The toy at the top of my list has to be the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab. It sold for a whopping 50 bucks from 1950-1951. So why would those Government Fun-killers put an end to this toy? Honestly, I have no clue. The set came with an electroscope, a geiger counter, a manual, a comic book (Dagwood Splits the Atom), and a government manual – that’s it. ). I mean what’s so bad about that?
Ok, maybe if I had to venture a guess, it might be ‘cause the kit also contained 4 types of low level uranium ore: a beta-alpha source (Pb-210), a pure beta source (Ru-106), a gamma source (Zn-65?), a spinthariscope, a cloud chamber with its own short-lived alpha source (Po-210.
FYI…one set sold recently on ebay for 5 grand.
50 bucks in '50-'51, was quite costly!
ReplyDeleteThat is a very cool kit, in 1950 - $50 bucks was 5 grand
ReplyDeleteThat's it, i will buy it and either end up like the incredible hulk or in the hospital with an uranium intoxication. If you don't see me around for a while, you know what happened.
ReplyDeleteThis is the type of toy people should've given me when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap! I would so get one, if it didn't cost a limb.
ReplyDeleteAlso thanks for making me Blog of the Day! Cheers.
I need one. I need one now. I need one, a humpback elf, a laboratory, two buttons, and a pigeon.
ReplyDeleteIts like a make your own nuclear bomb toy! awesome!
ReplyDeleteFive grand!??! Holy Crapiola!! Fuckin' Jackpot of NOTE
ReplyDelete$5,000!!!!, somebody made a killing, possibly the government.
ReplyDeleteIf I only had 5 grand.... no wait, I still wouldn't buy it
ReplyDeleteIt contained actual nuclear material? Yeah that would be a good reason to recall it.
ReplyDeleteSounds pretty safe.
ReplyDeleteI will finish your sentence for you. One recenently sold on ebay for 5 grand to the Iranian Government.
ReplyDeleteThat's not exactly politically correct these days.
ReplyDeletewow what a cool toy from the past
ReplyDeleteMan, that was crazy!
ReplyDeleteIf they sold things like these nowadays everyone would radiate a glow of happiness
ReplyDeleteHoly crap that is awesome, and I thought I had a cool science set growing up.
ReplyDeleteawesome toy :D
ReplyDeletewant it
Does it also come with a toupee to wear when your hair starts falling out? If that is in the mix, I'm good for the 5 grand.
ReplyDeletewoow amazing toy
ReplyDeleteis so cool :P
Were they afraid kids would blow things up? Well, maybe they would...
ReplyDeleteNice blog
ReplyDelete+follow!
The government is such a killjoy!!! And wowza...that was a lot of money!
ReplyDeleteI had an awesome chemistry set in the early 70s. Unfortunately, dad confiscated the alcohol lamp immediately. I also had a dissecting kit; Mum confiscated the dissecting needle/probe, hid it, stuck her finger with it later on, had to get a tetanus shot. No more kits. :-((
ReplyDeleteawesome.....ill take 2
ReplyDeleteUranium? Well, that's pretty unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteI know what I want for Christmas....
ReplyDeleteSweet toy! I like this blog; following!
ReplyDelete