Cool to see the tiles! I have a large collection of uranium oxide glazed ceramics, but had never even seen such tiles. The color certainly fits the hottest of them!
The original Malibu tile factories closed sometime in the 1930s. A reincarnation of the Malibu tile company is in business today and still producing tile much like the old stuff. The thing is when you buy it you might be getting old stock or new stock. My best guess would be that the new stock does not use the same glazes as the old stock and is probably not radioactive like the glazes on the old stock. It could be that some of your tile was new stock and not radioactive. The hot stuff was probably the old stuff.
very nice drew! i’ve been looking into getting tiles and plates as i have yet to get anything with a uranium glaze. i kept searching antique shops and i only found really low level glazed like yellow and pink, and a really dark red. i currently focus my collecting more on military items with radium, like bridge markers, but i definitely need to get some glazed stuff. i would kill to have some sweet uranium tiles! thanks for the video, i enjoyed watching!
Can you imagine how much energy would be emitted by an entire roof of that stuff? If I didn't already know that Howard Johnson made its roofs out of orange metal tiles, I'd think they were offering kids a whole lot more than 28 flavors in years past. Try using one of those mini razor box cutters. A whole lot faster and safer than your big machete knife, lol. Thanks for the great video. Always very interesting!
The tiles were dipped in the glaze. We kept glazes in buckets and dunked the pieces. If there was a part that we didn’t want glaze(bottom of mugs), then you pre coat the bottom with hot wax that burns off in the kiln.
There are a couple books out there that talk about the process of glazing pieces like this. But the information is limited that's for sure. Might have something to do with the glaze formulas being kept as a secret.
Hey Drew, great video as always! In the future can you please use your Gamma filter more often? Most of us don't have an Alpha detector and it would help gauge what we're looking at better, especially if the measurement is in Sieverts, as opposed to total Alpha, Beta, Gamma CPM. Many thanks!!
I'll try and pop the gamma filter on in future videos. Detectors that can see alpha, beta and gamma are very obtainable. They don't all have to be like the one I'm using.
I bought some uranium ore samples from a seller on EB a few years ago, wrapped in plastic, with identification on the outside. The seller also included some texts of uranium mining, and a DVD about uranium deposits in the West. This was the first thing that really made my Geiger counter go wild!
Great video! I finally found my first uranium glazed ceramic. it was a Bauer plate about a foot in diameter. No date. Just the name and Los Angeles on the back. Thanks for getting me interested in collecting these types of antiques
That sounds like a good one. There are some pretty big plates you can find out there that are beautiful. I have a cake serving plate from Pacific that I believe is 18" across. I have a video planned about these plates and how radiation is emitted over such a large surface area.
The gamma radiation coming off of these tiles isn't very high. The majority of the activity seems to come from beta and alpha radiation...in that order.
I noticed the eBay thing too. I used to buy all sorts of fun stuff for my element collection. You can still find some ore samples but it's a lot harder now.
Usually that's for gamma emitters. I've had some pretty hot items come through the mail with no problems so far. I can't remember the dose rate limits they have on shipped items. But it is listed somewhere on the USPS site.
Now I want to go to Malibu and figure out where Malibu Tiles used to be- and take a counter. You know the ground around where they applied and fired those glazes is probably still a bit warm (and yeah I saw your video on the Adamson House.. I'm just wondering where they made and fired them) EDIT never mind I found it- it was right on the beach south/east of the pier. The Adamson House, other of Ringe's homes, the factory, all was right around that one section of the coast.
It seems like all evidence of the Malibu Tiles manufacturing area is gone. I have yet to explore the exact area to see if there is an elevated levels...maybe next time I'm down there.
I’m friends with a couple antique store owners, they always get me the best stuff, from uranium glass to radium dials. For online items, I usually go to United Nuclear, that’s how I got my trinitite sample. The best item I found recently was a gyrocompass that sits around 160k CPM. I have to keep lead plates around it otherwise I can detect the gamma rays over 10ft away. Someday I’ll have to invest in a lead lined safe or cabinet or make my own.
