  Gilbert Atomic Energy Spinthariscope.
This cheaply-made (but probably quite functional) cardboard tube spinthariscope was part of a Gilbert chemistry set in the 1950's or 60's. I don't have the rest of the set, just the spinthariscope, and I'm just guessing that it contained uranium as apposed to polonium, thorium, or radium. Polonium was used in the Lone Ranger spinthariscope ring from about the same era, but this one is still radioactive while polonium would be fully decayed by now. Radium would have been too expensive, and other Gilbert sets contained uranium ore radioactive sources, so all in all, I think uranium is a fair guess.
Spinthariscopes are explained in more detail here.
Source: eBay seller imissthe60s
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 19 May, 2007
Text Updated: 19 May, 2007
Price: $48
Size: 3"
Purity: <1%
Sample Group: Spinthariscopes
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