Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab (1950)

Posted by Joel Johnson, April 27, 2009 9:21 AM | permalink

This was the most elaborate Atomic Energy educational set ever produced, but it was only only available from 1951 to 1952. Its relatively high price for the time ($50.00) and its sophistication were the explanation Gilbert gave for the set's short lifespan. Today, it is so highly prized by collectors that a complete set can go for more than 100 times the original price.

It also came with a comic book called "Dagwood Splits the Atom" and a government manual, "Prospecting for Uranium".

posted in:

Favorite This! (0)

Older Video: TNG edit 21

Newer Music Video: Moray McLaren "We Got Time" with in-camera praxinoscope animation

Discussion

Take a look at this (BBG)

#1 posted by Anonymous, April 27, 2009 11:06 AM

I traded my set for some baseball cards.

Take a look at this (BBG)

#2 posted by michaelportent, April 27, 2009 11:54 AM

Bad ass! However, this just gives me the incredible urge to play Fallout 3 again. Damn Xbox360 is broken though. *sobs*

Take a look at this (BBG)

#3 posted by SamSam, April 27, 2009 12:19 PM

Posted a month ago by Mark:

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/23/page-about-the-gilbe.html

Take a look at this (BBG)

#4 posted by Anonymous, April 27, 2009 3:03 PM

One of these just sold on Ebay for $2,358.66:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gilbert-U-238-Atomic-Energy-Lab-Science-Kit-Nice-Cond_W0QQitemZ110380358519QQihZ001QQ

Take a look at this (BBG)

#5 posted by Latente, April 27, 2009 3:27 PM

Neo: Whoa, deja vu.
Trinity: What did you just say?
Neo: Nothing, I just had a little deja vu.
Trinity: What did you see?
Cypher: What happened?
Neo: A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it.
Trinity: How much like it, was it the same cat?
Neo: Might have been, I'm not sure.
Morpheus: Switch, Apoc.
Neo: What is it?
Trinity: Deja vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something.

Take a look at this (BBG)

#6 posted by OM, April 27, 2009 6:13 PM

...I've always wanted one of these since one of my cousins told me he had one when he was growing up. Atomic energy can be fun, educational *and* safe if it's done right, and Gilbert always did have a way with science kits like this.

Take a look at this (BBG)

#7 posted by Anonymous, May 5, 2009 3:24 PM

I have two ounces of Uranium 238 I'm thinking of selling. Any takers?