Metallurgy For Boys

Sure, the title of this post is sexist; decidedly-so.  Because this really cool toy was a product of the 1930s; consequently, its target market was young boys.  Although a metallurgical-inclined female would naturally be drawn to it too.

The A.C. Gilbert Kaster Kit  (the same company the brought the world the Erector Set, Home Chemistry Sets and an Atomic Energy Laboratory) produced a Toy That Made Toys allowing children to melt lead alloys at more than 600F and pour the molten metal into various molds to fashion toy figures.  

Yup, a hands-on setup that included a small electric furnace, a collection of molds for casting military and sports figurines and specialty items like whistles.  Accessories included a cutter for removing excess lead, a tweezers for handling and lead-based paints for custom decorating.   Everything you needed to learn hands-on casting technology. 

And you thought 3D printing was a contemporary technology.  HA!

By today's standards, the danger of severe and disfiguring burns and lead toxicity singularly made this wildly-popular plaything one of the most dangerous toys ever sold.  Which has certainly caught my attention for never having had the opportunity to have a chance at this.

Which also makes it quite sought-after by collectors of vintage toys.  Naturally, condition and completeness figure significantly in pricing.

Blowing a lead whistle.  Who knew? 

Better Living Through Chemistry

I had a Skilcraft Chemistry Set similar to this growing-up in the 1960s.  Did you?

These sets were sold in various levels of complexity - if I had to hazard a guess I didn't have a base model or the high-end version.  Precisely which one I had is lost to memory but it was likely somewhere in the middle.   Chemistry sets were classic educational toys popular from the 1950s through the 1970s, produced by various companies.  The Skilcraft version was a brand under the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). These sets afforded curious and scientifically-inclined children to the basics of chemistry through hands-on experiments.

What I recall of my setup was that it included small bottles of chemicals - copper sulfate, iron filings, borax, sodium bisulfate, calcium chloride, sulfur, cobalt chloride and more.  

There were test tubes (and rack), glass stirring rods, funnel, beakers, droppers, measuring spoons, scales, litmus paper, pH test stuff, an alcohol-fueled burner and instruction manual with dozens of self-guided experiments.  These taught basic chemical reactions (acid-base, color change, gas production), the scientific method and likely encouraged talented children to eventually pursue a career in a field of science.

By today's standards these home-grown laboratories contained hazardous materials and wouldn't be for sale nowadays as a consequence of liability concerns.  Come to think of it, I have no recollection of goggles, gloves and routine adult supervision.  I was left at my own peril to conduct my mad scientist experiments alone at the basement work bench. 

If you happen to have one of these laying around and the chemical contents haven't corroded everything it might be of some interest to anyone that is a collector of vintage toys. 

Maybe one of these days I'll tell you about the dissection kit my dad gave me.....

War Monger

Hardly a day goes by that I'm not tickled to have experienced a 1960s childhood.  This toy was produced by REMCO in the early 1960s as part of their Marine Raider series included in their Monkey Division line.

It featured a 19-inch mortar tube mounted on an adjustable bipod and base plate.  It included 5-inch plastic shells with an adjustable spring-loaded launching mechanism.  Shells were launched with a trigger.  

Regrettably, I never had one of these.  If I did, I could have raised the standard of backyard warfare to an entirely new level.

Periodically, one of these finds its way to E-Bay and Craig's List but they're usually missing the sighting optics and/or the shells.  A complete set-up sells for hundreds of dollars.

Nevertheless, I did have one of these.

A genuine REMCO Monkey Division Jungle Guerilla Warfare helmet.  Naturally, it has been lost to the trash heap of poorly executed childhood battles.

Shucks...

Does It Glow In The Dark?

Unremarkably, as society embraced the atomic age, in 1950, A.C. Gilbert released a toy laboratory set that contained actual uranium. 

Some of you reading this may have grown-up with an A.C. Gilbert Erector Set - a fantastic toy that could keep you occupied for an entire day. 

The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab was an actual children's science kit that contained small samples of radioactive materials, including uranium ore.  The kit was marketed as an educational tool to teach kids about nuclear physics and radiation. 

It included four small uranium ore samples (labeled with actual isotopes like U-238), a Geiger counter, a cloud chamber to see particle trails, a spinthariscope to observe alpha particles, an electroscope to measure radiation and a couple of manuals - "Prospecting for Uranium" and "The Atomic Energy Manual".

Pretty cool stuff and probably not precisely life-threatening.  The radiation levels were low, and the samples were sealed.  Nevertheless, even though the US Atomic Energy Commission approved the kit, by today's safety standards, it would never be allowed as a children's toy.

Regrettably, and for all the novelty, the product failed to catch-hold.  Selling for $49.50 (more than $600 in today's dollars) it was too expensive for most families.  It was too complex for most youngsters and naturally parents were uneasy allowing their kids handle radioactive materials.

Of course, if you had one of these in your attic it would be highly collectible fetching thousands of dollars on E-Bay for a complete set.

What To See In The June Sky

Looking to take a walk down memory lane?  

Indulge a childhood memory?

Indulge in wishful thing?

Consider making a wish-upon a star after the sun goes down.  To make it easy I'll give you a couple to look for beginning this evening and it doesn't even require you to stay up late or rise from your slumber in an early morning.

After sunset and as the sky darkens step outside and cast your gaze to the southern sky.  

Image credit - Starry Night

You will be able to spot yellow-orange Arcturus in the constellation Boötes (the Herdsman)  This happens to be the fourth-brightest star found in the whole of the night sky worldwide.  

Next, cast your gaze to the east  to locate an equally bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra (the Harp).  Two very bright stars in the June night sky to wish-upon.

Go ahead.

Make a wish.

Sometimes you never know what will happen....

Friday War Monger

For a change of pace there is no music today.

Instead there is this gem that I stumbled-across on the interweb.

In the early 2000s the US Army adopted the recruiting slogan of An Army Of One.  It was short-lived and eventually replaced by Army Strong.  Regarding the former Army of One I wonder if recruiters took a page from the marketing of toys to boys in 1964? Prescient?  I digress.

If ever there was a real-life reenactment of my childhood this would be it.  This is how we played.  And boy oh boy did I covet this as a tool of backyard warfare.  My parents and my buddies parents never indulged any of us with this multi-tool of world domination.  I figure they knew intuitively that anything as sophisticated as this wouldn't last until the end of a day's ordinary battle......

Child Safety

Before air bags there were sponge balls.

This is why my generation is stronger than most....

 

Child Safety

This was your car seat. 

Glad you made it...

 

Child Safety

From the 1961 Sears Catalog: Auto Strap for front-seat tots.

 

My generation is further evidence of the Survival of the Fittest…..

Friday War Monger

For a change of pace there is no music today.

Instead there is this gem that I stumbled-across on the interweb.

If ever there was a real-life reenactment of my childhood this would be it.  This is how we played.  And boy oh boy did I covet this as a tool of backyard warfare.  My parents and my buddies parents never indulged any of us with this multi-tool of world domination.  I figure they knew intuitively that anything as sophisticated as this wouldn't last until the end of a day's ordinary battle......