Scientific Instruments
Civil Defense radiation dosage calculator
Smithsonian, National Postal Museum. Open access, CC0.

Civil Defense radiation dosage calculator

Date
c. 1963
Materials
plastic; paper; metal
Dimensions
Height x Width x Depth (Envelope): 5 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 1/8 in. (13.34 x 11.43 x 0.32 cm) Height x Width x Depth (Calculator): 4 5/16 x 4 5/16 x 1/16 in. (10.95 x 10.95 x 0.16 cm) Height x Width x Depth (Directions Open): 5 x 5 1/4 in. (12.7 x 13.34 cm) Height x Width (Directions Closed): 5 x 4 1/8 in. (12.7 x 10.48 cm)
Museum
National Postal Museum
Credit line
Transfer from the United States Postal Inspection Service

Civil Defense radiation dosage calculator with plastic dial chart, instruction sheet, and envelope. This was part of historical items transferred to the museum from the US Postal Inspection Service. This was part of the United States Civil Defense program of which the Post Office Department, and later United States Postal Service, were to serve the public during an emergency.

References:

“The Postal Service’s Role in Civil Defense during the Cold War.” Unites States Postal Service Historian’s Office. July 2021. https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/postal-service-role-in-civil-defense.pdf

The museum's own record (Smithsonian, National Postal Museum)