Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab

What Is It?

It was a Science lab kit for Children that was sold between 1950-1951.  They advertised that it "Produces awe-inspiring sights! Enables you to actually SEE the paths of electrons and alpha particles traveling at speeds of more than 10,000 miles per SECOND!". 

What Went Wrong?

I'm going to list what this kit contains (using Wikipedia as a source) and perhaps you will see for yourself:

Geiger-Müller counter

Electroscope

Spinthariscope

Wilson cloud chamber

Low-level radiation sources:

• Alpha particles (Pb-210 and Po-210)
• Beta particles (Ru-106)
• Gamma particles (possibly Zn-65)

Four Uranium-bearing ore samples

Nuclear spheres for making a molecular model of an alpha particle.

Prospecting for Uranium — a book

Gilbert Atomic Energy Manual

"Learn How Dagwood Split the Atom" comic book

Three C batteries

1951 Gilbert Toys catalog

So yes...you can expose your child to the wonderful world of Science and oh yeah radiation!  It's nearly impossible to believe that they were handing Kids uranium in the '50s!

Aftermath?

The item was pulled from the shelves in 1951 due to fear that Children could injest radioactive materials.  I cannot find any reported cases of injury due to use of this kit.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_U-238_Atomic_Energy_Laboratory
http://gombessa.tripod.com/scienceleadstheway/id4.html