CD V-740 Pocket Dosimeter (ca. 1956)
The CD V-740 was a direct-reading (self-reading) pocket dosimeter that measured exposures from 0-100 roentgen (R). The 1959 revision of Technical Bulletin TB-11-20 Radiological Instruments for Civil Defense stated that the CD V-740 had been superseded by the CD V-742.
Manufacturers: Landsverk, Bendix
Number manufactured: Approximately 160,000
Size: 4.5" long, 0.5" diameter
An early production run example of the CD V-740 manufactured by the Landsverk Electrometer Company and donated to the ORAU collection by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Approximate Cumulative Procurement, Inventory and Distribution of CD V-740s*
| Fiscal Year | Procured | Inventoried | Distributed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through FY 1956 | 3,857 | ||
| Through FY 1957 | 35,334 | 7,021 | |
| FY 1958 | 129,280 | 42,007 | |
| FY 1959 | 148,796 | 92,489 | 56,307 |
| FY 1960 | 149,150 | 84,987 | 64,163 |
| FY 1961 | 162,950 | 94,681 | 68,269 |
| FY 1962 | 162,950 | 77,502 | 84,358 |
| FY 1963 | 162,950 | ||
| FY 1964 | 162,950 | ||
| FY 1965 | 162,950 | 7,592 | 149,130 |
| FY 1966 | 162,950 | 7,594 | 155,256 |
| FY 1967 | 162,950 | 6,759 | 156,091 |
| FY 1968 | 162,950 | 7,436 | 155,414 |
| FY 1969 | 162,950 | 5,964 | 156,886 |
| FY 1970 | 162,950 | 5,907 | 156,943 |
| FY 1971 | 162,950 | 5,700 | 157,149 |
| FY 1972 | 162,950 | 5,569 | 157,280 |
| FY 1973 | 162,950 | ||
| FY 1974 | 162,950 | 5,142 | 157,707 |
*The numbers in the above table should be considered approximate. I compiled them from data in the Annual Statistical Reports of the OCDM, OCD and DCPA. By "procured," I mean delivered by the manufacturer to the OCDM, OCD or DCPA. "Inventoried" means stored in a Federal (rather than state) warehouse ready for distribution. "Distributed" means sent to the end user. The latter primarily means the states, but also various federal agencies and even foreign governments. The number of procured instruments may be greater than the combined number of inventoried and distributed instruments for a variety of reasons: some may have been sent back to the manufacturer, some may have been disposed of, the numbers might be incorrect, etc.
All of the above were donated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency courtesy of Carl Siebentritt.
References
- Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, Radiological Instruments for Civil Defense Technical Bulletin TB-11-20, Revised June 1959.
- Department of Defense, Office of Civil Defense, Handbook for Radiological Monitors FG-E-5.9, April 1963.