The shockingly hazardous history of radioactive toys
The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory is credited as being the most dangerous toy ever created. Keep reading to learn more about its history.
The Gilbert 238 Atomic Energy Lab on display in Ulster Museum, Belfast | Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock.com
Let's conduct a thought experiment - think about the toys your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters play with. What do they look like? Probably teddy bears, LEGO sets and dollhouses. Perhaps a few Squishmallows and Jellycats thrown in.
What we don't expect is hazardous, radioactive material - autunite, torbernite, uraninite and carnotite, to be specific - or a toy that teaches kids how to make poisonous atomic clouds.
Unbelievably, that's exactly what happened in the 1950s when Alfred Carlton Gilbert created the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab for children, touted as one of 'the most spectacular' toys of the era. Ahead of the release of Hazardous History with Henry Winkler, coming soon to Sky HISTORY, this article unpacks the strange story of the Atomic Energy Lab.
Who was Alfred Carlton Gilbert?
If anyone was going to invent a radioactive toy for children, it was Alfred Carlton Gilbert. The slightly eccentric inventor, athlete, magician, toy maker, trained doctor and businessman loved to push boundaries and keep people guessing.
Often described as 'a boy in a businessman's body', Gilbert's playful nature inspired some of the best toys of the 20th century, including the Erector Set, Gilbert Chemistry Sets and Gilbert Microscope and Lab Kits.
His philosophy was simple: children learn by doing. He's credited with encouraging a whole generation of young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory
However, it's fair to say he missed the mark with the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab. Motivated by the dazzling and dangerous advancements in technology during WWII, he wanted to create a replica lab for children, where they could simulate nuclear reactions using real radioactive material.
The lab itself contained four uranium ore samples (autunite, torbernite, uraninite and carnotite), a Geiger counter, a Wilson cloud chamber, an electroscope, a spinthariscope, radiation sources, a comic book and, finally, a 60-page instruction manual outlining 150 experiments to try at home. Oh, and a Gilbert Toys catalogue for good measure.
Although dangerous, nobody can fault Gilbert's attention to detail.
Public reception
Despite the company's previous success, Gilbert's Lab received a frosty reception when it hit the market. Parents were understandably wary of the radioactive material and perhaps a little tired of war reminders, especially amid the tense Cold War climate.
There was a general understanding that radioactive material was bad, regardless of the level of exposure, despite the Gilbert catalogue reassuring buyers that:
'All radioactive materials included with the Atomic Energy Lab have been certified as completely safe by Oak-Ridge Laboratories, part of the Atomic Energy Commission.'
Nowadays, of course, we know that even small amounts of exposure to nuclear waste can cause serious health risks, including increased chances of cancer, genetic mutations and long-term damage to soft tissues.
The price was another barrier to purchase. The Lab was incredibly expensive for the time, retailing at $49.50. In 1950, that would have been equivalent to $500 - $600!
Setting a dangerous precedent
Ultimately, the toy was discontinued due to poor sales. But thankfully, it seems as though nobody was hurt, and no lawsuits were ever filed - which is remarkable, given the circumstances.
However, the Lab did set a dangerous precedent for toymakers, who were emboldened to push the boundaries of what society deemed acceptable. Let's take a look at some similarly dangerous toys throughout history.
Easy-Bake Oven
Created in 1963 and now manufactured by Hasbro, the Easy-Bake Oven has been blamed for multiple injuries over the years.
In 2006, the product was recalled due to numerous reports of children getting their fingers caught in the front-loading door, resulting in burns. One family even blamed the oven for causing carbon monoxide poisoning.
Creepy Crawlers
Mattel's original Creepy Crawlers in the 1960s definitely deserves a spot on our most dangerous toys list. The premise was simple: Create rubbery 'bugs' by pouring liquid plastic into metal moulds heated on a hot plate.
See the problem yet? Curing liquid plastic requires an exceptionally high heat of around 150 degrees, which we can all agree isn't the safest temperature for children. It wasn't long before a wave of burn reports, and the toy was quickly pulled.
Lawn Darts
We've saved the most diabolical till last - Lawn Darts, also known as Jarts. Players would throw heavy, metal-tipped 'javelin darts' at targets, and whoever scored the most points would win. What could possibly go wrong?
The obviously dangerous game caused thousands of injuries and at least three known deaths in the 1970s and 80s. The toy was finally banned when a seven-year-old girl was tragically killed after being struck in the head.
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