Lovely stuff, as always! How about a collab with Currently Rockhounding? For me, personally, you two going on a rockhounding roadtrip would just be the pinnacle of entertainment. And, in an alternate reality, I'd be right there with you. I already planted the seed with Jared, and here I am, coming for you, Drew. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would be absolutely delighted to see this happen. I hope this message finds you in good health. Much love from Sweden.
I should have asked in my earlier comment but it just occurred to me. Do you know much about the depleted uranium tank shells? I know the Abrams tank uses them, I was wondering if your geiger counter would have any signal from something like that being depleted. I am also curious as to whether the geiger counter would show any reading after the depleted uranium round went through its target. I wonder
Depleted uranium munitions have about half of the U-235 removed from the natural uranium. Makes little difference in the activity of the uranium. The mix of uranium 238 to 235 is about 99.3% (U-238) and 0.7% (U-235). So a target shot with one of those rounds would be contaminated with uranium.
that part where you're rotating the tiles to expose the glaze really makes me think of some nuclear reactor designs where they have rotating drums around the core, with neutron reflecting or absorbing materials on different sides so they can turn them in and out for control
Have you ever tried to buy the various Thorium contaminated Chinese "health" products that are sold these days? It's kind of a game of "is this laced with thorium". I had a bird cage with thorium white paint.. I had a radioactive bird cage....
Obvious question: It's illegal to post anything radioactive in Australia via normal mail, and I assume the USA is the same. As the radiation can be detected outside the box, I can only assume USPS doesn't test packages.
Its mainly if the dose rate goes over a certain threshold that makes it a no go to be shipped with normal mail. Its also illegal to ship uranium ore out of the United States. Shipping ports have scanners that can see certain mixes of isotopes and have them flagged. But uranium glazed ceramics seem to be okay with getting out.
I think that those are Italian made tiles. In the mid to late thirties uranium costs and inflation drove artisans to look for other formulas. The crudeness of the glaze might indicate this being an early attempt. I bought an old bowl from that era that had a much more refined glaze but was not from uranium glaze. It was a bit disappointing but it was a very nice decorative bowl.
That's interesting. Uranium was always great to use as a pigment because it was considered waste from the extraction of radium. Makes me think the earlier reds and oranges might have been cinnabar, mercury ore...but I don't know for sure.
SO I took the Nevada Test Site tour. Crazy to see in person and visit ground zero and the edges of some huge subsidence craters. I purposely rubbed my (cleaned) shoes in the dirt at the gun turret which is half a mile east of the ground zero of Turk and Badger. Did it more at the lip of Sedan crater and Frenchman Flat. Took the shoes off back at the hotel and put my Radiacode 102 on them for like 6 hours. Whatever may or may not be in that topsoil, the background here in Vegas near the Mandalay Bay is like 260 cpm and my brick exterior bedroom in Denver is about 650+. So my bedroom is officially hotter than my shoes after walking in both Rocky Flats AND the fucking Sedan Crater. I'm a bit gobsmacked. 😆
That's really too bad that the square tiles were not what they should have been. But those are certainly interesting tiles! And no wonder that color is hot! It totally is! Lol! Thanks Drew for sharing your knowledge with us!
@RadioactiveDrew Just a update may 31st. I'll be going hot with Technetium99m and xenon for ventilation/ perfusion scan I'm told the radio tracer will stay in my body for 24 hour and decay and excreted thru the kidneys and so on ...etc.etc
The QR code isn't covered up, and even the barcode can be decoded with a bit of effort to get the tracking number. I would just cover it up completely.
All three criteria would be helpful in knowing if a tile is going to be radioactive or not. Usually the red / orange tiles are going to be the most active. But I have seen some exceptions to that. I have an old ash tray that has a black glaze and its just as active as a red / orange piece.
If they match up. You might could make a cylinder out of the corners. Sharpen that knife to. No sense carrying a butter knife around with you. 😉🫡🇺🇸💯Nice work btw. That sucks the tile weren't the right kind🤷 at least you got something that's hot.
Why would someone want a uranium glazed tile back in the day anyways? You think if you have like a whole bathroom like that it would be self sterilizing? . . . Or maybe the theory was bacteria would be reluctant to start growing (since it's a low dosage of radiation)? Sometime in the near future I'm gonna need to remodel my bathroom, that would actually be a really cool feature to have if there's any truth to that.
