Hot Watch ☢️
My father’s watch. Found while cleaning out his old truck. He thinks he got it at the completion of his carpentry apprenticeship in the 1950s.
I could tell by the fuzzy brown lume that this was radioactive, and the dosimeter confirmed it.
(This is not an heirloom I want to keep. Instead, I’m proud to have the corner cabinet he made in the 1960s, for the house he built for his parents and younger siblings.)
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Too bad about the radioactivity. Lucky you to have his cabinet, though.
Not quite as small and light. 😅
First of all, that's a GORGEOUS mid-century modern corner cabinet! Please pass along my compliments. 😍
Second, I had no idea that Seth Thomas made watches! 😮 What are you going to do with it?
Thank you. Unfortunately, he passed away last summer (I cleaned out his truck in the spring) but I’m glad I was able to ask him about his watch.
I passed the watch along to a collector who has an interest in radium dials. We’ve had quite a few radium dial watches in the family and the dust can be dangerous if inhaled.
That corner cabinet is fantastic. The watch is cool.
That corner cabinet rules, gorgeous work.
I personally agree the watch isn’t worth keeping, tho allegedly if you remove the lume with the dial submerged in denatured alcohol using a scratch pen, preferably working with your gloved hands inside a large plastic bag to minimize breathing it in, it is safe.
Honestly, it would have to be one hell of a watch for me to do all that.