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Answer to Question #516 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Historical Issues/Applications The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
I own an antique revigorator in excellent condition. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality recently came to measure the radioactivity and register it. I am interested in selling it but I don't know how much it's worth. Any idea? Do you know of anyone or any museum who would be interested in purchasing this revigorator?
A
The Health Physics Society Instrument Collection and respective Web site maintained by Dr. Paul Frame has an excellent set of photos on these quack radioactive cures. I have one of these Revigators (Revigorator) in my collection. There are at least one or two of these on the eBay auction site each month, and the prices vary from $75 to $200, depending on completeness (i.e., original shipping box, lid, or base present), condition, color, and age. They are coated on the inside with uranium ore, and the idea was to fill them with water that would then become "activated" over several hours—no doubt some radon emanation going into solution. My Revigator has an approximate 1 mrem/hour dose rate at 5 cm, which is relatively high for a "consumer product"—but not dangerous. They are collectable and people buy them. They are an old "quack medical consumer product," and as far as I can tell exempt from Nuclear Regulatory Commission or state licensing regulations as a small quantity of uranium ore. Paul's Web site above has more interesting information. Dave Allard, CHP, PhD
Answer posted on 29 November 2000. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.
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