Gilbert No. 5 chemistry set
Date: 1954
Inventory Number: 2010-1-0011
Classification: Chemistry Set
Subject:
Maker: A. C. Gilbert Company (founded 1909)
Maker: Porter Chemical Company (founded 1914)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
35 x 24.3 x 4.3 cm (13 3/4 x 9 9/16 x 1 11/16 in.)
DescriptionChemisty set in a blue steel box made by the A.C. Gilbert Company. The kit is incomplete. The kit comes with a 80 page Gilbert instruction manual from 1954 titled: "Fun with Gilbert Chemistry", the last page and rear inside cover of which are marked with a shopping list in red pencil.
The kit also comes with an older publication entitled: "Gilbert Glass Blowing", which would have come with a Gilbert glassblowing kit, and a page from the Porter Chemical Company's Chemcraft manual (dated 1950).
The kit includes bottles of:
1) Ammonium chloride: An acidic salt, a white crystalline solid. It is soluble in water (37%). The primary hazard is the threat posed to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. It is used to make other ammonium compounds, as a soldering flux, as a fertilizer, and for many other uses.
2) Calcium oxide (quicklime): An odorless, white or gray-white solid in the form of hard lumps. A strong irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Used in insecticides and fertilizers.
3) Ferric ammonium sulfate (ammonium iron(III) sulfate): A light green crystalline solid. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. It is used in medicine, chemical analysis and metallurgy.
4) Nickel ammonium sulfate: a green crystalline solid, mildly toxic and carcinogenic. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of metallic nickel, oxides of sulfur, and oxides of nitrogen (Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 910). The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. It is used for electroplating nickel.
5) Potassium nitrate: a white to dirty gray crystalline solid. Water soluble. Noncombustible, but accelerates the burning of combustible materials. If large quantities are involved in fire or the combustible material is finely divided an explosion may result. May explode under prolonged exposure to heat or fire. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires. Used in solid propellants, explosives, fertilizers.
6) Sodium bisulfate: generally safe
7) Sodium bicarbonate: baking soda
8) Sulfur
9) Sodium chloride: table salt
10) Tartaric acid: cream of tartar
And a test tube with:
1) Sodium silicate: A powdered or flaked solid substance. Strong irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion. Concentrated aqueous solutions used as a glue.
Also included:
2 candles
Sulfide test paper
Red and blue litmus paper
Six test tubes
Tongs, etc.
The kit also comes with an older publication entitled: "Gilbert Glass Blowing", which would have come with a Gilbert glassblowing kit, and a page from the Porter Chemical Company's Chemcraft manual (dated 1950).
The kit includes bottles of:
1) Ammonium chloride: An acidic salt, a white crystalline solid. It is soluble in water (37%). The primary hazard is the threat posed to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. It is used to make other ammonium compounds, as a soldering flux, as a fertilizer, and for many other uses.
2) Calcium oxide (quicklime): An odorless, white or gray-white solid in the form of hard lumps. A strong irritant to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Used in insecticides and fertilizers.
3) Ferric ammonium sulfate (ammonium iron(III) sulfate): A light green crystalline solid. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. It is used in medicine, chemical analysis and metallurgy.
4) Nickel ammonium sulfate: a green crystalline solid, mildly toxic and carcinogenic. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of metallic nickel, oxides of sulfur, and oxides of nitrogen (Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 910). The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. It is used for electroplating nickel.
5) Potassium nitrate: a white to dirty gray crystalline solid. Water soluble. Noncombustible, but accelerates the burning of combustible materials. If large quantities are involved in fire or the combustible material is finely divided an explosion may result. May explode under prolonged exposure to heat or fire. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires. Used in solid propellants, explosives, fertilizers.
6) Sodium bisulfate: generally safe
7) Sodium bicarbonate: baking soda
8) Sulfur
9) Sodium chloride: table salt
10) Tartaric acid: cream of tartar
And a test tube with:
1) Sodium silicate: A powdered or flaked solid substance. Strong irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion. Concentrated aqueous solutions used as a glue.
Also included:
2 candles
Sulfide test paper
Red and blue litmus paper
Six test tubes
Tongs, etc.
In Collection(s)
Signedon paper glued to outside of kit: [Copyright] 1936 by the A.C. Gilbert [Co., New Haven, Conn]
printed on containers: GILBERT / ... / THE A. C. GILBERT CO., NEW HAVEN, CONN. / U. S. A.
On Chemcraft manual: Harold M. Porter / copyright 1950 / THE PORTER CHEMICAL COMPANY / Hagerstown, Maryland
printed on containers: GILBERT / ... / THE A. C. GILBERT CO., NEW HAVEN, CONN. / U. S. A.
On Chemcraft manual: Harold M. Porter / copyright 1950 / THE PORTER CHEMICAL COMPANY / Hagerstown, Maryland
InscribedGlued paper label on outside of wooden case:
GILBERT CHEMISTRY OUTFIT
This set is not intended for children who cannot read and understnad the accompanying instruction book.
[Copyright 1936 by] the A.C. Gilbert Co., [New Haven, Conn]
GILBERT CHEMISTRY OUTFIT
This set is not intended for children who cannot read and understnad the accompanying instruction book.
[Copyright 1936 by] the A.C. Gilbert Co., [New Haven, Conn]
Historical AttributesThe A.C. Gilbert Company was founded in 1909 in Westville, Conneticut by Alfred Carlton Gilbert (born Salem, Oregon 1884, died 1961). Gilbert, a graduate of Yale Medical School and gold medalist in the pole vault at the 1908 London Olympics, was best-known as the inventor of the Erector Set. He gained the moniker "The Man Who Saved Christmas" in 1918 after lobbying the U.S. Council on Defense to continue the production of toys despite a strong government effort to have all non-essential manufacturing ceased for the remaining duration of the First World War.
The company was known for producing Erector Sets, chemistry sets, microscope kits, inexpensive telescopes, slots cars, and model trains.
At the current time (2010) there is a permanent exhibition of Gilbert products at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden, Conneticut.
The company was known for producing Erector Sets, chemistry sets, microscope kits, inexpensive telescopes, slots cars, and model trains.
At the current time (2010) there is a permanent exhibition of Gilbert products at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden, Conneticut.
Primary Sources.
ProvenanceGiven to the CHSI by Maggie Jack (A.B. in History of Science, Harvard University, 2010), September 30, 2010.