Rare Childrens toy at flea market
Just wanted to show you guys something cool. Most of you know what this is. Those who don't can check out the wiki page https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_U-238_Atomic_Energy_Laboratory.
I saw this Gilbert's Atomic Energy Lab in immaculate shape at a flea market in CT. I had read about it years prior and knew it was notorious for being incredibly dangerous for kids and knew it was a huge collector's item. I asked the seller his price and he said $3,900. He obviously knew he had something very rare, especially in its condition. I'm not a toy collector and wouldn't have paid more than a few hundred for it. Figured some of you toy collector's would appreciate something like this. I have never seen one in person and it was so cool looking. Not something you see very often. Supposedly there was less than 5,000 sold before it was rightfully banned.
I saw this Gilbert's Atomic Energy Lab in immaculate shape at a flea market in CT. I had read about it years prior and knew it was notorious for being incredibly dangerous for kids and knew it was a huge collector's item. I asked the seller his price and he said $3,900. He obviously knew he had something very rare, especially in its condition. I'm not a toy collector and wouldn't have paid more than a few hundred for it. Figured some of you toy collector's would appreciate something like this. I have never seen one in person and it was so cool looking. Not something you see very often. Supposedly there was less than 5,000 sold before it was rightfully banned.
Comments
That's pretty cool! I'm not sure if that's a fair price or not, but that would look great on a built-in shelf in an MCM home.
It would obviously be a glowing centerpiece.
That is crazy. I'm surprised it's in that good of shape after all these years.
Given how pricey they were new ($50 was a serious amount of money back then) I imagine it went to some kid who had a gazilllion toys already and this got ignored in favor of more kid oriented toys. Likely bought by well meaning grandparents who thought little Johnny had a brite future as a rocket scientist.
Then there was also this gem:
https://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/quackcures/revigat.htm
That is crazy. I'm surprised it's in that good of shape after all these years.
Not only that but who knows how many weeks it's been at that outdoor flea market in the sun. I wanna assume the plastic is UV protective because there was 0 fading, but I'm not sure. He said it was to stop people from touching/trying to open it.
My favorite part of the wiki article is the fact that Columbia University bought 5 of them for their physics lab. It's just one of those relics from the past that I never thought I'd see and makes you wonder "who the fuck would make this for children" lol.
That is crazy. I'm surprised it's in that good of shape after all these years.
Given how pricey they were new ($50 was a serious amount of money back then) I imagine it went to some kid who had a gazilllion toys already and this got ignored in favor of more kid oriented toys. Likely bought by well meaning grandparents who thought little Johnny had a brite future as a rocket scientist.
Then there was also this gem:
https://www.orau.org/ptp/collecti...
Holy shit. Am I missing something or is that just a way to willingly give yourself cancer? Pretty freaky.
That is crazy. I'm surprised it's in that good of shape after all these years.
Not only that but who knows how many weeks it's been at that outdoor flea market in the sun. I wanna assume the plastic is UV protective because there was 0 fading, but I'm not sure. He said it was to stop people from touching/trying to open it.
My favorite part of the wiki article is the fact that Columbia University bought 5 of them for their physics lab. It's just one of those relics from the past that I never thought I'd see and makes you wonder "who the fuck would make this for children" lol.
I guess its kinda like asbestos. "We didn't know it would be bad for everyone." Sure thing boss. Also, everyone was trying to come up with the next big thing and marketing to kids was a sure fire way to go i guess.
That is crazy. I'm surprised it's in that good of shape after all these years.
Not only that but who knows how many weeks it's been at that outdoor flea market in the sun. I wanna assume the plastic is UV protective because there was 0 fading, but I'm not sure. He said it was to stop people from touching/trying to open it.
My favorite part of the wiki article is the fact that Columbia University bought 5 of them for their physics lab. It's just one of those relics from the past that I never thought I'd see and makes you wonder "who the fuck would make this for children" lol.
I guess its kinda like asbestos. "We didn't know it would be bad for everyone." Sure thing boss. Also, everyone was trying to come up with the next big thing and marketing to kids was a sure fire way to go i guess.
LOL. It was also released only 5 years after WWII. Nothing seems worse than that link Natty posted, but at least that wasn't marketed towards children.
LOL. It was also released only 5 years after WWII. Nothing seems worse than that link Natty posted, but at least that wasn't marketed towards children.
Holy shit. Am I missing something or is that just a way to willingly give yourself cancer? Pretty freaky.
This was very nasty:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium_Girls
I just bought a book on it (entitled "the Radium Girls") as a present for Mrs. Bumppo. As soon as she is done with it I will read it.
Marie Curie routinely carried samples of her work on her person (and apparently believed this had health benefits) when she did her pioneering work in the field of radiation. She died of a leukemia that was likely caused by her work with radioactive materials. The truth is they just didn't know all of the ramifications of radioactive materials until well after WWII - the early portrayals of the aftermath of nuclear war in television and movies in even serious works clearly shows this. A good example of this is the movie (the original one) "On the Beach" from 1959. While indeed a very serious movie done by a major studio it shows a lot of serious misinformation about radioactivity.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VINTAGE-40S-AC-GILBERT-ATOMIC-BOMB-DEXTERITY-GAME-/112328810086?hash=item1a27519e66:g:ASUAAOSw2gxYwNQf
I'm really into the "atomic era" stuff...*sigh*
Very neat, thanks for sharing. Price appears too high based on eBay completed, some sales in the $3100-$3800 range and an incomplete one at $2300. He'll never sell it for $3900 local.
You would be surprised. its hard to tell from the pics but I saw no flaws on it. I also had a few people PM me on Facebook looking for details how to find the guy. Some people are interested even with his price. I would say it's definitely a grail for toy collectors.
ARG I WANT THIS SO BAD!!!
I'm really into the "atomic era" stuff...*sigh*
Me too man. i'm not even a toy collector but knowing its rare, in that shape, and with the 50's nuclear vibe to it, i would have dropped up to 500 on it.
ARG I WANT THIS SO BAD!!!
I'm really into the "atomic era" stuff...*sigh*
Me too man. i'm not even a toy collector but knowing its rare, in that shape, and with the 50's nuclear vibe to it, i would have dropped up to 500 on it.
You both will likely find this site interesting:
http://www.conelrad.com/index.php
The list of 100 related films is very cool.
ARG I WANT THIS SO BAD!!!
I'm really into the "atomic era" stuff...*sigh*
Me too man. i'm not even a toy collector but knowing its rare, in that shape, and with the 50's nuclear vibe to it, i would have dropped up to 500 on it.
You both will likely find this site interesting:
http://www.conelrad.com/index.php...
The list of 100 related films is very cool.
Ah nice, I think I remember that site...or something like it. I used sites like that to pull off graphics to make mods for Fallout games. Since I liked making stuff seem more realistic.
https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-War-Fun-Book/dp/0030633966/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494933073&sr=1-1&keywords=nuclear+war+fun+book
Ignore the goofball price someone is trying to get for it - I would think it could be had for a much more realistic price if one looks at other sites.