# Where to get an old fashioned geiger counter

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 4, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483 "2011-08-04T17:53:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483/1 "2011-08-04T17:53:04Z")

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Is there anyplace where I could get a working old fashioned geiger counter fairly cheap (under $50)?

Don’t worry, I’m not planning on becoming the next radioactive boy scout or anything, just thought it would be a neat thing to own.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483/2 "2011-08-04T18:09:34Z")

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I occasionally see these in AS&S’s catalog, or on ebay.  
But, beware - most older Geiger counters use a true Geiger-Mueller tube, with a very thing metal shell, and they are often collapsed due to atmospheric pressure, and replacement tubes are hard (or impossible) to find.

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483/3 "2011-08-04T18:32:15Z")

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i’ve not seen any, nor have i looked for any, in a while. prices were much higher than you want as i recall.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483/4 "2011-08-04T18:48:03Z")

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Here are [three](http://cgi.ebay.com/Geiger-Radiation-Counters-Vintage-Lot-3-/110724592656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c7b33410#ht_500wt_1190). Maybe you can make one working one out of the parts.

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**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-get-an-old-fashioned-geiger-counter/591483/5 "2011-08-04T19:20:40Z")

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[Ebay is crawling with them.](http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=geiger+counter+civil+defense&_sacat=0&_odkw=geiger+counter&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313&LH_TitleDesc=1)