Atomic Energy Lab
Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory
This is an advertisement for the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory, a children's toy sold by the A. C. Gilbert Company from 1950 to 1951. The kit, priced at $49.50 (the equivalent of over $600 today), was marketed as an educational set to introduce children to atomic physics.
Kit Contents
The kit was known for containing actual radioactive materials and a variety of scientific instruments. The contents included:
Uranium Ore Samples: Four glass jars containing natural uranium-bearing ores (autunite, torbernite, uraninite, and carnotite).
Radiation Sources: Low-level beta-alpha and gamma radiation sources.
Instruments: A battery-powered Geiger-Mueller counter, a Wilson cloud chamber, an electroscope, and a spinthariscope.
Educational Materials: An instructional manual, a comic book titled "Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom," and a government-published guide "Prospecting for Uranium". The kit was discontinued due to a combination of its high price, difficulty in obtaining materials, and low sales, not because of safety concerns at the time. However, modern reviews have been more critical. In 2006, Radar Magazine named it one of the "10 most dangerous toys of all time" due to its radioactive components. A 2020 review from IEEE Spectrum magazine concluded that the radiation exposure from the uranium was minimal, comparable to a day's exposure to UV from the sun, as long as the samples remained in their containers.
Today, the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory is a highly sought-after collector's item, with complete sets selling for thousands of dollars at auction.
This is an advertisement for the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory, a children's toy sold by the A. C. Gilbert Company from 1950 to 1951. The kit, priced at $49.50 (the equivalent of over $600 today), was marketed as an educational set to introduce children to atomic physics.
Kit Contents
The kit was known for containing actual radioactive materials and a variety of scientific instruments. The contents included:
Uranium Ore Samples: Four glass jars containing natural uranium-bearing ores (autunite, torbernite, uraninite, and carnotite).
Radiation Sources: Low-level beta-alpha and gamma radiation sources.
Instruments: A battery-powered Geiger-Mueller counter, a Wilson cloud chamber, an electroscope, and a spinthariscope.
Educational Materials: An instructional manual, a comic book titled "Learn How Dagwood Splits the Atom," and a government-published guide "Prospecting for Uranium". The kit was discontinued due to a combination of its high price, difficulty in obtaining materials, and low sales, not because of safety concerns at the time. However, modern reviews have been more critical. In 2006, Radar Magazine named it one of the "10 most dangerous toys of all time" due to its radioactive components. A 2020 review from IEEE Spectrum magazine concluded that the radiation exposure from the uranium was minimal, comparable to a day's exposure to UV from the sun, as long as the samples remained in their containers.
Today, the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory is a highly sought-after collector's item, with complete sets selling for thousands of dollars at auction.
Disclaimer
The object and/or subject of this report is private property. This page is for informational purposes only. Unless clearly stated otherwise, all conservation and restoration has been performed by Poster Mountain (PM) or Los Angeles Paper Group (LAPG)I) PM-LAPG has not knowingly withheld any significant information from its evaluation report and to the best of its knowledge all statements and evaluations in this report are true and correct.
II) PM-LAPG stated in the Evaluation Report its own personal, unbiased and professional analysis, opinions and conclusions, which are subject to the assumptions and limited conditions in this evaluation report as set forth hereinabove.
III) PM-LAPG has no present or prospective interests in the property which is the subject matter of this report and it has no present or prospective personal interests or bias with respect to the participants in this matter.
IV) PM-LAPG and its employment and/or compensation for performing this evaluation or any future anticipated evaluation was not conditioned on any agreement or understanding, written or otherwise, that it would report (or present analysis in support) as predetermined specific authenticity, a predetermined evaluation that favors the cause of any party or the attainment of any specific result or occurrence of a specific subsequent event, such as value or marketability.
V) PM-LAPG prepared all opinions and conclusions about the subject property that were set forth in this Evaluation Report. If it has relied on significant evaluation assistance from any individual or individuals in the performance of this evaluation or the appropriation of this evaluation report, PM-LAPG has named such individuals and disclosed the specific task performed in this evaluation report. PM-LAPG certifies that any individual so named is qualified to the same extent as PM to perform the task. PM-LAPG has not authorized anyone to make a change to any item in this evaluation report, therefore, any change made to this evaluation is unauthorized and PM-LAPG will not take responsibility for it.
VI) The Client may not disclose or distribute this Evaluation Report to any potential purchasers of the subject property without first obtaining PM-LAPG's prior written consent. This consent must be obtained before this evaluation report may be disclosed or distributed to any other party, including, but not limited to, the public through advertising, public relations, news, sales, or other media.