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Ecolab

Chemistry Set
1990-1991 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Chemistry set for conducting simple environmental tests:
1. box, card printed in colours on green to show the title, photographs of the kit and children using it, the trademark of the GreenWatch Club (a circle around a map of the world). It has a white plastic carry handle.
2. box lining, white card.
3. box lining/test tube rack, white card, to hold test tubes
4. booklet, 'Ecolab Project Book,' copyright 1990 GreenWatch Ltd., licenced by J.W. Spear and Sons PLC; 96 page book introducing children to ecology, the tests and details about their dangers, glossary of terms and other general project information.
5. reorder form sheet, printed paper, on the reverse there is notice given that the GreenWatch Club, mentioned in the booklet, has been disbanded but opinions and reorders may be obtained from Spear's Product Development Department.
6. compass, green plastic, with handle at the top.
7. pipette, clear soft plastic
8-12. test tubes, clear plastic.
13-17. plastic screw-on lids for test tubes (red, yellow, purple, orange, blue)
18. pencil, wood
19. beaker, clear plastic
20. stirring stick, wood, with one pointed end
21. goggles, white plastic frames with elastic at the back and clear plastic lenses
22. Acid Rain Test, a dark blue paper envelope printed in colours to show an illustration of a distressed Earth being rained on.
23-30. pH test strips for Acid Rain Test, pH 4-9, contained inside the envelope
31-32. pH test strips for Acid Rain Test, pH 1.8-3.8, contained inside the envelope
33. Water Pollution Test, red paper envelope printed in colours to show an illustration of a polluted and distressed Earth.
34-37. Nitrate test strips for Water Pollution Test, in sealed aluminium foil stripes, contained inside the envelope
38. Lead Test, yellow paper envelope printed in colours to show a distressed overheating Earth.
39-42. Lead test strips, contained inside the envelope.
43. Water Contamination Test, orange paper envelope printed in colours to show the Earth wearing a breathing apparatus. There is a harmful warning on this package.
44. silver foil package containing two Methylene Blue tablets, contained inside the envelope
45. Oil Pollution Test, purple paper envelope printed in colours to show the Earth covered in splodges of oil
46. oil test strip, contained in the envelope

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 46 parts.

  • Packaging
  • Packaging
  • Packaging
  • Booklet
  • Leaflet
  • Compass
  • Pipette
  • Test Tube
  • Test Tube
  • Test Tube
  • Test Tube
  • Test Tube
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Lid
  • Pencil
  • Beaker
  • Stick
  • Goggles
  • Envelope
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • PH Test Strip
  • Envelope
  • Nitrate Test Strip
  • Nitrate Test Strip
  • Nitrate Test Strip
  • Nitrate Test Strip
  • Envelope
  • Lead Test Strip
  • Lead Test Strip
  • Lead Test Strip
  • Lead Test Strip
  • Envelope
  • Evelope
  • Envelope
  • Oil Test Strip
TitleEcolab (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Printed card and paper, plastic, chemicals, aluminium, wood
Brief description
Chemistry set, Ecolab, Spear's Games, 1990-91
Physical description
Chemistry set for conducting simple environmental tests:
1. box, card printed in colours on green to show the title, photographs of the kit and children using it, the trademark of the GreenWatch Club (a circle around a map of the world). It has a white plastic carry handle.
2. box lining, white card.
3. box lining/test tube rack, white card, to hold test tubes
4. booklet, 'Ecolab Project Book,' copyright 1990 GreenWatch Ltd., licenced by J.W. Spear and Sons PLC; 96 page book introducing children to ecology, the tests and details about their dangers, glossary of terms and other general project information.
5. reorder form sheet, printed paper, on the reverse there is notice given that the GreenWatch Club, mentioned in the booklet, has been disbanded but opinions and reorders may be obtained from Spear's Product Development Department.
6. compass, green plastic, with handle at the top.
7. pipette, clear soft plastic
8-12. test tubes, clear plastic.
13-17. plastic screw-on lids for test tubes (red, yellow, purple, orange, blue)
18. pencil, wood
19. beaker, clear plastic
20. stirring stick, wood, with one pointed end
21. goggles, white plastic frames with elastic at the back and clear plastic lenses
22. Acid Rain Test, a dark blue paper envelope printed in colours to show an illustration of a distressed Earth being rained on.
23-30. pH test strips for Acid Rain Test, pH 4-9, contained inside the envelope
31-32. pH test strips for Acid Rain Test, pH 1.8-3.8, contained inside the envelope
33. Water Pollution Test, red paper envelope printed in colours to show an illustration of a polluted and distressed Earth.
34-37. Nitrate test strips for Water Pollution Test, in sealed aluminium foil stripes, contained inside the envelope
38. Lead Test, yellow paper envelope printed in colours to show a distressed overheating Earth.
39-42. Lead test strips, contained inside the envelope.
43. Water Contamination Test, orange paper envelope printed in colours to show the Earth wearing a breathing apparatus. There is a harmful warning on this package.
44. silver foil package containing two Methylene Blue tablets, contained inside the envelope
45. Oil Pollution Test, purple paper envelope printed in colours to show the Earth covered in splodges of oil
46. oil test strip, contained in the envelope
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'GREENWATCH' (Logo, top left corner of box)
  • 'ECOLAB' (Title, top-right corner of box)
  • 'A portable / laboratory with / 5 environmental / tests' (Printed on box)
  • 'Includes a 96 page full colour project / book about the environment' (Printed on box)
  • 'FOR TESTING / WATER CONTAMINATION / WATER POLLUTION / OIL POLLUTION / LEAD POLLUTION / ACID RAIN' (Printed on front of box)
Gallery label
(01/07/2023)
Science kits

Science is about exploring the world around us. These sets engage children with science by providing them with simple experiments to observe something that they haven’t seen before.

That could be the result of mixing two chemicals, using a lens to see materials up close, or exploring electrical circuits. By providing stimulating outcomes, they motivate children to learn in a hands-on way.

22 Ecolab Chemistry Set
Designer: Spear
Date: 1991
Location: England
Materials: Paper, plastic, chemicals
Museum no. MISC.65-1992

23 Lectron System
Designer: Georg Franz Greger for Braun
Date: 1967
Location: Germany
Materials: Metal, plastic, electronics
Museum no. B.62-2022

24 Microscope and slides
Designer: Signalling Equipment Ltd
Date: About 1950
Location: England
Materials: Metal, glass, resin, botanical
and insect samples

25 Lott’s Chemistry Set No. 2
Designer: Lott’s Bricks Ltd
Date: About 1960
Location: England
Materials: Cardboard, printed paper, metal, glass, plastic, wood, chemicals
Museum nos. MISC.796-1986, MISC.108-1982

[Young V&A, Design Gallery, Design helps us to learn, group object label]
Credit line
Given by Spear's Games
Object history
Given by Spear's Games. On entry to the museum its condition was noted as 'mint, original packaging - recycled material has been used where possible'
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
MISC.65-1992

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
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