AN/PDR-32 GM Survey Meter (early 1950s)

AN/PDR-32 GM Survey Meter

A high range meter that employs two halogen quenched GM tubes connected in parallel. Normally a GM tube would not be used in a high-end instrument because it would be prone to saturation. However, this is not a problem if the detector operates in the current mode (i.e, the circuit integrates the charge) rather than the more usual pulse mode. A vibrator type transformer (similar to an induction coil) is used to step up the high voltage. The meter employs a five-decade logarithmic scale from 5 mR/h to 500 R/h. It seems that this unit was based on the LeVine meter.

The AN/PDR-32 was identified as being obsolete in the 1975 version of the List of Radiacs in the Navy Program

Manufactured by Anton Electronic Laboratories, Inc., of Brooklyn New York (contract date: 1951).

Range: 0.005 to 500 R/h

Audio: No speaker, but employs hearing aid type of headset

AN/PDR-32 GM Survey Meter (early 1950s)

Size: 3” x 3.25” x 6.5”

Weight: 1.5 pounds

Batteries: Two 1.5 volt

References

  • Levine, H.D. and H.J. DiGiovanni, “An Inexpensive, Wide Range Gamma Ray Geiger Survey Meter, NYO-1538, January 1951.
  • Morgan, K.Z., “Health Control and Nuclear Research,” unpublished manuscript, ca. 1951-1955.
  • Naval Electronic Systems Command, List of Radiacs in the Navy Program P-9670-1, February 1975.
  • Department of the Navy, Directory of Radiac Equipment, NAVSHIPS 94200.5, page date April 1958.