Accession No
4565
Brief Description
boxed set for children to make their own optical instruments and instruction book, by Construments Ltd., English, 1/2 20th Century
Origin
England; London; 18 Gray’s Inn Road
Maker
Construments Ltd.
Class
optical; demonstration
Earliest Date
1900
Latest Date
1950
Inscription Date
Material
paper (card, grease-proof paper); metal (brass, steel, white metal, and at least one other); glass
Dimensions
box length 234mm; breadth 102mm; height 110mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased on 07/10/1996.
Inscription
‘EVERY BOY & GIRL A SCIENTIST
Construments
THE HOBBY OF TEN
THOUSAND THRILLS’ (lid of box)
Description Notes
Boxed set for children to make their own optical instruments and instruction book, by Construments Ltd, 1/2 20th C.
Cardboard box which opens out to reveal three-drawer stack and space for large component. Drawers contain mirrors, lenses, screws etc. Complete with instruction booklet for creating different optical instruments.
Complete
References
Events
Description
C. W. Hansel, a school science master, invented this optical kit for children, which claimed to make ‘every boy and girl a scientist’. It consisted of an array of simple scientific equipment, such as lenses, prisms, pinhole discs and stands and holders. These, along with the help of the instructions, allowed the child to create objects such as do-it-yourself microscopes and telescopes. Many children coveted the educational toy at the time, although it was rather expensive and was viewed as a luxury item. The Construments kits became so popular that a Construmag magazine aimed at children who were Construments enthusiasts was published to accompany the sets. Construments clubs were also set up for children to join and play the role of ‘scientists’ or ‘detectives’ with their kits.
22/05/2009
Created by: Nathalie Botcherby [Work experience student, using Melanie Keene’s Isis paper] on 22/05/2009
FM:40247
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