Seems odd you would throw away the old dials. However it does kinda make sense because the luminescent paint that used the most radium was generally military dials. People that collect elements will often keep radioactive dials/hands and the military ones are more desirable because they contain more of the special element.,(reply>), even now, tritium is mostly limited to almost the exact same military uses - glowing dials.  there's a little in civilian hands but not much.