Author Archives: Carel Neffenger

Porter’s Chemcraft Master Laboratory

2019 Atomic Advent Calendar Gift Ideas Day 1

Porter Chemical Company produced the Chemcraft Master Laboratory with Atomic Energy throughout the 1950s. The kit included radioactive Uranium ore and was the most expensive and elaborate model available in 1951. At $27.50 (about $265 in today’s dollars), this was quite an investment for a family Christmas gift.

The popularity of chemistry sets peaked during the 1940s and 1950s, coinciding with the nuclear arms race. After the Atomic Energy Act was passed in 1947, the Atomic Energy kits were added to the Chemcraft chemistry sets. This model contains not only chemicals, but an educational manual on atomic energy, radiation test strips, and the sample of true uranium ore.

The set in the pictures, above, was found at the Great Basin Museum in Delta, UT. Other museums have tested these sets with Geiger counters and found the radiation from the Uranium core to be negligible and safe for handling.

Atomic Energy Commission Transfer

1/1/1947 – On this day, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission took over the Manhattan Project’s research and production facilities from the Manhattan Engineer District.

Hanging discretely in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum (Washington, DC) is this little modified Piper PA-18 Super Cub used by the AEC to survey uranium exploration in the West. The Super Cub, with a scintillation counter to detect gamma radiation, could make low, slow flights over the rugged terrain.

(Note the top of the “Enola Gay” B-29 vertical stabilizer just below the airframe.)

Chicago Pile 1

December 2, 1942, the Chicago Pile – the first nuclear reactor – was completed at the University of Chicago. Where the Chicago Pile was located now stands Henry Moore’s Nuclear Energy sculpture, dedicated on December 2, 1967.

Henry Moore's Nuclear Energy

The original Chicago Pile was disassembled and moved to Site A in March 1943, renamed Chicago Pile 2. It operated until 1954, at which point it was disassembled and buried.

Chicago Pile marker

Now called the Red Gates Woods forest preserve, you’ll find an inscribed granite marker and an historical site marker. These mark the spot where Chicago Pile-2 was reassembled and built, along with other reactors, and then buried in a gigantic hole that was big enough for the 2-story high reactor, which was decontaminated and imploded for safety.
Chicago Pile 1 markerOther artifacts can be found in the area, including other concrete markers inscribed with historical information, the foundation of the labs, and more. The site can be found along the Pipeline Trail, which is poorly marked, but well worth the trek into history. Similarly, the trek from the main parking lot is as arduous.

Red Gate Woods Pipeline Trail