Make's guide to chemistry sets

Over on the Make blog, Phil Torrone posted a wonderful guide to chemistry sets and books from the past and present. The Chemistry gift guide - Celebrating chemistry and inspiring the next generation of chemists!

[#1 posted by cstatman , November 24, 2008 11:18 AM]

you do understand most of the supplies in a proper chemistry set, designed to inspire and teach, are difficult to get now, as it may be unsafe, or considered terrorist supplies

http://12angrymen.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/endangered-species-the-chemistry-set/

(btw, I still have my chemcraft set)

[#2 posted by pt , November 24, 2008 11:34 AM]

@cstatman - i think it's up to all of us to change that. people don't think every gun owner is a bank robber --- so i think we can show that every kid with a chemistry set might just be the next scientist that will do amazing things.

[#3 posted by BubbleDragon , November 24, 2008 11:35 AM]

I have the metal case to that World of Science set pictured. The vials and such were broken inside, but the case was perfect - I still need to think of a way to use it.

[#4 posted by Takuan , November 24, 2008 11:48 AM]

write to Obama: decriminalize chemistry for kids.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.06/chemistry.html

[#5 posted by ROSSINDETROIT , November 24, 2008 11:58 AM]

CSTATMAN: Are you a tedious scold all day every day or is this just for our benefit?

[#6 posted by Takuan , November 24, 2008 12:22 PM]

Ross? what gives?

[#7 posted by Anonymous , November 24, 2008 12:25 PM]

It's not just kids with chemistry sets that have been harmed by institutionalized cowardice and hysteria.

Try shipping a foot-locker-sized case of test-tubes filled with water samples into the US these days. Non-profit research labs that do important work that relies on samples from 3rd world countries haven't been able to ship samples since the 9-11 atrocities, because science is scary.

I personally know scientists whose work has been crippled by this, and the problems started before the TSA was even formed. The TSA makes it worse, presumably, because in the unlikely event one obtained permission to ship properly packaged water samples the TSA goons could be expected to lose or destroy them anyway. After all, there is no reason for them not to do so; they wouldn't be punished in any way because liquid is scary.

I suppose I'm a tedious scold too. No more posts today; I need to get some work done.

--Charlie

[#8 posted by Slicklines , November 24, 2008 12:25 PM]

My great old chemistry set was destroyed while I was away in college. All I can remember now is it was housed in a display case of four, hinged, plastic yellow shelves, and that the experiments were written on cards (5x8?) instead of in a booklet. Anyone have any idea who the maker of this type of set may have been? I would love to get another set like it. Must have been from the mid to late 60's.

It is beyond sad that kids these days can no longer experience the joy of science.

[#9 posted by Antinous , November 24, 2008 12:30 PM]

Ross,

You forgot to take your irony supplement this morning.

[#10 posted by ROSSINDETROIT , November 24, 2008 12:35 PM]

The argument that goes "Why can't you people wake up and see what's right under my nose?" is so worn out it seems worth suppressing just on principle. maybe I'm being too touchy but rhetoric that tells me to share the outrage or be part of the oppression rubs me the wrong way. Plus I'm road weary and tired of border security for personal and immediate practical reasons.

[#11 posted by ROSSINDETROIT , November 24, 2008 12:40 PM]

Antinous to the pith of the matter as usual. I shall return with a refreshed POV after badly needed rest. CUthen.

[#12 posted by Stefan Jones , November 24, 2008 12:43 PM]

The upper-right photo looks familiar. I doubt I had that set, but it seems typical of the sort of chemistry set that was being sold in the early late 60s / early 70s.

A friend had a big fancy Gilbert set from the (guessing) very early 60s. A big metal box with dozens of bottles, an alcohol burner, and a thick booklet with all sorts of activities.

[#13 posted by Takuan , November 24, 2008 12:45 PM]

Rest,Ross. Your friends will be waiting.

[#14 posted by ponticello , November 24, 2008 12:58 PM]

Let me first say that I am a huge fan of the chemistry set and what it can teach and inspire for people of any age. We need to bring chemistry sets back!

I recently purchased a set from Homesciencetools, before this article was put up here. While I still enjoy my box full of good old pyrex gear tremendously, I noticed to my horror while flipping through their catalog:

They are ardent intelligent design advocates.

absolutely no materials exist teaching evolution without mentioning creationism, and many do exist with titles such as:

"the body by design"
"exploring creation with general science"

they even have an entire section titled: God's design

I was going to buy a microscope from them as well, but I will never again support the intelligent design psudo-science.

Science and religion are not opposing views! Just as science textbooks should not mention Atheism, so they should not mention Creationism.

Just thought BBers deserved to know!

[#15 posted by buddy66 , November 24, 2008 1:05 PM]

My kid brother was a chem dabbler, complete with basement lab, Xmas chemistry sets, and makeshift equipment. It wasn't until years later, in college chemistry courses, did he realize he could've blown up the goddamned house, and probably came close to it.

Perhaps luckily, he soon switched over to autos and engines that had to be tinkered with outside the house.

[#16 posted by cstatman , November 24, 2008 1:06 PM]

Ross,

sometimes I am. :) thanks for reminding me.

At lunch, I went out for a walk, and ended up sitting at the bus stop talking with a very senior citizen for about 30 mins, it made BOTH our days more fun.

:)

he reminded me things always change. I reminded him girls in pink sweaters are not difficult to look at. :)

[#17 posted by devophill , November 24, 2008 1:40 PM]

$495?? Damn, I wish I still had that book.

[#18 posted by flyingdutchman , November 24, 2008 3:47 PM]

The stuff that I was doing in my little lab in the garden shed when I was a kid, these days would get me bundled off to Guantanamo, pronto...

Great Balls of Fire indeed :)

[#19 posted by PoisonedV , November 24, 2008 4:36 PM]

I'm going into chemical engineering, and let me sum up the current climate in the US on science, in oen word: no.

[#20 posted by jimkirk , November 24, 2008 4:59 PM]

Glad to see mention of United Nuclear's web site.

Mentioned for the benefit of anyone who didn't read the article. One of my favorite web sites, along with American Science and Surplus. (www.sciplus.com)

[#21 posted by chgoliz , November 24, 2008 8:02 PM]

The top right picture...I had that set. I think that picture was on the cover. It was a metal box: the top half opened like shutters. The burner, the balance, all of it. According to the caption in blue it was from 1965, which would be about right.

Thanks for that trip down memory lane!

[#22 posted by bwcbwc , November 25, 2008 7:27 PM]

Chgoliz Same here. I think it's the Edmund Scientific set from the 1960's (1965 as you mention, although I got mine later). Even after I played with it, it still took me 10 years to learn how to pronounce "phenolphthalein".

[#23 posted by Anonymous , December 2, 2008 4:05 PM]

Anyone happen to know the name of the kit in the upper right hand corner? I had that one back in the 60's and would like to get a hold of one for old times sake.

[#24 posted by Anonymous , April 3, 2009 7:28 AM]

The entire country is so scared, scared of drugs, scared of terrorists, scared that a precious little angle may fall off his bike that it makes me gag. I am sure glad to have been born in the 50's. Bike helmets? Puny plastic gymsets at school playgrounds? Gutless (chemical free) chemistry sets? Please.........
From a purely benefit/risk standpoint this is a loser. Todays kids are insulated, isolated & "protected" out of so much risk that fun is usually found in only in the video games that keep children planted on their puggy little butts.