CD V-700 Gamma Survey Meter
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CD V-700 family from the Model 1 to the Model 6B
Bottom row, right to left, Model 6 Anton Electronic Labs, Model 6 Victoreen Inst. Co., Model 6A Victoreen Inst. Co., Model 6B Victoreen Inst. Co., Model 6B Lionel Electronic Labs, Model 6B Electro-Neutronics Inc. Click photo to see larger version.
"CD-V700 radiation survey meter is a sensitive low-range instrument that can be used to measure gamma radiation and detect beta radiation. It is recommended for (1) monitoring of personnel, food and water when used in a shielded facility or an area of low radiation background, and (2) follow-up monitoring or areas for human habitation and food production. The instrument is also used in training programs where low radiation dose rates are encountered.
Operationally this instrument consists of a radiation detector, a regulated high voltage supply, electronic circuitry for pulse shaping and metering, and an indicating meter and headphone for audible detection of radiation. Ranges of this instrument are 0-0.5, 0-5, 0-50, milliroentgens/hour. When properly calibrated, the response of this instrument is within the range of plus or minus 15 percent of the true gamma radiation dose rate from Cobalt 60 or Cesium 137 radioactive sources.
The detecting element (see photo above) of the CD V-700 is a Geiger
Mueller (GM) tube with an adjustable probe shield so that only a gamma
radiation dose rate is measured beta and gamma can be indicated together
with the probe shield open (see photo above). This instrument is
designed for sensitive measurements and has very limited usefulness in
areas of high [radioactive] contamination.
In radiological defense operations, during periods of high radiation intensity,
the instruments [CD V-700] would have to be used in locations well shielded
from fallout radiation where food, water, and personnel could be checked
for contamination. During the later recovery period, it [CD V-700] will
be used to locate remaining sources of contamination that might need to
be removed for long-term occupancy. A
special Geiger tube can be used to shift the range of this instrument
upwards by a factor of 10; that is to 0-5, 0-50 and 0-500 milliroentgens/hour."
(From Radiological Defense Planning & Operations Guide SM-11.23.2
Revised March 1967)
Click on the photos to see larger versions.
Nuclear Measurements Model GS-3CD, CD V-700 Model 1,
 NMC GS-3CD CD V-700 Model 1 |
 Instead of the usual CD emblem this side has "Property U.S. Government FCDA" stamped on it. |
 Side check source/ ID plate. Serial No. 394 |
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Pictured above is the CD V-700 Model 1/GS-3CD. The CD V-700 Model 1 case bottom didn't have the usual CD emblem like the later CD V-700s. The CD V-700 Model 1 had "Property U.S. Government FCDA" ink stamped on the side. The CD V-700 Models 1 and 2 both used glass GM tubes seen in the lower left photo above.
The lower right photo above shows a Nuclear Measurements GS-3 prospecting counter. This was the Nuclear Measurements version of the instrument sold to the public for uranium prospecting. This unit's meter only has a C/M (counts per minute) scale. The GS-3 is the same as the GS-3CD except of the color and the GS-3 has a larger probe and GM tube.
Here are some pages from the OCDM Advisory Bulletin No.229, Interim Procedures For Maintenance Of Radiological Instruments, Dated Jan. 8 1959. Here are links to scans of the cover and 4 pages of the bulletin that mention the CD V-700 Model 1 and Model 2.
Cover Page Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Thanks to Neil Unger for scanning the pages of this document!
This bulletin has battery installation and operation instructions for the early instruments. These pages show the instructions for the
GS-3CD/OCDM CD V-700 Model 1.
A Note On Early CD V-700 Batteries
The CD V-700 Models 1-3 all take 3-45 volt and 2-1.5 volt D-cell batteries. The 45 volt batteries are Eveready 415 models and run about $20 each so keep that in mind if you are looking to buy one of these old 700s. It will cost at least $60 to power up that old 700 just to see if it works.
CD V-700 Model 2 Victoreen Instrument Company
 Victroeen, Vico 661 CD V-700 Model 2 |
 Victroeen, Vico 661 CD V-700 Model 2 |
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Here are some photos of the CD V-700 Model 3. The Chatham & IPMW CD V-700 Model 3s are the most unique CD V-700s with their rounded cast aluminum construction. I have an IPMW Model 3 manual and almost all the part numbers in the manual parts list are Chatham part numbers. Maybe IPMW took over the contract from Chatham. My IPMW unit is pretty rough with bad paint chipping.
The CD V-700 Model 3s still have manufacturers part numbers on them in addition to the CD V-700 number. The Chatham is CH-700 and the IPMW is IP-700. Later model CD V-700s didn't have manufacturers part numbers on them.
CD V-700 Model 3 Check SourcesThe CD V-700 Model 3s check sources are on the bottom of the case. The source is located in a recessed hole cast into the center of the case bottom.
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The CD V-700 Model 4 (left in photos) by Universal Atomics is the only plastic-case CD V-700 that I know of and is by far the poorest quality CD V-700, in my opinion. It was the first CD V-700 to use only D-cell batteries though which was a plus. I guess I think of it as the poorest quality model because the 2 I have are in really rough shape because of the deterioration of the plastic case (material cracking, breaking off of the latch tabs etc). The CD V-700 Model 5 manufactured by Anton Electronic Labs (right in photos) is a nice little unit. All of these that I have are in really nice shape and are really cool little CD V-700s. The Anton Model 5 uses 5 D-cell batteries too. Click photos to enlarge.
