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Radiation Kits
CD V-777 Kit
CD V-777A Kit
CD V-777-1 Kit
CD V-777-2 Kit
CD V-755
High School Kit
Other Sets
CD V-781 Aerial Monitoring Set
CD V-757 Barrier
Demonstration Set
CD V-457 Class
Demo Set
Radiation Instruments
CD V-700
CD V-700 Specials
CD V-710
CD V-711
CD V-715
CD V-717
CD V-720
CD V-750 and Dosimeters
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Some radiation meters were sold commercially to the public for civil defense use.
There may have been more, but these are the only types that I am aware of.
This
is the Bendix Family Radiation Measurement Kit that was sold in the 1960s.
The price on the box is $24.95. This kit has a" Lafayette Radio Electronics"
store price tag on it.
Click Here to see an ad
for the Bendix Family
Radiation Kit.
This kit consists of instruments similar to the civil defense dosimeters
and charger. The main difference in the kit is the inclusion of the CD V-736
Ratemeter. This instrument has 2 scales which are read in 1 and 10 minute
time periods. This allows the measururement of radiation in a shorter time
similar to a survey meter even though it's still a dosimeter. The instrument
is just exposed for the appropriate period of time for the scale being read.
The CD V-746 is a high scale dosimeter that reads up to 600 roentgens total
dose. It's interesting that these instruments also have the "CD-V"
as part of their model number even this set was sold to the public. See
a description and instructions for this kit of the instruments below.  
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CD V-736 Ratemeter |
 
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CD V-746 Dosimeter Range 0-600 Roentgens Reads Gamma Radiation |
This is the charger for the instruments in the Bendix kit. This charger
is the same as the early Civil Defense issue charger (CD
V-750) but with a different color case. 
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
Just click on the link or instruction picture to see a large scan of the instructions.
Click the link below to see a pdf file of the operation and maintenance manual for this kit.
bendfamkit.pdf (672Kb File Size)
Landsverk
Fallout Radiation Measurement Set. I didn't know this set exsited until I saw one for sale on ebay in mid-2004. It's pretty much the same set as the Bendix set seen above but made by Landsverk. This set has a "L-746" Personal Dosimeter which is actually a "IM 93-UD Radiacmeter." The IM 93 label is visible under the paint on the dosimeter and on the scale of the dosimeter. The set also has a "L-730 Dosimeter/Ratemeter" sort of like the Bendix set but the L-730 scale has 0-200 Roentgens/Hour dose-rate scale and a 0-20 Roentgens dose scale. I'll try to get photos of the scales soon. The dosimeter charger is marked as a CD V-750 Model 5A. I don't understand why this charger has the "CD" emblem on it with it being sold commercially. Click the photo to see a larger version.
Victoreen Fallout Detection Meter
This
is the Victoreen Fallout detection meter, a commercially sold variant of
the CD V-720. The model number of this
unit is 61720 which leads me to beleive that this was originally a CD V-720
manufactured in 1961. This meter has a CD V-700 bottom instead of the CD
V-720 bottom with the sliding cover which makes it function as a CD
V-715 less the 0.1 scale. This unit was sold by Victoreen for $49.95
in the early 1960s. The black label on the case is affixed over the original
cast-in model information label.vicfallmeter.pdf (541Kb File Size)
The
inside of the Fallout Detection Meter reveals CD V-720 internal workings
and ion chamber without the thick aluminum protective plate glued to the
bottom. Click below to see an advertisement for the fallout detection meter
taken from "The Fallout Shelter Handbook" by Chuck West published
in 1962.
Click Here to see the Fallout Detection Meter Advertisement
CD V-727 Citizens Survey Meter
The Victoreen CD V-727 Citizens Survey meter is very similar to the
Victoreen Fallout Detection Meter (VFDM) but it has only one range instead
of the three ranges the VFDM has. It appears the CD V-727 was an effort
to make a simpler meter for the "average Joe" to use in a nuclear
emergency. It's interesting that this meter has a CD V number where the
VFDM doesn't. I don't know which came first the CD V-727 or the VFDM. The
CD V-727 scale reads from 0-100 r/hr with the first half of the scale being
1-10 and the second half being 10-100. The CD V-727 also uses a CD V-700
case bottom but has a CD V-715 ion chamber. This meter appears to be different
from the other CD meters unlike the VFDM which appears just to be a CD V-720
with a CD V-700 bottom. I don't know how many of these were made or if they
were widely sold to the public. I have never seen a published advertisement
for one. This CD V-727 doesn't have a serial number on the top label. A very special Thanks to Rob Stone of Portsmouth Ohio for this meter!
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