Edmund Scientific Corporation
Encyclopedia
Edmund Scientific Corporation was a company based in Barrington, New Jersey
that specialized in supplying surplus optics and other items via its mail order catalog and Factory Store. During four decades from the 1940s to the 1970s Edmund Scientific was virtually unique in its offerings to scientific hobbyists.
as a supplier of chipped lenses, war-surplus optics, and low cost scientific gadgetry. Its advertisements caught the attention of hobbyists, amateur astronomers, high school students, and cash-strapped researchers.
Edmund Scientific was part of the post-World War II
"war surplus" phenomenon, when the U.S. government sold off large quantities of materials. "Army and Navy Stores" were a national phenomenon and originally sold military-surplus clothing. Surplus electronics found an outlet in dozens of shops, in New York City
's "Radio Row" and elsewhere. A few issued catalogs and developed national mail-order businesses. Edmund was, however, the only widely-known supplier of surplus optics.
The core of Edmund’s offerings was surplus lenses. These were single-element lenses, shipped in 2.5x4.25-inch (63x108 mm) coin envelopes, with the approximate diameter and focal length stenciled on them. Reflecting their salvage and surplus origins, available diameters and focal lengths did not fall into regular progressions. Edmund published crudely printed, stapled "books" describing experiments that could be performed with their lenses, and plans for building telescopes and other optical equipment. Edmund also sold lens "kits." The ten-lens kit cost less than $10 and included a booklet of plans for instruments that could supposedly be built with them.
Unlike Heathkit
s, which were absolutely complete kits requiring only soldering and assembly, Edmund's "kits" consisted of only the lenses. A great deal of skill and effort would have been needed to fashion the telescopes, microscopes, or opaque projectors described. With single-element lenses, quality of the resulting optics was not high. Edmund even sold high-quality, thick, black cardboard tubes that many of the projects called for.
Following Sputnik, Edmund was able to capitalize on a growing national interest in science and astronomy. They expanded their business into a full line of telescopes and telescope kits as well as equipment, parts, and supplies for other scientific fields such as physics, optics, chemistry, electronics, and meteorology. They continued to grow as a supplier to teachers and schools with demonstration devices and kits that covered most fields of science.
Edmund's catalog became a source for optical and mechanical parts useful in the field of amateur telescope making
. A compilation of Edmunds' earlier pamphlets published as the book "All About Telescopes" offered many designs for telescopes of all sizes and configurations, which directed the builder to the relative Edmund catalog part numbers needed for each design. The "Factory Store" in Barrington, New Jersey also had a number of bins and shelves full of surplus and hard to find items which never made it into the catalogs.
Edmunds catered to the 1960s generation by expanding and highlighting their line of projectors, color wheels, black light
s, filters, and other optical devices that could be used by rock bands and in psychedelic
light shows. Other items that catered to the counterculture were eventually added to the catalog covering the fields of Biofeedback
, ESP
, Kirlian photography
, Pyramid power
, and alternative energy
. In 1971, in the Whole Earth Catalog
of items "relevant to independent education," Stewart Brand
noted: "Edmund is the best source we know of for low-cost scientific gadgetry (including math and optics gear). [In this category,] many of the items we found independently... turned up in the Edmund catalog, so we were obliged to recommend that in this area we've been precluded." That is, the Edmund catalog was virtually a Whole Earth Catalog for items related to scientific fields.
In line with their focus on optics, Edmund Scientifics's entrance vestibule housed a pale-blue working WWII Japanese submarine periscope. Children were often drawn to this periscope. Drawing on the periscope's popularity, sometime in the 1970s a hall of mirrors
, complete with black light
s, was installed towards the rear of the building.
The Barrington, NJ, store closed in 2001 when Edmund Scientific was acquired by its current owner, Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories
.
As of 2007, Edmund Optics continues to offer brand-new stock optics, as well as offering custom and specialized optics to corporations and higher education institutions.
, a western New York based science supply company. Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories is part of a group of companies that provide science supplies to elementary, middle, and high schools as well as colleges and universities. This group falls under the unofficial umbrella "VWR Education" and are owned by VWR International
, a multi-national conglomerate with offices in India, China, Europe, Canada and the United States. They are no longer affiliated with Edmund Optics Inc.
As of 2009, online sales now make up the bulk of Edmund Scientific's revenues. The company still sells telescopes (including an updated version of their Astroscan
Telescope), microscopes (mostly they carry the Boreal brand which is manufactured for their parent company Science Kit LLC), surplus optics, magnets and Fresnel lens
es. They continue to sell many of their old favorites along with new items such as the Impossiball and Hand Boiler
s as well as other science-themed toys, novelty items, gifts and gadgets.
