Accession No

6676

Brief Description

hobby instrument set for children, "100" outfit, by Construments Ltd., English, 1930s

Origin

England; London

Maker

Construments Ltd.

Class

games; optical; electronics

Earliest Date

1932

Latest Date

1935

Inscription Date

Material

paper; cardboard; metal; glass; rubber; plastic

Dimensions

233mm (width) x 199mm (depth) x 108mm (height)

Special Collection

Michael J. Clark Bequest

Provenance

Inscription

Description Notes

Hobby instrument set for children, "100" outfit, made by Construments, English, 1930s

A hobby instrument set with instructions and parts for making a variety of optical and electrical instruments. This is the "100" outfit, so named because it is claimed to contain the parts and instructions for creating over £100 worth of "magnifiers, microcopes, cameras, magic lanterns, kaleidoscopes, shadowscopes, micro-projectors, micro-cameras, photo-printers, watch projectors, signalling lamps and experimental instruments."

The box has a hinging top-lid with ribbon lid stay, opening to reveal six drawers and two large compartments at rear of box. The two large compartments house the "optical box" and "instrument stand." The top-left drawer contains a metal tube and metal ring-mounts; the middle-left contains glass plates and mirrors of varying sizes; the bottom left contains 2 battery clips, 5 small lightbulbs, combined spanner-screwdriver, lampholder, spring clip and distance ring; the top right drawer is stuck and doesn't open; the middle-right contains a reflector, four lenses and two more ring mounts; the bottom-right contains brass terminal & hexagonal nuts, rubber bands, metal rings, a frosted translucent plastic disc, red, yellow, blue, and green plastic transparent discs, five small opaque coloured buttons, large & small pinhole disc, lens stop, coiled red & black wire, screws and bolts, and a glass collection tube.

The instruction book (35pp) has an illustrated list of parts, illustrated instructions for creating 81 different instruments and models, and general "Hints" for effective use of these instruments.

Condition: good

References

Events