Update on Douglas Winnek 3D Camera from WWII

I agree with you. I recall having had low level of radiation measured with the Geiger counter, and then a scientist helped me out with understanding these measurements.
 
The readings taken from outside the camera were low, but when taking readings from inside, and from the back, there were levels of radium that are four times the "allowed level". They think that this could be additional evidence that my camera participated in atomic experiments.
 
I'm certainly not a nuclear scientist, but I had no idea that Radium was an output of nuclear bombs. I thought it was associated with watch dials and early chemotherapy.
 
Gumby said:
I'm certainly not a nuclear scientist, but I had no idea that Radium was an output of nuclear bombs. I thought it was associated with watch dials and early chemotherapy.
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No clue here, but the experts for radiation safety at the museum sent me this information. Maybe the camera was exposed to some "special experiments" then?

EPA : "Radium forms when isotopes of uranium or thorium decay in the environment. Most radium (radium-226) originates from the decay of the plentiful uranium-238."
 
Yes, that's how it occurs in nature. My understanding is that the amounts are small but still of concern because Radium has a long half-life. The "gassified" version, Radon, is a problem in natural release in some places. I know that in some parts of Colorado homes have radon ventilation incorporated into their basements and crawl-spaces. The radon daughters cling to lungs (especially of there are also tars from cigarette smoking) and are implicated in lung cancer incidence.

I don't know if Radium release is true of 235Uranium, which I believe is what is in the nuclear bombs. I thought the enrichment process removed it.

Did the camera have self-luminescent controls?
 
My camera is the only one known to exist from fifteen cameras, and none has been well documnted beyond the patent papers.
 
Radium undergoes a seven step radioactive decay process. Madame Currie discovered it in the late 1890s, so it's really easy to detect. I really don't understand how your Giger counter measurements did not reveal the presence of radium inside the camera. Radium is a radioactive decay product of uranium. But uranium isotopes have extremely long half lives and uranium decay produces miniscule amounts of radium, so it did not come from uranium contamination.

It's good you did not get too close to the camera. It's better that the camera is out if your home.
 
willie_901 said:
Radium undergoes a seven step radioactive decay process. Madame Currie discovered it in the late 1890s, so it's really easy to detect. I really don't understand how your Giger counter measurements did not reveal the presence of radium inside the camera. Radium is a radioactive decay product of uranium. But uranium isotopes have extremely long half lives and uranium decay produces miniscule amounts of radium, so it did not come from uranium contamination.

It's good you did not get too close to the camera. It's better that the camera is out if your home.
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I never measured inside the camera. The safety officers did not detect any Radium from outside the camera either.
 
Finally,the Navy Head Curator has declared interest in keeping the camera (as a donation from me), The next step is to obtain clearance to bring in an appraiser for tax purposes.

The Navy discovered "high levels" of radioactive material, that in the end may have been harmless, or they would not display the camera in the Museum for Naval Aviation.
 
The camera is at the National Aviation Museum. It took the Navy over 2 years until they issued the permit to have it displayed. This is due to the radioactivity of the lens. Since then, some close relatives of Douglas Winnek who visit Pensacola have been to the Museum and they appreciated seeing the camera there. One of Winnek's grandsons contacted me too. He recalls playing ("running through" ) his grandfather's camera bellows
 
raid said:
The camera is at the National Aviation Museum. It took the Navy over 2 years until they issued the permit to have it displayed. This is due to the radioactivity of the lens. Since then, some close relatives of Douglas Winnek who visit Pensacola have been to the Museum and they appreciated seeing the camera there. One of Winnek's grandsons contacted me too. He recalls playing ("running through" ) his grandfather's camera bellows
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Thank you for the update! It's wonderful that this piece of history is able to be appreciated in these ways.
 
I am glad that this important camera is stored safely in a nice Museum with no entrance fee. Many people visit this museum each day of the year. Few will know the importance of this camera as it is not spelled out in the exhibit as it has been done at RFF.
 
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