New pricing as of July 2009:

General Purpose Portable Meters Part Number Price

MODEL 3 Survey Meter 48-1605 495.00

MODEL 3A Survey Meter with Alarm 48-1408 775.00

MODEL 12 Ratemeter 48-1609 767.00

MODEL 14C Survey Meter 48-1611 656.00

MODEL 16 Analyzer 48-1612 1097.00

MODEL 18 Analyzer 48-1613 1145.00

Alpha/Beta/Gamma Detectors

MODEL 44-7 Thin End Window G-M Detector 47-1536 235.00

MODEL 44-9 Pancake G-M Detector 47-1539 215.00

Beta/Gamma Detectors Part Number Price

MODEL 44-6 Thin Wall G-M Detector 47-1535 240.00

MODEL 44-38 Energy Compensated G-M Detector 47-1588 255.00

 

Gamma Detectors

MODEL 44-2 1” X 1” NaI Gamma Scintillator 47-1532 560.00

MODEL 44-3 1” X 1 mm NaI Low Energy Gamma Scintillator 47-1533 495.00

MODEL 44-10 2” X 2” NaI Gamma Scintillator 47-1540 966.00

 

Scaler/Ratemeters

MODEL 2221 Portable Scaler/Ratemeter, SCA 48-2065 2175.00

MODEL 2224 Alpha Beta Scaler/Ratemeter 48-2494 1712.00

MODEL 2224-1 Alpha Beta Scaler/Ratemeter 48-2679 1675.00

MODEL 2241 Digital Scaler/Ratemeter 48-2444 995.00

MODEL 2241-2 Digital Scaler/Ratemeter 48-2731 995.00

MODEL 2241-3 Digital Scaler/Ratemeter 48-2864 1195.00

MODEL 2241-3i Digital Scaler/Ratemeter 48-3358 1628.00

MODEL 2242 Survey Meter 48-3437 2373.00

 

Full price list here:

http://www.ludlums.com/images/stories/pdf_files/DOM-PRICE-LIST-JUL20-09.pdf

 

 

Model 3's are a really good instrument and are still listed in the
current catalog at Ludlum's. They are probably the workhorse unit in
the industry and that's why we see so many used ones. The model has
been around for decades though, with many changes to the meter
housing, calibration control scheme and internal electronics, all
with no change to the model #.
A few things you can watch for, to sort of "date" what you are
looking at:

Meter housing- Older styles had solid black all around. Newer
versions have 4 large silver screws visible, one in each corner of
the black part around the meter.

Early units had a large protruding bulge in the bottom can to accommodate
the sounder, newer ones almost flush.

Calibration pots: older units had open holes near each of the range
multiplier numbers. Nice to have easy access to the pots, but allowed
dirt to get into the cal pots. And it did. They are a big deal to
change out too. Newer design clusters all the pots off to the right
side in a grouping, and has a plate that covers them. This plate is
held on with 2 screws. The electronics boards inside are very much
updated along the way also.

 

Old style handles were secured with a single screw, newer ones have 3 screws, one in front, 2 in back.

For the latest and greatest- look for 4 meter screws, 2 cal pot cover
screws.

Model 3 is a basic design unit with most of the "modern" sought after
features added and is made to work under most all conditions.
Accepting GM probes as well as scintillators, they have a sensitivity
of 30 milliVolts ( that's good), and the HV is adjustable but not
read out on the meter ( Bummer!). Battery can be checked on the meter.

Scales are made to be easily exchanged.

Read why they need to be matched to the probe here:

http://www.qsl.net/k0ff/DIAL%20SCALES/


The value of any aged unit as you see on eBay is 100% dependant on
it's condition and functionality. A well cared for older unit could
easily be worth more than an abused newer one. When it is working
correctly, the vintage is relatively unimportant. Some would view the
intricate hand wiring in the older units with admiration and special
respect.
As far as what it will do or not do, the thing will work with
scintillation detectors which a CDV 700 will not. It has audio
annunciation ( can be switched off) , which the CDV 700 does not and
it has probe interchangeability as well as 4 ranges instead of 3. The
reset button is another neat feature and the response time can be
changed from fast to slow via a front panel switch. . Once in a while
you see model 3A, it also has the alarm function.
Really a well thought out piece of engineering.



The next step up is the model 12, which has all the usual things plus
meter readout of HV, and adjustable discriminator control.

 

Model 14C about the same as a Model 3 but has an additional range switch position which reads the

internal high range GM tube only

 

Model 16 and 18 are called ANALYZERS. These are really only SINGLE CHANNEL ANALYZERS

which  must be set up in advance to detect a single isotope. They are NOT isotope identifiers

 

Top of the line in terms of bells and whistles would be the Model 2221. It has about every feature ever dreamed of, but the

weight and price are pretty heavy..

Virtually all parts and manuals are easily obtainable(and
affordable!) from Ludlum ( hurrah!) unlike Bicron, Eberline etc. who
won't even talk to hobbyists.

Have Fun

Geo