They were concerned with appearance not with the radioactivity. A lot of those tiles went into expensive homes and buildings as they were considered very ornate. They were frequently used along stairways, hallways and along archways, etc. In those days tiles were not just for bathrooms. The uranium compounds were used to produce the vivid colours that made the tiles very decorative, stylish, and appealing. Any radiation emanating from the tiles was not considered to be an issue. The use of the tiles was strictly about appearance.
This is why I quit trying to get a hot camera lense off Ebay. They're either drastically overpriced or you're just rolling the dice and hoping you get what's described. There is really no excuse for the people selling this stuff to not have a cheap detector.
There is a list out there where people have documented thorium doped photography lenses. So that can cut down on the guessing a bit. Some people put thorium lens in the listing as well. I recently got a lens that was used in reconnaissance photography. Its not a lens I could readily use as a photography lens but its pretty rare and decently active. If you want to find some screaming hot lenses look for ones used as cinema lenses. I did a video about them a couple months ago. What I'm trying to say is don't give up in your search.
@RadioactiveDrew it was your video that brought them to my attention. I had no clue they existed before that. I am aware of the list of hot lenses, I believe most sellers are too, unfortunately. You're right, though. I certainly won't find one if I stop looking. Thanks Drew.
I collect them. I find the subject of radiation and radioactivity extremely interesting. Plus these tiles are slowly turning into other elements and are constantly releasing energy from this process.
@@RadioactiveDrew I understand, but radiation more than 30 times above ambient can start to be dangerous if you are constantly around it. Like I think you know radioactivity even in a low dosage is dangerous with time.
Dude you got me into radiation 2 years ago and that is now my special interest
most dangerous piece here is the dull blade 😭 nice radioactive pieces of history there!
Beautiful tiles! Love that classic orange glaze.
Its a very unique color.
Its weird to see someone bummed for NOT getting radioactive things in the mail lol
lol.. he wants Radioactive to teach his class.
My Thorium holistic playing cards have just arrived.
Great for the chakras
Cool to see the tiles! I have a large collection of uranium oxide glazed ceramics, but had never even seen such tiles. The color certainly fits the hottest of them!
Cool! :) Always love watching your videos! The best radiation youtuber in my opinion! :D
Thanks, I try to provide some good entertainment.
@@RadioactiveDrew and that you do! :D
The original Malibu tile factories closed sometime in the 1930s. A reincarnation of the Malibu tile company is in business today and still producing tile much like the old stuff. The thing is when you buy it you might be getting old stock or new stock. My best guess would be that the new stock does not use the same glazes as the old stock and is probably not radioactive like the glazes on the old stock. It could be that some of your tile was new stock and not radioactive. The hot stuff was probably the old stuff.
very nice drew! i’ve been looking into getting tiles and plates as i have yet to get anything with a uranium glaze. i kept searching antique shops and i only found really low level glazed like yellow and pink, and a really dark red. i currently focus my collecting more on military items with radium, like bridge markers, but i definitely need to get some glazed stuff. i would kill to have some sweet uranium tiles! thanks for the video, i enjoyed watching!
No problem, glad you enjoyed it.
That's going to be an interesting return:
D- You sold me fake tiles
Seller- How do you know that?
D- They ain't radioactive.
I ended up keeping them. I did inform the seller about what I found.
Can you imagine how much energy would be emitted by an entire roof of that stuff?
If I didn't already know that Howard Johnson made its roofs out of orange metal tiles, I'd think they were offering kids a whole lot more than 28 flavors in years past.
Try using one of those mini razor box cutters. A whole lot faster and safer than your big machete knife, lol.
Thanks for the great video. Always very interesting!
I have a box cutter but I usually use it to breakdown boxes.
You and your channel are _absolutely great_ 🤗
Thanks, again, Drew 🤩
The tiles were dipped in the glaze. We kept glazes in buckets and dunked the pieces. If there was a part that we didn’t want glaze(bottom of mugs), then you pre coat the bottom with hot wax that burns off in the kiln.
There are a couple books out there that talk about the process of glazing pieces like this. But the information is limited that's for sure. Might have something to do with the glaze formulas being kept as a secret.
