Seventy years ago, prospecting for uranium was seen as a good way to get rich, and the February 1949 issue of Popular Mechanics showed how to do it. The issue included an article with pointers for the beginner, and also featured a construction article about how to build a Geiger counter. The electrical circuit was simplicity itself, and the unit was built into a metal lunch box.

The only caution involved the 900 volt power supply, supplied by three 300 volt dry cells. The article did caution not to touch the terminals.