Presented in this lot is a Vintage Victoreen CD V-715 "Geiger Counter" Radiation Detector, circa 1962. Originally from the State of Washington, Department of Emergency Services, Radiological Maintenance Shop in Olympia, Washington. At the height of the Cold War during the Cuban missile crisis, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) was swamped with requests from the public for radiation detectors. Since OCD was not in the business of supplying instrumentation to the public, several companies stepped in to fill the need. Bendix, for example, produced the Family Radiation Measurement Kit. At the time, the Victoreen Instrument Company was in the midst of a huge production run of CD V-720 ion chambers for OCD and it was very easy for them to market a slightly modified version to the public. The crisis lasted from October 16 to October 28 in 1962. The confrontation is widely considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into full-scale nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis had a significant impact on the American people in various ways including creating a sense of fear and anxiety among the American people. Geiger counter is a colloquial name for any hand-held radiation measuring device in civil defense, but most civil defense devices were ion-chamber radiological survey meters capable of measuring only high levels of radiation that would be present after a major nuclear event. Most Geiger and ion-chamber survey meters were issued by governmental civil defense organizations in several countries from the 1950s in the midst of the Cold War in an effort to help prepare citizens for a nuclear attack. This geiger counter has its original date stamped calibration card, a military spec. desiccant package, and its original Instruction and Maintenance Manual. Unit has a CD (Civil Defense) sticker on the exterior of the case. OCD ITEM NO. CDV-715, MODEL NO. 1A SER. NO. 170749 THE VICTOREEN INSTRUMENT CO. CLEVELAND, OHIO. Slight scuffing and scratches from normal handling and use. Appears to function as intended, uses 1.5 volt battery, not included. Measures 4.5"W x 9.75"L x 6"H, weight 2lb, 12oz.