“But it isn’t!”….You are funny brother!
I felt like i was at your house for Christmas.
Hope all is well.
Thank you again for the great video.
No problem…glad you enjoyed it.
Hey Drew, great video as always! In the future can you please use your Gamma filter more often? Most of us don't have an Alpha detector and it would help gauge what we're looking at better, especially if the measurement is in Sieverts, as opposed to total Alpha, Beta, Gamma CPM. Many thanks!!
I'll try and pop the gamma filter on in future videos. Detectors that can see alpha, beta and gamma are very obtainable. They don't all have to be like the one I'm using.
I bought some uranium ore samples from a seller on EB a few years ago, wrapped in plastic, with identification on the outside. The seller also included some texts of uranium mining, and a DVD about uranium deposits in the West. This was the first thing that really made my Geiger counter go wild!
Interesting video, thank you Drew.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment.
Great video would love to see more!!
There is always more on the way.
can u imagine having to return something because it's NOT radioactive lmao
I received some disapointing fiestaware bowls that I had to add to my normal dishes. It’s relatable
"Radioactive Red" might just be one of my new favorite colors. I should buy some Fiestaware or tiles! Loved the video, by the way.
Thanks...its a very interesting color.
Great video! I finally found my first uranium glazed ceramic. it was a Bauer plate about a foot in diameter. No date. Just the name and Los Angeles on the back. Thanks for getting me interested in collecting these types of antiques
That sounds like a good one. There are some pretty big plates you can find out there that are beautiful. I have a cake serving plate from Pacific that I believe is 18" across. I have a video planned about these plates and how radiation is emitted over such a large surface area.
@@RadioactiveDrew awesome look forward to seeing more !
Great video and very interesting tiles, but I missed the Sievert value in your geiger counter. How is it to have a room covered with these tiles?
The gamma radiation coming off of these tiles isn't very high. The majority of the activity seems to come from beta and alpha radiation...in that order.
The corner moldings are a nice little find. Wow, surprisingly hot. I wonder who the manufacturer was?
Pretty sure the listing said Malibu Pottery…but who knows for sure. There isn’t any makers mark.
I noticed the eBay thing too. I used to buy all sorts of fun stuff for my element collection. You can still find some ore samples but it's a lot harder now.
Yeah, sellers have to be very sneaky with how they are listing those items.
How strong does the radioactivity need to be before the post office sensors go off.
Usually that's for gamma emitters. I've had some pretty hot items come through the mail with no problems so far. I can't remember the dose rate limits they have on shipped items. But it is listed somewhere on the USPS site.
Now I want to go to Malibu and figure out where Malibu Tiles used to be- and take a counter. You know the ground around where they applied and fired those glazes is probably still a bit warm (and yeah I saw your video on the Adamson House.. I'm just wondering where they made and fired them) EDIT never mind I found it- it was right on the beach south/east of the pier. The Adamson House, other of Ringe's homes, the factory, all was right around that one section of the coast.
It seems like all evidence of the Malibu Tiles manufacturing area is gone. I have yet to explore the exact area to see if there is an elevated levels...maybe next time I'm down there.
I would love to see your collection some time!
A lot of my collection makes it into the videos. I think there are some things I haven't had on the channel yet.
@@RadioactiveDrew Sounds good. Thanks for the reply!
What do you think of building a cloud chamber to test some of these objects?
Its something that I've been wanting to do for a while. I get requests to do videos using a cloud chamber all the time. Just need to build one.
I’m friends with a couple antique store owners, they always get me the best stuff, from uranium glass to radium dials. For online items, I usually go to United Nuclear, that’s how I got my trinitite sample. The best item I found recently was a gyrocompass that sits around 160k CPM. I have to keep lead plates around it otherwise I can detect the gamma rays over 10ft away. Someday I’ll have to invest in a lead lined safe or cabinet or make my own.
Lovely stuff, as always! How about a collab with Currently Rockhounding? For me, personally, you two going on a rockhounding roadtrip would just be the pinnacle of entertainment. And, in an alternate reality, I'd be right there with you. I already planted the seed with Jared, and here I am, coming for you, Drew. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would be absolutely delighted to see this happen. I hope this message finds you in good health. Much love from Sweden.
