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The Inspiring, Nerdy Toys of A.C. Gilbert
Scientific American ^ | December 24th, 2011 | Rose Eveleth

Posted on 12/25/2011 2:56:00 AM PST by AnAmericanAbroad

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To: SLB
Erector sets, microscopes, trains, chemistry sets - I can’t imagine growing up without them.

Lincoln logs,tinker toys, and the dreaded wood burning kit,and the killer of all,sling shots,BB guns,and the killer lawn darts how did we ever survive??

21 posted on 12/25/2011 5:22:36 AM PST by bikerman (you can take the man out of the jungle but can't take the jungle out of the man)
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To: Right Wing Assault

My father worked in a boat yard and many of the ferrys that ran across the bay had lead sheets on the bottoms which would be replaced at times, he would bring home pieces for me to melt down a pour into a lead solder mold I had,I made huge Armys to battle on my train table, also used a teaspoon for a mold to make lead weights for fishing,good old days for sure.


22 posted on 12/25/2011 5:28:25 AM PST by bikerman (you can take the man out of the jungle but can't take the jungle out of the man)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

I still have my Carbide Cannon.

Don’t know where I would buy the carbide today

Remember whena gun and holster set was a great Christmas gift. Can’t find those any more, but you can get a video game where you kill thousands electronically.


23 posted on 12/25/2011 5:28:44 AM PST by Venturer
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

I remember fondly both my erector set and my chemistry set, especially the chemistry set. When I searched for a similar set as a gift a few years ago, I realized that the PC crowd had taken all the fun out of childhood.


24 posted on 12/25/2011 5:30:44 AM PST by madprof98 ("moritur et ridet" - salvianus)
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To: djf; AnAmericanAbroad; SLB; All

Okay let’s try this one more time

http://chemistry.about.com/b/2011/11/02/download-the-golden-book-of-chemistry-experiments.htm

What a maroon, what an imbezzel :-)

And still A Merry Christmas to y’all

alfa6 ;>}


25 posted on 12/25/2011 5:34:48 AM PST by alfa6
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To: Venturer

http://www.karstsports.com/mingradcalca.html

I have an antique miners lamp, but no carbide either!


26 posted on 12/25/2011 5:34:50 AM PST by djf (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2801220/posts)
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To: Venturer
Don’t know where I would buy the carbide today

Not a problem!

Big Bang Cannons

27 posted on 12/25/2011 5:34:50 AM PST by Fresh Wind ('People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook.' Richard M. Nixon)
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To: SLB

Wow ....I have the atomic kit with the Dagwood Comic Book. Made a bunch of copies for friends at work.....LOL !

The chemistry kit was also a gift when I was young , just not sure if it was an A.C. Gilbert product. Led to my career in EOD etc ....:o)

Merry Christmas Sir !!

Stay Safe !


28 posted on 12/25/2011 5:43:52 AM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: madprof98

And you can still buy ‘em. Not exactly cheap. http://www.scientificsonline.com/c3000-chemistry-experiment-kit.html?&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Google-_-NULL-_-3001651&mr:trackingCode=F76C1735-DB81-DE11-8C0A-000423C27502&mr:referralID=NA

But could be a good way to teach the kiddies about chemistry.


29 posted on 12/25/2011 5:50:21 AM PST by AnAmericanAbroad (It's all bread and circuses for the future prey of the Morlocks.)
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To: Right Wing Assault; All

Check out this site:http://www.princeaugust.ie/

Casting moulds, ladels, a hot plate for melting lead (yeah, not a crucible but it works) etc. Nice to see someone in the world is keeping the tradition alive.

It’s out of Ireland.

Merry Christmas.


30 posted on 12/25/2011 5:58:33 AM PST by AnAmericanAbroad (It's all bread and circuses for the future prey of the Morlocks.)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
I have a 1946/46 #4 1/2 Erector set and the box it came in, although the box is not in the best shape

My father-in-law used it to mock up things he invented...since he had several patents, it was a good "toy" for adults too.

The 50 series erector set, chem set and microscope I grew up with and used/abused went the way of most "toys" handled by a kid that did not fully understand nor appreciate what they were.

In my own defense, I will say that I learned a lot from them and the sacrifice to the junk heap of my personal history does not detract from the knowledge gained.

31 posted on 12/25/2011 5:59:37 AM PST by and so? (If it angers you, a sarcasm or irony tag after everything I post should be assumed)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle
Forget it, kid. You'll end up blowing up the whole city."
32 posted on 12/25/2011 6:02:46 AM PST by AnAmericanAbroad (It's all bread and circuses for the future prey of the Morlocks.)
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To: SLB

It was a kinder, gentler time.


33 posted on 12/25/2011 6:10:48 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Gimme that old time fossil fuel.)
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To: SLB

My older brother managed to blow himself up real good with his chemistry set. After healing, he went on to become a chemical engineer. Go figure.


34 posted on 12/25/2011 6:14:39 AM PST by pingman (Durn tootin'; I like Glock shootin'!)
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To: Fresh Wind

LOL I think I paid $15.00 dollars for the Cannon I have 40 years ago.


35 posted on 12/25/2011 6:16:38 AM PST by Venturer
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To: AnAmericanAbroad
thinkgeek
36 posted on 12/25/2011 6:18:46 AM PST by bmwcyle (I am ready to serve Jesus on Earth because the GOP failed again)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

I raised my boys to be men. Exposure at a young age to guns, knives, reloading, blackpowder, and other things that would bring down the wrath of social services on my butt today.

One time as we were driving out of the parking lot of Smokey Mountain Knife Factory I said, “Watch out, that knife is sharp and you might cut.” I stopped there in my sentence because the oldest boy suddenly yelped,”Ouch!” after he cut himself.

They both got their first gun at age 6.

I got to meet the Lutheran High School principal when the school secretary found explosive making instructions in my son’s locker. He had downloaded it 3 years before and left it in a 3 ring binder that he had taken to school without realizing what was in the binder. My son and I had lots of discussions about my experiences in the combat engineers and he had started researching makeshift explosives after I told him about mixing fertilizer and diesel fuel. Later that year the principal told me that he thought my son’s t-shirt was funny considering. It said, “EOD, If you see me running don’t be far behind.”

My youngest had to do a demo speech in the 7th grade. He chose to show how to field strip an M1911A1 pistol. His Mom had to help because he was to weak to hold in the return
spring. (She was called his assistant and she worked the barrel bushing wrench.)

Later today we will Skype with the boys (1,700 miles away.) I will enjoy watching them open up their presents; reproductions of 1858 Remington pistols, black powder pistols. And blocks of lead, a ball mold, and an electric lead casting furnace so they can cast their own ammo.

I would love to tell you more but Echelon might be listing and the 7 year limit may not be over on everything.


37 posted on 12/25/2011 6:20:12 AM PST by american_ranger
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To: american_ranger

There is still hope for America.

Google VEX Robots and watch what some kids are playing with today. I just got a grant from the Alcoa Foundation and we will be training adult advisers and giving them an $900 VEX robot kit for them to let their youth group play with. 14 kits per year for the next three years.

VEX kits are erector sets on steroids.


38 posted on 12/25/2011 6:23:58 AM PST by american_ranger
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

I had an erector set and a chemistry set from Gilbert. Kids don’t know what they’re missing today.


39 posted on 12/25/2011 6:27:38 AM PST by Rocky (REPEAL IT!)
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To: AnAmericanAbroad

There are several companies that sell science products to homeschoolers. Telescopes, microscopes, chemistry sets, we had it all.


40 posted on 12/25/2011 6:28:50 AM PST by kalee (The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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