CD V-138 Pocket Dosimeters (1956, 1990)
The CD V-138 had the lowest exposure range of the various CDV pocket dosimeters: 0-200 milliroentgens. Since measurements this low didn't serve much of a civil defense purpose, the CD V-138 was primarily intended for use in training. Approximately 220,000 of these were produced.
An early production run example of the CD V-138 manufactured by the Landsverk Electrometer Company and donated to the ORAU collection by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The typed paper label on the dosimeter barrel reads: "V-138 Production Landsverk 1956." Size: 4" long, 1/2" diameter
A black plastic version of the CD V-138. They looked so bad when painted yellow that FEMA decided to go with a black version. This example was manufactured at the William Langer Jewel Bearing Plant in Rolla North Dakota (when it was operated by the Bulova Watch Company). In 1996 this facility was privatized and became Arrow-Tech. Size: 4 1/4" long. 1/2" diameter (ca. 1990)
The above photo shows a 0-200 mR plastic dosimeter with the FEMA seal on the barrel. It lacks any CDV designation but it would be the CD V-138 based on its exposure range.
Approximate Cumulative Procurement, Inventory and Distribution of CD V-138s*
| Fiscal Year | Procured | Inventoried | Distributed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through FY 1957 | - | - | - |
| FY 1958 | 4,600 | 1,972 | |
| FY 1959 | 5,000 | 32 | 4,968 |
| FY 1960 | 54,760 | 22,703 | 32,057 |
| FY 1961 | 186,788 | 110,422 | 76,366 |
| FY 1962 | 221,866 | 138,268 | 83,598 |
| FY 1963 | 221,866 | ||
| FY 1964 | 221,866 | ||
| FY 1965 | 221,866 | 107,230 | 107,673 |
| FY 1966 | 221,866 | 95,242 | 126,497 |
| FY 1967 | 221,866 | 87,593 | 134,138 |
| FY 1968 | 221,866 | 80,238 | 141,493 |
| FY 1969 | 221,866 | 74,503 | 147,198 |
| FY 1970 | 221,866 | 70,972 | 150,717 |
| FY 1971 | 221,866 | 66,902 | 154,796 |
| FY 1972 | 221,866 | 64,223 | 157,475 |
| FY 1973 | 221,866 | ||
| FY 1974 | 221,866 | 32,286 | 189,412 |
*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.
Donated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency courtesy of Carl Siebentritt and the Defense National Stockpile Center courtesy of Mike Pecullan.