CD V-700 Models 6 and 6AIn 1960-61 the CD instrument funding started increasing again after steadily declining since 1956. With that increase in funding the CD V-700 Model 6s arrived. The CD V-700 Model 6s by Anton and Victoreen were the first of the larger case CD V-700s. All the previous CD V-700s had smaller cases. I wish I could find the original Civil Defense specifications for these instruments. It would be interesting to see what changed in the specification between the earlier models 1 through 5 and model 6 CD V-700s.
It's interesting to compare the Anton CD V-700 Model 5 and the Anton CD V-700 Model 6. I did so with the two I have in my collection and they appear to be the exact same instrument electronic circuitry-wise. The only difference in the Anton Model 5 and 6 is the case and the larger indicating meter on the Model 6 as far as I can tell. There are also a few Lionel CD V-700 Model 6s out there. The one that I have has an Anton Model 6 case bottom. Actually it appears to be an Anton Model 6 with the Lionel name on it. I have never seen a Lionel CD V-700 6a. That doesn't mean that one didn't exist. I think Lionel took over instrument production from Anton which resulted in some mixed parts and manuals.
Also released in 1961 was the CD V-700 Model 6A. Victoreen was the only manufacturer of the CD V-700 Model 6A. I don't know what, if any, the difference in the Victoreen Model 6A and the Model 6 is. The Victoreen Model 6 and 6A use the same instruction and maintenance manual and appear to be the same instrument. Pictured in the photo are a Lionel, Anton, Victoreen CD V-700 Model 6 and a Victoreen CD V-700 Model 6a.
CD V-700 Model 6BIn 1962 Civil Defense instrument funding absolutely exploded! With the introduction of the CD V-715 high-range survey meter to fill the newly surveyed fallout shelters being stocked with supplies the CD V-700 Model 6Bs also arrived. Victoreen Instrument Co. and Lionel Electronic Laboratories (yes the same folks who gave us the toy trains) were the first manufacturers of the CD V-700 Model 6Bs in 1962 and 1963. The Victoreen Model 6B is pretty much the same as the Victoreen Model 6A except for some electronic circuitry changes. The Lionel CD V-700 Model 6B is a little bit different than the Victoreen CD V-700s in that it only uses 2-D cell batteries instead of the 4-D cells that the Victoreen units use. Electro-Neutronics Inc."ENI" also manufactured a CD V-700 Model 6B. The ENI CD V-700 Model 6B came out in 1964 being one of the last "new" issue Civl Defense instruments with the CD V-717 and CD V-715 Model 1B. 1964 was the last year for Civil Defense instrument funding at only about 1/10th the amount of funding appropriated just 2 years earlier in 1962.
From left to right in the photo are a Victoreeen, Lionel and Electro-Neutronics CD V-700 6Bs. Click photo to see larger.
CD V-700M modified to detect Alpha radiation.
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I finally received a couple of CD V-700Ms that were very generously donated to me. Thanks G!! The "700M" I had pictured here before is just a shell with an empty probe. So here is a complete working CD V-700M.
This version of the CD V-700 was a later modification of existing CD V-700s. I didn't include it in the top "family" photo because it was a modification. I don't know when exactly that the 700M modification took place. I think it was in the early 1970s. The FEMA CPG 4-1 has a report dated May 1973 covering problems with Victoreen CD V-700Ms so they would have probably been issued just before that. Only Electro-Neutronics Inc. and Victoreen CD V-700s were modified into CD V-700Ms. The 700M pictured is a ENI CD V-700 6b. The original probe was replaced with a different type to accommodate a different type of thin-window Geiger tube along with a modification of the existing CD V-700 electronics to adapt the circuitry to the new Geiger tube. The thin-window tube allows for detection of Alpha radiation in addition to the Beta and Gamma radiation the CD V-700 was already capable of detecting.
See more detailed info below....
The following CD V-700M description is from FEMA Document CPG 2-2 Dated September 16, 1991
Use of the CD V-700 for A1pha Emitters.
The standard CD V-700 will neither detect nor measure alpha radiation. The wall of the standard CD V-700 Geiger tube is much too thick for even the most energetic alpha radiation to penetrate. A special thin window Geiger tube which will detect alpha radiation has been developed for use with certain models of CD V-700 instruments. With such a Geiger tube installed, the instrument is designated the CD V-700M. The electronic circuitry of the CD V-700M has been modified to accommodate this type of detector. The CD V-700M may be used to detect the presence of an alpha emitter but would not provide a measure of the hazard. It would also detect any beta or gamma radiation present. As is the case for beta emitters, specialized equipment and techniques are required to measure an alpha radiation hazard. Most States have a few of the CD V-700M survey meters.
FEMA CPG 4-1 CD V-700M Related Documents.
Description of the Electro-Neutronics Inc. CD V-700 6b/CD V-700M From FEMA CPG 4-1 Volume 6 RM&C Manual
Victoreen CD V-700 6 and 6A Test Report from FEMA CPG 4-1 Vol. 6 RM&C Manual
CD
V-705 Speaker/Amplifier The CD V-705 speaker was issued to aid as a substitute for the headphones in radiological training classes. As far as I know there are only 2 models of the CD V-705 speaker. The CD V-700 on the left has a Model 1 clipped to it's side and the one on the right has a Model 2. Jordan Electronics made the Model 1 which appears to be simply a dosimeter charger case converted for speaker use. Univerity Sound made the Model 2 which is a bit larger that the Jordan unit. Both speakers use metal clips to hang onto the side of the CD V-700. Click on the photo to see a larger version.
Special Thanks to M.S., G.B. and M.R. for the CD V-705s!
