Before the era of nuisance lawsuits, before my own time even, there were glorious toys. One of the all-time best was the fully-loaded chemistry set, which came in a metal box like the one above. To judge from the look of it I'd say this example is from the 40s. I'll bet there were even better ones in the 30s.
Every boy in that era had seen a million mad scientist movies and they were all chomping at the bit to blow things up and transform themselves into monsters a la Jeckle and Hyde. Of course, once they got the set, they got channeled into doing the experiments in the set's book, which were still pretty dangerous and awe-inspiring. 
They also wanted a high-voltage lab like the one in "Frankenstein" and there were electrical sets to fill that need, too. I have a 600,000 volt spark generator in my garage, I guess because I want to make dead bodies come to life just like the kids of that era did. 
If you're interested in hands-on chemistry you should spend 25 bucks for the Granddad's book above. I think Amazon has it. I used to have my own copy and I loved it. Chemistry must have been a lot of fun way back when.
"Popular Science" and "Popular Mechanics" used to be crammed with chemistry-related articles. Here's a small article about evaporation (below) from the March 1948 issue of Popular Science (cover above). Notice that it's not mathematical. Kid chemistry should be taught this way for at least a year before making it mathematical. Get kids interested in the subject first!
The article's below. Click to enlarge.
18 comments:
Yes, it's a crying shame how pedantic snd dull high school chemistry is. I think my brother had some kind of kid chemistry kit(this would have been in the late 60s); is that even possible? For garden variety simple-dangerous experiments? I'll have to ask him. That old one certainly looks alluring!
Here's a couple of fun science articles from Popular Mechanics' 1952 edition of "The Boy Mechanic".
Equipping Your Chemical Lab Pt. 1
Equipping Your Chemical Lab Pt. 2
Home-Laboratory Shortcuts
Fun With Steam Engines Pt. 1
Fun With Steam Engines Pt. 2
Hopefully they're not too big. I wanted them to be easy to read.
Hi Eddie, I know exactly what you mean. I have a mint copy of "PEPPER'S PLAYBOOK OF SCIENCE", a boy's science book from 1911.
It has a beautiful engraving of the Bleriot monoplane - state-of-the-art for the period - on the cover.
But the best thing is - each and every one of the experiments inside is GUARANTEED to kill you. The ingredients they call for are so dangerous, I can't imagine putting this book in any kid's hands.
This is science at its best!
Kids these days are too cowardly to lose their eyebrows, much less the odd limb, in the name of science. Sad.
...wwwwaaiiiitt, you have a 600,000 volt spark generator in your garage? Sounds like Eddie! You should turn that sucker on in an continuous arc to a coil and invite people over for parties, like Nikola Tesla did.
What an interesting article, Uncle Eddie!
I can understand why chemistry sets are no longer available to the general public, because:
a) companies are afraid of being sued
b) there is too much risk for injury or death
c) people are afraid that kids who have evil intentions will use the chemistry sets to cause damage. (However, I think that the kids who have evil intentions will find another way to experiment. See: making meth, making "the works bomb", and making the "fire in the hole" liquid)
Chemistry sets, along with programs like Mr. Wizard and Bill Nye the Science Guy and magazines like Popular Mechanics, helped kids understand science and make it interesting.
I wish there was things today to get kids in the US interested in math and science.
Doggone it! The second page of the evaporation article won't enlarge, and that's the really interesting page. Oh, well! Here's a link to the article:
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/06/14/how-evaporation-steals-heat/?Qwd=./PopularScience/3-1948/evaporation&Qif=evaporation_1.jpg&Qiv=thumbs&Qis=XL#qdig
Jennifer, Jenny: Lots of kids have accidents on bikes and we don't ban bikes. We just have to accept a certain amount of accidents and illegal meth making and sell the sets anyway.
Rogellio: Good articles but the steam engine isn't for someone who's just getting started.
Steve: My library catalogue doesn't mention "Pepper's." Librarians are too uneducated, uncultured and politically correct to be proper custodians of the past. The public library system is terrific but it needs to be supplemented by private subscription libraries.
William: I'm not aware that you can buy a sizable Tesla coil, but you can make one!
This is only slightly off-topic, but related to the societal inadequacies that would strip such explosive fun from the shelves.
