Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone know any good sources?

For an art project? I would not recommend vintage instruments for any such project- use more current equivalents- First, they are in limited supply, and are needed if in airworthy condition, for aircraft that may still use them. Second their price s usually more expensive. Third, and very importantly, many contain Radium on their markings, and this can be a health/radiation hazard to you. (There is an apparent movement underway to control possession of these same radium marked a/c instruments, I understand)

So- for an art project, I recommend finding newer, non-radium, non airworthy instruments...

Whatcha planning on anyway? Sounds like an interesting project concept.

Robbie

I concur with the above - depending upon where you live, I'd check to see if there's an FBO on your airfield that does maintenance and I'd suspect a little asking about might produce a few non-airworthy pieces.

Of course there's always eBay - some surprisingly rare and vintage pieces turn up there now and then, but I've seen several lot sales of newer jumbled (and tumbled!) aero instruments to be had for a reasonable amount.

With regard to the radium hazard on the WWII era instruments, this is something of a Catch-22 situation. Many of these vintage instruments DO contain radium in the paint. As do some of the circuit breaker buttons, radio knobs and dials, switches and placards in older aircraft. And that old wind-up clock that Grandma had in the house as well, or perhaps a vintage watch in the drawer? Trace amounts of radioactive substances can be found on these items, too.

The radium threat on old instrumentation or components as described above is greatly overplayed, and that's a shame. One could certainly expose one's self to radium contamination by breaking apart the old instruments and abrading the painted surfaces (e.g. scraping off old paint). Indeed, there is no way to "contain" this stuff if you get trace amounts airborne or on your skin. But sealed instruments with radioactive particles in the paint that are not a health hazard - they're defined as being "encapsulated" and as such are not a health risk. Sealed would mean the aircraft instrument still has a glass face or housing around it, and the instrument face or the needles are not open to the touch.

Instrument overhaul shops won't work on this stuff today not because of risk to one's health, but to the wallet. Their wallets, to be specific. Silly government regulations now require shops to spend a horrendous amount of money to handle "radioactive substances" or to dispose of possibly contaminated items removed during an overhaul, and customers do not want to bear the brunt of the financial beating. In a nutshell, that's why shops will tell you they don't want to see your old instrumentation. They just don't want to have to deal with the federal headaches associated with this stuff.

I've heard rumors of proposed legislation to limit the number of vintage instruments one could keep because of the "rad levels" but this is another example of stupid government interference. It makes no sense. It's just a rally point for idiot politicians playing on the public's ignorance and fears. Truth be told, your health is far more at risk eating a fat old cheeseburger and drinking a few cold beers than standing in a warehouse full of WWII radium faced instruments.

Thanks for letting me vent. Good luck in finding some goodies for the art project!

Send me your emails and I will send you pics of the art project. I make desk clocks out of vintage gauges - auto and airplane.

Radium seems to be a hot subject...
There appers to be much on the internet on this subject, good, bad and uninformed.
Radium is a radioactive element that was used widely in clock faces and instrument faces in the past that posed a threat to health when improperly used (eaten). It may pose health issues if inhaled, eaten or placed in close proximity to ones body for extended exposure like a pocket full of old glowing pocket watches. But then the fear factor and reality of the danger covers most everything that we come in contact with today.
A suggestion is to read and learn as much as you can on the subject before buying a boat load of the gadgets.
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/19 ... .Ch.r.html
Good luck on your display.