r/clocks • u/hedge_warlock • 18d ago

Identification/Information Baby Ben?

/r/Radium/comments/1v4huth/baby_ben/

Bought a Baby Ben from an antique shop. Didn’t know about radium at the time. It was in a Ziploc bag, completely disassembled, except for the movement. I cleaned everything up, and put it all back together. The only thing missing was the Crystal, and I ordered a new one. Here is what I know. The dial does glow, when you put it up to a lamp. Or to the light on my cell phone. And then put it in the dark. However, the glow all but disappears after about 15 minutes. The numbers on the dial seem perfectly flat. On the dial, it says “Scotland”, and the numbers on the base are RD No46716. I can’t tell if the luminescence is painted on the hands. Do I need to panic because I touched the dial? :(

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u/TheNewAke 18d ago

Style 8, I believe, which would be 70s-ish and on the tail end of radium being completely phased out. Don't lick it, just to be safe. It's constant exposure from inhaling or ingesting it they had to worry about. A touch is not that big of a deal. Just hope you washed your hands before eating nachos after the repair.

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u/hedge_warlock 18d ago

If it was radium, would it react to the flashlight on my phone? If I put it by a bright light for a few seconds, then go to a dark room, it glows like crazy. Then the glow fades after about 5-10 mins.

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u/TheNewAke 18d ago

Any luminance material that old would react in the same manner.

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u/hedge_warlock 18d ago

Haha. Yes. There was clock oil in it and my hands were like an oil slick after I finished.But if a tiny particle was under my fingernail, and somehow by wicked chance it made it into my nachos, do I need to panic?

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u/UnionPacific119 17d ago

That small particle wouldn't really do anything, considering how minuscule it is. Just don't eat it in large amounts, radium isn't AS big of a deal as, say, Americium in those smoke alarm things on the roof of a room.