Scritto da
Non Autenticato
il 2016-02-29 20:34:48.0 alle 2016-02-29 20:34:48.0
http://hubpages.com/games-hobbies/Remembering-Fun-... 
Atomic Energy Lab
This as got to be the scariest toy ever created. Talk about the age of atomic fear brought straight into your living room. This must have been the perfect gift for the young terrorist in your family. Because nothing says "I Love You" more than giving your loved one their own Atomic Energy Lab kit, complete with radioactive material.
In 1951, A.C. Gilbert, creator of the Erector Set, introduced his U-238 Atomic Energy Lab. That's right kiddies! Your own radioactive learning set, that would make you the envy of the science club. Gilbert, was allegedly, "often compared to Walt Disney for his creative genius," must have believed that nuclear power could capture the imaginations of the children of the world, and what better way could there be than to package it, and sell it as a learning tool. Kind of like... in the same way a rock polishing kit, or microscope set is sold. For a mere $49.50 (which would equal around $350.00 today), the kit came complete with three "very low-level" radioactive sources, a Geiger-Mueller radiation counter, a Wilson Cloud Chamber (to see paths of alpha particles), a Spinthariscope (to see "live" radioactive disintegration), four samples of Uranium-bearing ores, and an Electroscope to measure radioactivity. The neighbor kids must have been glowing with envy.
Your child's personal nuclear lab came with an Atomic Energy Manual, that was partionally written with help from the director of the Manhattan Project, General Leslie Groves, and also included a comic book entitled "Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom" because anybody who can construct a sandwich like Dagwood should have no problem splitting an atom. Plus an added feature... a government manual "Prospecting for Uranium." Hand to God, I can't make this kind of stuff up!
Apparently, nuclear physics didn't rank as high as cap guns on the kid's interest scale . The atomic lab toy was only sold for one year. No one really knows what effects the Uranium-bearing ores might have had on those few lucky, yet unassuming children who's parent actually bought them the set, but we do now know that exposure to the U-238 isotope has been linked to Gulf War syndrome, cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma, among other serious ailments. Even more uncertain would be what the longterm impact on a generation of children who were being raised by the kind of parents who would give them an Atomic Energy Lab. Can I get a "Holy Shit?"
By far, this was the most elaboratetake home Atomic Energy educational set ever created. OK it may have been the only one ever on the market. But I think it may have been a blessing, that it was only available from 1951 to 1952. After all its was very expensive for the time ($50.00 which is equal to $350.00 today) probably because even back then Geiger counters and radioactive isotopes weren't cheap. I'm pretty sure, it may have been a tad sophisticated for the average child.Today, it is so highly prized by collectors (and maybe small countries) that a complete set can go for more than 100 times the original price. Yeah, I'd like see someone try to ship out this kit, in our current Home Land Security climate.
Gilbert offered another set, as well, the No. 11 Atomic Energy set. Which included the spinthariscope, the radioactive ore and the manual. The Geiger counter could be purchased separately.
Gilbert had high expectations for America's youth, and he tried his best to help mold a future of engineers, doctors and leaders by providing the proper toys to feed the imaginations. He was inventor of the Erector Set. He saw its commercial appeal, and then he set higher goal for his company. His company became the leading manufacturer of scientific toys (chemistry sets) and construction sets (Erector), all were highly prized and widely acclaimed at the retail level.
The set originally contents of the lab kit was:
U-239 Geiger counter
Electroscope
Spinthariscope
Wilson cloud chamber
Low-level radiation sources:
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma particles
Four Uranium-bearing ore samples
Nuclear spheres for making a molecular model
Prospecting for Uranium — a book
Gilbert Atomic Energy Manual
"Learn How Dagwood Split the Atom" comic book
Three C batteries
1951 Gilbert Toys catalog
I'm sure this was just family fun by the boat load. Radiation sickness family fun.
Atomic Energy Lab
This as got to be the scariest toy ever created. Talk about the age of atomic fear brought straight into your living room. This must have been the perfect gift for the young terrorist in your family. Because nothing says "I Love You" more than giving your loved one their own Atomic Energy Lab kit, complete with radioactive material.
In 1951, A.C. Gilbert, creator of the Erector Set, introduced his U-238 Atomic Energy Lab. That's right kiddies! Your own radioactive learning set, that would make you the envy of the science club. Gilbert, was allegedly, "often compared to Walt Disney for his creative genius," must have believed that nuclear power could capture the imaginations of the children of the world, and what better way could there be than to package it, and sell it as a learning tool. Kind of like... in the same way a rock polishing kit, or microscope set is sold. For a mere $49.50 (which would equal around $350.00 today), the kit came complete with three "very low-level" radioactive sources, a Geiger-Mueller radiation counter, a Wilson Cloud Chamber (to see paths of alpha particles), a Spinthariscope (to see "live" radioactive disintegration), four samples of Uranium-bearing ores, and an Electroscope to measure radioactivity. The neighbor kids must have been glowing with envy.
Your child's personal nuclear lab came with an Atomic Energy Manual, that was partionally written with help from the director of the Manhattan Project, General Leslie Groves, and also included a comic book entitled "Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom" because anybody who can construct a sandwich like Dagwood should have no problem splitting an atom. Plus an added feature... a government manual "Prospecting for Uranium." Hand to God, I can't make this kind of stuff up!
Apparently, nuclear physics didn't rank as high as cap guns on the kid's interest scale . The atomic lab toy was only sold for one year. No one really knows what effects the Uranium-bearing ores might have had on those few lucky, yet unassuming children who's parent actually bought them the set, but we do now know that exposure to the U-238 isotope has been linked to Gulf War syndrome, cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma, among other serious ailments. Even more uncertain would be what the longterm impact on a generation of children who were being raised by the kind of parents who would give them an Atomic Energy Lab. Can I get a "Holy Shit?"
By far, this was the most elaboratetake home Atomic Energy educational set ever created. OK it may have been the only one ever on the market. But I think it may have been a blessing, that it was only available from 1951 to 1952. After all its was very expensive for the time ($50.00 which is equal to $350.00 today) probably because even back then Geiger counters and radioactive isotopes weren't cheap. I'm pretty sure, it may have been a tad sophisticated for the average child.Today, it is so highly prized by collectors (and maybe small countries) that a complete set can go for more than 100 times the original price. Yeah, I'd like see someone try to ship out this kit, in our current Home Land Security climate.
Gilbert offered another set, as well, the No. 11 Atomic Energy set. Which included the spinthariscope, the radioactive ore and the manual. The Geiger counter could be purchased separately.
Gilbert had high expectations for America's youth, and he tried his best to help mold a future of engineers, doctors and leaders by providing the proper toys to feed the imaginations. He was inventor of the Erector Set. He saw its commercial appeal, and then he set higher goal for his company. His company became the leading manufacturer of scientific toys (chemistry sets) and construction sets (Erector), all were highly prized and widely acclaimed at the retail level.
The set originally contents of the lab kit was:
U-239 Geiger counter
Electroscope
Spinthariscope
Wilson cloud chamber
Low-level radiation sources:
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma particles
Four Uranium-bearing ore samples
Nuclear spheres for making a molecular model
Prospecting for Uranium — a book
Gilbert Atomic Energy Manual
"Learn How Dagwood Split the Atom" comic book
Three C batteries
1951 Gilbert Toys catalog
I'm sure this was just family fun by the boat load. Radiation sickness family fun.
-
Atomic Energy Lab @ 2016-02-29 20:34:48.0 di Non Autenticato
-
■ @ 2016-02-29 23:39:31.0 di Non Autenticato
-