Christmas Nostalgia
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: All Empires Community
Forum Name: AE Tavern
Forum Discription: Come here to introduce yourself and discuss almost anything under the sun! Or just to let your hair down...
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37064
Printed Date: 24-Apr-2024 at 09:21
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Christmas Nostalgia
Posted By: red clay
Subject: Christmas Nostalgia
Date Posted: 22-Dec-2016 at 11:22
|
Every year I see and hear the warnings about toys and other things that are dangerous to kids, mainly for things with small parts that are chocking hazards, and I have to chuckle. The first year I remember specific gifts was about 1952 or 3. When I think about some of them compared with todays standards, it's amazing any of us made it.  If you tried to sell some of them today, you'd be arrested.Gilbert was a major producer of things like Chemistry sets. I got one when I was 8. You could have made any number of explosives just from what was in that set. My cousin got the same set, and he blew up his garden shed. Gilbert even made an "Atomic Energy" set that contained radioactive materials, for real! Daisy BB guns were advertised in comic books, along with Matel "Shootin Shell" toy guns. Those "toys" actually fired a projectile, powered by black powder "caps". Different times, different worlds. ------------- "Arguing with someone who hates you or your ideas, is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you make, your opponent will walk all over the board and scramble the pieces". Unknown. |
Replies:
Posted By: red clay
Date Posted: 22-Dec-2016 at 13:51
|
I just posted the line about the Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab, follows is a description of what the kit had. [I had a great pic but it wouldn't post] The set came with four types of uranium ore, a beta-alpha source (Pb-210), a pure beta source (Ru-106), a gamma source (Zn-65?), a spinthariscope, a cloud chamber with its own short-lived alpha source (Po-210), an electroscope, a geiger counter, a manual, a comic book ( https://www.orau.org/PTP/collection/atomictoys/dagwood.htm - Dagwood Splits the Atom ) and a government manual "Prospecting for Uranium." Other Gilbert sets (e.g., the No. 11 Atomic Energy set) continued to carry the spinthariscope, the ore and the manual. In addition, the https://www.orau.org/PTP/collection/atomictoys/gilbertgeiger.htm - Geiger counter could be purchased separately. It only ran for a year. Sales were very low, mainly due to the price, 50.00 in 1951-2 was a lot. It has been ranked as the most dangerous toy ever made. ------------- "Arguing with someone who hates you or your ideas, is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you make, your opponent will walk all over the board and scramble the pieces". Unknown. |
Posted By: red clay
Date Posted: 22-Dec-2016 at 15:01
|
Not to be restricted to toys, some of the decorations didn't come close to todays standards. Tinsel wasn't milar, it was lead foil. We used to roll it up and throw it at each other.
Another dandy were the electric Bubble Lights for the tree. After they were lit for an hour or so the oil in side them would explode. Not to be forgotten, "Angel Hair". it was supposed to look like snow. It was spun glass. No matter how careful you were, you still had tiny glass splinters in your arms and hands, and they itched like fire. ------------- "Arguing with someone who hates you or your ideas, is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you make, your opponent will walk all over the board and scramble the pieces". Unknown. |