In the 1950s, the AC Gilbert Co. sold the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab, which included uranium ore samples. Fewer than 5,000 sets were sold for $49.50 each. Toy safety was not a concern, and the kits were pulled off shelves in 1951. Play-Doh was originally used for cleaning wallpaper, Lego is the largest tire maker, and Twister was initially rejected for being too risqué.
Every child wants to have realistic toys and realistic games, but some aspiring young scientists in the 1950s were offered a little more than they could handle… or more than they needed to handle, at least.
In 1950, the AC Gilbert Co. commercialized the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab, complete with Geiger counter, 60-page manual, cloud chamber, electroscope…and four jars containing uranium ore samples. While the instructions warned against opening the jars, the concern wasn’t so much about the danger as it was about getting inaccurate readings.
At the time, the dangers of radiation weren’t widely understood, and toy safety wasn’t the concern it is today. In that regard, it’s probably a good thing that the kit sold for $49.50, which translates to about $500 today—fewer than 5,000 sets were sold, and they were pulled off shelves in 1951.
Some facts to play with:
When Play-Doh came out in the 1930s, it was meant to be used to clean wallpaper.
Lego is known for its toy bricks, but it’s also the largest tire maker in the world, producing more than 300 million tiny wheels every year.
At first, stores rejected Twister for being too risqué, but after Johnny Carson played it with Eva Gabor, it became a huge hit.
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