Currently indexing
components from a large chemistry set
Date: 1950-1960
Inventory Number: 2010-1-0012a
Classification: Chemistry Set
Subject:
Maker: A. C. Gilbert Company (founded 1909)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
DescriptionComponents taken from a large four sectioned steel-boxed chemsitry set made by the A.C. Gilbert Company.
The set is in poor condition, with many of the lids of the chemical bottles having corroded and their contents having reacted with the steel case.
It was decided on October 5, 2010, to discard the chemicals and the case (after documentation) and to keep most of the non-chemical components.
The objects that remain are:
1) An envelope labelled "Wood Pulp"
2) A test tube brush
3) An inexpensive pair of tongs
4) A small glass beaker
5) A small box of red litmus paper
6) A small box of blue litmus paper
7) A small box labelled: "Weight Unit"
8) A small box of insulated copper wire
9) A small boz of zinc strips
10) A small box of sulphide test paper
11) A small plastic magnifying glass
The set also contained at small spinthariscope constructed of cardboard and a small amount of depleted uranium dust (Ur 238). This object was checked for radioactivity and indeed displayed average alpha radiation levels of .175mR/hr. The spinthariscope was usually only found in Gilbert's "U-238 Atomic Energy Lab" (first sold in 1950 for $42.50). On May 19, 2007, a Gilbert Spinthariscope sold for $48 on eBay.
The set is in poor condition, with many of the lids of the chemical bottles having corroded and their contents having reacted with the steel case.
It was decided on October 5, 2010, to discard the chemicals and the case (after documentation) and to keep most of the non-chemical components.
The objects that remain are:
1) An envelope labelled "Wood Pulp"
2) A test tube brush
3) An inexpensive pair of tongs
4) A small glass beaker
5) A small box of red litmus paper
6) A small box of blue litmus paper
7) A small box labelled: "Weight Unit"
8) A small box of insulated copper wire
9) A small boz of zinc strips
10) A small box of sulphide test paper
11) A small plastic magnifying glass
The set also contained at small spinthariscope constructed of cardboard and a small amount of depleted uranium dust (Ur 238). This object was checked for radioactivity and indeed displayed average alpha radiation levels of .175mR/hr. The spinthariscope was usually only found in Gilbert's "U-238 Atomic Energy Lab" (first sold in 1950 for $42.50). On May 19, 2007, a Gilbert Spinthariscope sold for $48 on eBay.
In Collection(s)
Signedon box and on packages: GILBERT
InscribedOutside of steel box silkscreened in color:
GILBERT CHEMISTRY / EXPERIMENT LAB
silkscreened in shield: Safety-tested / GILBERT / HALL OF / SCIENCE
on box: today's adventures in science / will create tomorrow's America
on box: another GILBERT / CAREER-BUILDING / Science Set
GILBERT CHEMISTRY / EXPERIMENT LAB
silkscreened in shield: Safety-tested / GILBERT / HALL OF / SCIENCE
on box: today's adventures in science / will create tomorrow's America
on box: another GILBERT / CAREER-BUILDING / Science Set
Historical AttributesThe A.C. Gilbert Company was founded in 1909 in Westville, Conneticut by Alfred Carlton Gilbert (born Salem, Oregon 1884, died 1961). Gilbert, a graduate of Yale Medical School and gold medalist in the pole vault at the 1908 London Olympics, was best-known as the inventor of the Erector Set. He gained the moniker "The Man Who Saved Christmas" in 1918 after lobbying the U.S. Council on Defense to continue the production of toys despite a strong government effort to have all non-essential manufacturing ceased for the remaining duration of the First World War.
The company was known for producing Erector Sets, chemistry sets, microscope kits, inexpensive telescopes, slots cars, and model trains.
At the current time (2010) there is a permanent exhibition of Gilbert products at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden, Conneticut.
The company was known for producing Erector Sets, chemistry sets, microscope kits, inexpensive telescopes, slots cars, and model trains.
At the current time (2010) there is a permanent exhibition of Gilbert products at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden, Conneticut.
ProvenanceGiven to the CHSI by Maggie Jack (A.B. in History of Science, Harvard University, 2010), September 30, 2010.