Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
During World War II, radium-based paint was the gold standard for military technology that needed to be operated in total darkness. Since flashlights could give away a position to the enemy, "self-luminous" dials were a tactical necessity. Radio operators could tune frequencies, check signal strength, and monitor battery levels in foxholes or darkened aircraft without using external lights.
Today the the glow has faded (because the phosphor is exhausted), but the radium is still very much active, as its half-life is about 1,600 years. So are these radios a health hazard?
Radio historian and collector Brian Harrison discusses the history and safety of radium paint in this presentation from the AWA Communications Technology Museum.
The AWA Communications Technology Museum in Bloomfield New York has a display of military radios.
Help us preserve the history of electronic communications by becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/join-or-renew-membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
During World War II, radium-based paint was the gold standard for military technology that needed to be operated in total darkness. Since flashlights could give away a position to the enemy, "self-luminous" dials were a tactical necessity. Radio operators could tune frequencies, check signal strength, and monitor battery levels in foxholes or darkened aircraft without using external lights.
Today the the glow has faded (because the phosphor is exhausted), but the radium is still very much active, as its half-life is about 1,600 years. So are these radios a health hazard?
Radio historian and collector Brian Harrison discusses the history and safety of radium paint in this presentation from the AWA Communications Technology Museum.
The AWA Communications Technology Museum in Bloomfield New York has a display of military radios.
Help us preserve the history of electronic communications by becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/join-or-renew-membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
