One of the ‘most dangerous toys of all time’ is up for sale

Stuck for a Christmas gift for the kids? The most dangerous toy in the world is on sale.

The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory was released in the early 1950s and comes complete with real samples of uranium ore.

Marketed as an educational tool to inspire young scientists, the set was the brainchild of Alfred Carlton Gilbert, creator of the iconic Erector Set.

Despite its scientific appeal, the Atomic Energy Laboratory did not last long. Production ceased in 1951 due to “government restrictions” and difficulties in sourcing materials, as detailed in a 1953 letter from AC Gilbert Co.

In 2006, Radar Magazine named it one of the “10 Most Dangerous Toys of All Time,” but a 2020 IEEE Spectrum analysis suggested that its dangers may have been overstated. Exposure to radiation was described as “minimal”, equivalent to “one day’s UV exposure from the sun”, as long as the samples remained sealed in their containers.

Boston-based RR Auction said: “With less than 5,000 units sold, the Gilbert Atomic Energy Laboratory U-238 has become a prized collectible for history buffs, toy enthusiasts and pop culture enthusiasts.

“It provides a window into a unique period in post-World War II history when atomic science was all the rage—and controversy.”

The set will be offered as part of RR Auction’s Fine Autographs and Artifacts event, which ends on December 11. It is estimated to fetch over £3,100 ($4,000).

WHAT’S IN THE BOX:

Packed in a sleek red suitcase, the kit came loaded with:

– Four glass jars containing samples of natural ore with uranium (U-238).

– A new chamber for observing alpha particles traveling at 12,000 miles per second.

– A spintariscope to watch radioactive decay on a glowing fluorescent screen.

– An electroscope to measure radiation levels in naturally occurring radioactive substances such as carnotite, autunite, torbernite and uraninite.

It also included extras: “Gilbert’s Handbook of Atomic Energy,” a guide to uranium exploration published by the U.S. government, and a quirky comic book, Dagwood Splits the Atom.