On Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:57:02 +0000, Mike Barnes wrote:

The clock I bought recently has some kind of fluorescent paint that
glows green for a short while after the light goes out, but not long
enough to be of much use.

The non-radioactive paints need "charging up" with decent light, kept
in room with the curtains closed or only brief artifical light source
they are dim. The best way to charge up these paints is with a UV
light source, say a bank note light or one for making the invisible
security pens visible.

There are still radio active glow in the dark things in the market.
Mostly emergency signs and the like, they use tritium IIRC rather
than radium.

--
Cheers
Dave.