Anybody ever read 'The Peter Principal'? Put out in 1970? I've just started it, and Unca Eddie, it's right up your alley! Here's a bit from the intro:
"The following pages present Professor Peter’s explanation of his Peter Principle, the most penetrating social and psychological discovery of the century.
Dare you read it?
Dare you face, in one blinding revelation, the reason why schools do not bestow wisdom, why governments cannot maintain order, why courts do not dispense justice, why prosperity fails to produce happiness, why utopian plans never generate utopias?
Do not decide lightly. The decision to read on is irrevocable. If you read, you can never regain your present state of blissful ignorance; you will never again unthinkingly venerate your superiors or dominate your subordinates. Never! The Peter Principle, once heard, cannot be forgotten.”
It's pretty incredible, alright. Love to hear what you think of it, over in the Theory Corner. If you don't have it, you can get it on Amazon for $5.
I am old enough to have had a jumbo Gilbert Chemistry set when I was a kid. Gawd that was fun! I suppose there were things in it that could hurt you if you really tried, but I never knew, or even heard of, any kid being harmed by one of these things. I think we've become way overprodective of our kids and ourselves.
When my son was old enough to have a chemistry set, I put on my hat and went out to get him one, and was so disappointed to learn that they have gone the way of the dodo bird and the apatasaurus!
The end of that golden era was probably the Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments, which was mysteriously yanked from publication almost immediately when it appeared and (probabably) burned by our guardians in huge bonfires. You can download the whole marvelously hurtful and explodey thing here.
Hi Eddie.
My wife and I continue to enjoy your blog.
We are both cartoonists and could use a little guidance on the subjects of speed lines, impact lines and trajectory lines. Perhaps you can recommend a book, or maybe this would be an interesting topic for a blog entry. The difference between successful lines and unsuccessful ones is very subtle, and challenging to master.
Anything you have to offer is appreciated, but of course, we know you are busy and can't do it all.
By the way, your recent fumetti work reminds me of Crumb's layouts in early issues of Weirdo. You should have a look if you don't know them. You both do a good tongue-hanging-from-mouth pose.
Best,
scartoonist
Lester: I have the Golden Chemistry book and I did some of the experiments with my kids. Tri-Ess Chemicals in Burbank used to sell a box full of all the chemicals you'd need to do the experiments in that specific book. Alas, Tri-Ess closed down when the owner died.
Warren: "The Peter Principal" is a great book! I read it years ago and I still remember a lot of it: "Work expands to fill the time allotted for it." "People tend to rise (be promoted at work)to their level of incompetence."
This book would make a great gift, even if it was used and tattered.
I also like "Systemantics", "The Power of Negative Thinking" and "Why Literature is Bad for You."
Scar: I don't know of any book that covers that subject well. Try still-framing animation.
Hey--I never said don't sell them! Don't you mix up your Jennifers there my friend! You'll get no argument from me about the coolness of these deadly things. ; )
And anyway that's not what Jennifer said either--she said she understands why they're not sold, and she's right. It has everything to do with liabilty and lawsuits and not too much to do with kids.
>>"They also wanted a high-voltage lab like the one in "Frankenstein" and there were electrical sets to fill that need, too."
You can say that again! I've lusted after the Universal Studios Monsters and their stuff since I was four!
Kids these days are too cowardly to lose their eyebrows, much less the odd limb, in the name of science. Sad.
Except for this kid.
Check him out.
http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/radscout.html
Eddie what did you do / make with your chemistry set as a kid?
Eddie, you are a gem for posting this!
In 1972 when I was 14, I had a chemistry set, which I supplemented with stuff from the hobby shop. I packed Hot Wheels cars with homemade gunpowder and tried to blow them up, but it just melted them. Those cars are worth money now, but I'm still glad I did it.
My chemistry set's instructions had a recipe for chlorine gas. Good clean fun!
My Dad had one.
Vincent: Ah, the radioactive boyscout! Thanks for the link, it was great to be reminded of that. I wonder if anybody wrote a book about the guy who flew a lawn chair up to 30,000 feet.
Jenny: That sounds right!
Okapi: Simple things like evaporation and distillation. No, nothing illegal.
Glam: Imagine how far ahead you'd be if you'd met a Mr. Wizard-type science guru at that stage of your life. It's sad to think how deprived modern kids are.
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