Hudson gauges

RonS

Does any one know if the stepdown gauges used radium or tritium on the dial faces? Who was the speedometer manufacturer? Was is Borg?

[Deleted User]

That's a good question. Never thought about that issue. However, I believe by the time the stepdowns where available for sale starting in '48, the dangers of radium for dials on anything from watches to car dial faces where pretty well established. Then again, if you really want to play it safe, get a geiger counter and put it up to face of a stepdown car dial and see if you get any kind of a reading.

[Deleted User]

Ron The round dials of the clock and speedo were made by Gits Plastics. They were a division of Gits Bros. who made the spring loaded oil caps used on generators and distributors. The speedos were made by Borg as well as the electric clocks. The wind up clock mechanisms were made by Lux, the same outfit that made the famous "Minute Minder" that everyone had in their kitchen. Don't know if radium or tritium was used as the illuminator but hobby shops now sell flourescent paint to have those dials glow again.

RonS

According to a site on line, After 1950, clocks and gauges were required to place a R or Ra on the item if they contained radium. My Dad was in Naval Intelligence in WW2. he said that radium was used extensively in the gauges etc. aboard ship so that the bridge was not spotted by enemy scouts.

Richard E.

My Dad was crazy about radium paint and he painted his watch face and every clock in our house with it. He lived to be 90 and I am still here??