The Radium Girls: An Illinois Tragedy

[Boxerfan]

5. I have a signed dial from a radium girl....

I tinker with old pocket watches. I had a very grungy movement with a very badly damaged hand & dial set. Once I removed the dial to service the watch I found small markings on the back.

"Healy

11/25

Radium

Illinois"

This is clearly inscribed and almost unique. I'm very sure she would have been fired if she was caught signing a dial. I think it was her way of saying hello to a future she knew she wouldn't see.

I may have the face restored but now it sits in my display cabinet with my better watches. The face is almost illegible and dials are common so a replacement was found for the movement. There is still radium on the dials but kept i a sealed bag it is harmless. A restorer would e equipped to deal with the hazard.