I should have asked in my earlier comment but it just occurred to me.
Do you know much about the depleted uranium tank shells?
I know the Abrams tank uses them,
I was wondering if your geiger counter would have any signal from something like that being depleted.
I am also curious as to whether the geiger counter would show any reading after the depleted uranium round went through its target.
I wonder
Depleted uranium munitions have about half of the U-235 removed from the natural uranium. Makes little difference in the activity of the uranium. The mix of uranium 238 to 235 is about 99.3% (U-238) and 0.7% (U-235). So a target shot with one of those rounds would be contaminated with uranium.
You kick ass brother!
Thanks man…I try.
that part where you're rotating the tiles to expose the glaze really makes me think of some nuclear reactor designs where they have rotating drums around the core, with neutron reflecting or absorbing materials on different sides so they can turn them in and out for control
Its pretty cool that they can use that somewhat linear motion of radiation to control certain reactions.
Have you ever tried to buy the various Thorium contaminated Chinese "health" products that are sold these days? It's kind of a game of "is this laced with thorium". I had a bird cage with thorium white paint.. I had a radioactive bird cage....
Is there a certain level of radioactivity that you can't send through the mail? I was surprised he was able to mail them...
I've gotten items way hotter than these sent through the mail.
I bought a Uraninite sample on Ebay years ago to test a NIB CD V-700 I got from Ebay. Maybe it was from you.🙂 Thanks, enjoyed the vid.
Hahaha ... this is how i remeber Billings ...
ALL had (not sharpend) knifes ...
I sharpend them all for the guys.
Greets to Bozeman.
Obvious question: It's illegal to post anything radioactive in Australia via normal mail, and I assume the USA is the same. As the radiation can be detected outside the box, I can only assume USPS doesn't test packages.
Its mainly if the dose rate goes over a certain threshold that makes it a no go to be shipped with normal mail. Its also illegal to ship uranium ore out of the United States. Shipping ports have scanners that can see certain mixes of isotopes and have them flagged. But uranium glazed ceramics seem to be okay with getting out.
I think that those are Italian made tiles. In the mid to late thirties uranium costs and inflation drove artisans to look for other formulas. The crudeness of the glaze might indicate this being an early attempt.
I bought an old bowl from that era that had a much more refined glaze but was not from uranium glaze. It was a bit disappointing but it was a very nice decorative bowl.
That's interesting. Uranium was always great to use as a pigment because it was considered waste from the extraction of radium. Makes me think the earlier reds and oranges might have been cinnabar, mercury ore...but I don't know for sure.
SO I took the Nevada Test Site tour. Crazy to see in person and visit ground zero and the edges of some huge subsidence craters. I purposely rubbed my (cleaned) shoes in the dirt at the gun turret which is half a mile east of the ground zero of Turk and Badger. Did it more at the lip of Sedan crater and Frenchman Flat. Took the shoes off back at the hotel and put my Radiacode 102 on them for like 6 hours. Whatever may or may not be in that topsoil, the background here in Vegas near the Mandalay Bay is like 260 cpm and my brick exterior bedroom in Denver is about 650+. So my bedroom is officially hotter than my shoes after walking in both Rocky Flats AND the fucking Sedan Crater. I'm a bit gobsmacked. 😆
That's really too bad that the square tiles were not what they should have been. But those are certainly interesting tiles! And no wonder that color is hot! It totally is! Lol! Thanks Drew for sharing your knowledge with us!
Hey radioactive drew .....u said you buy stuff from united nuclear ...is that a bob lazar firm ...just curious
Yes, Bob Lazar owns United Nuclear. They have always been a very solid place to buy from.
You need a way to sell to some of your finds. I would totally buy some uranium as i cant find any so far in NC
I have a site I sell stuff on. uraniumstore.com . I'm listing these corner pieces and some other ceramics. Should be up on the site tomorrow morning.
I love the clicker
Drew's next ebay purchase: a sharp knife!
I have a bunch of sharp knives. But my EDC just needed some sharpening.
My first ☢️ unboxing video
This is why I unbox on recorded video now.
Smart!
Thanks for sharing.
