor girls ingested the paint. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium_Girls
I have several radium dial "dollar" pocket watches and I think your fears are unnecessary.
The Aristocrat Watch Co. N.Y. was a marketing company for the E. Ingraham Co. of Bristol, Conn. founded in 1835, made their first pocket watch in 1913 and was in business until 1958.
The back cover of the watch pops off and the movement is marked The E. Ingraham Company Bristol Conn. U.S.A. with a number under it which designates the year of manufacture, i.e. 47 = 1947, 53 = 1953, etc.
Nice watch and box. Thanks for sharing it.
Dave
yes there is radium in the numbers n hands of it but after this long and as little as there was ,..unless you plan on licking the hands and watchface your probably ok
Thanks for your input, all. No plans on licking the watch hands, lol. Glad to have had my fears put to rest so I can take this watch out to use/appreciate it! Just goes to show you that you have to take what you read on the internet with a pinch of salt. Somehow, I always seem to find the most dire, doom and gloom websites, lol. XO
Just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year otiamaria! Thanks for all the interest you showed in my posts.
radium in the watch you have is harmless. the people that painted it on were the only people who suffered, they would bring the paint brush to a point by putting them in their mouths after each painting of a number. can you believe that at one point radium was touted to be healthy for you.