Are meteorites that fall to earth ever radioactive at all?
They might have some trace radioactive isotopes in there...but as far as I know the vast majority aren't.
Do mail carriers not care for radioactive materials?
You keep collecting this stuff and one day you're going to reach critical mass. haha
Maybe if I kept it in a pile with some graphite.
@RadioactiveDrew Just a update may 31st. I'll be going hot with Technetium99m and xenon for ventilation/ perfusion scan I'm told the radio tracer will stay in my body for 24 hour and decay and excreted thru the kidneys and so on ...etc.etc
0:03 Careful, your address is visible here.
The QR code isn't covered up, and even the barcode can be decoded with a bit of effort to get the tracking number.
I would just cover it up completely.
I hate that eBay cracked down. There are very few radioactive items at all now. Even watches and compasses.
Does the tile color matter or just the manufacturer / time period?
All three criteria would be helpful in knowing if a tile is going to be radioactive or not. Usually the red / orange tiles are going to be the most active. But I have seen some exceptions to that. I have an old ash tray that has a black glaze and its just as active as a red / orange piece.
@@RadioactiveDrew I ordered a few small pieces from a seller on Ebay, I'll check them when they arrive.
I posted a reply but now I don't see it any longer. :(
Did you post a link? UA-cam will usually delete posts with links.
@@RadioactiveDrew Hello, no there were no links in it. I'll try again.
lol 300 is plenty or did it fall to under 30cpm ?
If they match up. You might could make a cylinder out of the corners. Sharpen that knife to. No sense carrying a butter knife around with you. 😉🫡🇺🇸💯Nice work btw. That sucks the tile weren't the right kind🤷 at least you got something that's hot.
Why would someone want a uranium glazed tile back in the day anyways? You think if you have like a whole bathroom like that it would be self sterilizing? . . . Or maybe the theory was bacteria would be reluctant to start growing (since it's a low dosage of radiation)? Sometime in the near future I'm gonna need to remodel my bathroom, that would actually be a really cool feature to have if there's any truth to that.
They were concerned with appearance not with the radioactivity. A lot of those tiles went into expensive homes and buildings as they were considered very ornate. They were frequently used along stairways, hallways and along archways, etc. In those days tiles were not just for bathrooms. The uranium compounds were used to produce the vivid colours that made the tiles very decorative, stylish, and appealing. Any radiation emanating from the tiles was not considered to be an issue. The use of the tiles was strictly about appearance.
online shopping can be like the lottery
Very true…a little better odds I would say.
That's alright, ebay takes a pretty high percentage of your sell price anyways.
Drew needs a knife sharpener... should we seutp a GoFundMe?
Hahaha…thanks. I have a sharpener from Benchmade. So I’m good.
This is why I quit trying to get a hot camera lense off Ebay. They're either drastically overpriced or you're just rolling the dice and hoping you get what's described.
There is really no excuse for the people selling this stuff to not have a cheap detector.
There is a list out there where people have documented thorium doped photography lenses. So that can cut down on the guessing a bit. Some people put thorium lens in the listing as well. I recently got a lens that was used in reconnaissance photography. Its not a lens I could readily use as a photography lens but its pretty rare and decently active. If you want to find some screaming hot lenses look for ones used as cinema lenses. I did a video about them a couple months ago. What I'm trying to say is don't give up in your search.
@RadioactiveDrew it was your video that brought them to my attention. I had no clue they existed before that. I am aware of the list of hot lenses, I believe most sellers are too, unfortunately. You're right, though. I certainly won't find one if I stop looking. Thanks Drew.
That's very disappointing concerning eBay. They definitely let their ignorance get the better of them and over-reacted.
etsy lets you sell items that are spicy... sooo maybe?
Why does you need the tiles to be radioactive, is the real question ?
I collect them. I find the subject of radiation and radioactivity extremely interesting. Plus these tiles are slowly turning into other elements and are constantly releasing energy from this process.
@@RadioactiveDrew I understand, but radiation more than 30 times above ambient can start to be dangerous if you are constantly around it.
Like I think you know radioactivity even in a low dosage is dangerous with time.
I have my own story with eBay... It used to be really fun but now it's just crap 😁