Barrington, New Jersey
Barrington is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 6,983.Barrington was incorporated as a borough on March 27, 1917, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April...
that specialized in supplying surplus optics and other items via its mail order catalog and Factory Store. During four decades from the 1940s to the 1970s Edmund Scientific was virtually unique in its offerings to scientific hobbyists.
Early history
In 1942 amateur photographer Norman W. Edmund (born 1916) found it hard to find lenses he needed for his hobby. This led him to advertise lenses for sale in photography magazines. It was so successful he founded "'Edmund Salvage Corporation.'" It soon changed its name to Edmund Scientific and made its name with ads in publications like Scientific AmericanScientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
as a supplier of chipped lenses, war-surplus optics, and low cost scientific gadgetry. Its advertisements caught the attention of hobbyists, amateur astronomers, high school students, and cash-strapped researchers.
War surplus
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
"war surplus" phenomenon, when the U.S. government sold off large quantities of materials. "Army and Navy Stores" were a national phenomenon and originally sold military-surplus clothing. Surplus electronics found an outlet in dozens of shops, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's "Radio Row" and elsewhere. A few issued catalogs and developed national mail-order businesses. Edmund was, however, the only widely-known supplier of surplus optics.
The core of Edmund’s offerings was surplus lenses. These were single-element lenses, shipped in 2.5x4.25-inch (63x108 mm) coin envelopes, with the approximate diameter and focal length stenciled on them. Reflecting their salvage and surplus origins, available diameters and focal lengths did not fall into regular progressions. Edmund published crudely printed, stapled "books" describing experiments that could be performed with their lenses, and plans for building telescopes and other optical equipment. Edmund also sold lens "kits." The ten-lens kit cost less than $10 and included a booklet of plans for instruments that could supposedly be built with them.
Unlike Heathkit
Heathkit
Heathkits were products of the Heath Company, Benton Harbor, Michigan. Their products included electronic test equipment, high fidelity home audio equipment, television receivers, amateur radio equipment, electronic ignition conversion modules for early model cars with point style ignitions, and...
s, which were absolutely complete kits requiring only soldering and assembly, Edmund's "kits" consisted of only the lenses. A great deal of skill and effort would have been needed to fashion the telescopes, microscopes, or opaque projectors described. With single-element lenses, quality of the resulting optics was not high. Edmund even sold high-quality, thick, black cardboard tubes that many of the projects called for.
Edmund's heyday
Edmund's catalog became a source for optical and mechanical parts useful in the field of amateur telescope making
Amateur telescope making
Amateur telescope making is the activity of building telescopes as a hobby, as opposed to being a paid professional. Amateur telescope makers build their instruments for personal enjoyment of a technical challenge, as a way to obtain an inexpensive or personally customized telescope, or as a...
. A compilation of Edmunds' earlier pamphlets published as the book "All About Telescopes" offered many designs for telescopes of all sizes and configurations, which directed the builder to the relative Edmund catalog part numbers needed for each design. The "Factory Store" in Barrington, New Jersey also had a number of bins and shelves full of surplus and hard to find items which never made it into the catalogs.
Edmunds catered to the 1960s generation by expanding and highlighting their line of projectors, color wheels, black light
Black light
A black light, also referred to as a UV light, ultraviolet light, or Wood's lamp, is a lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation in the long-wave range, and little visible light...
s, filters, and other optical devices that could be used by rock bands and in psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
light shows. Other items that catered to the counterculture were eventually added to the catalog covering the fields of Biofeedback
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is the process of becoming aware of various physiological functions using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will...
, ESP
Extra-sensory perception
Extrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind. The term was coined by Frederic Myers, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairaudience, and...
, Kirlian photography
Kirlian photography
Kirlian photography refers to a form of photogram made with voltage. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of voltage an image is produced on the photographic plate.Kirlian's work, from 1939 onward,...
, Pyramid power
Pyramid power
Pyramid power refers to alleged supernatural or paranormal properties of the ancient Egyptian pyramids and objects of similar shape. With this power, model pyramids are said to preserve foods, sharpen or maintain the sharpneses of razor blades, improve health , function "as a...
, and alternative energy
Alternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
. In 1971, in the Whole Earth Catalog
Whole Earth Catalog
The Whole Earth Catalog was an American counterculture catalog published by Stewart Brand between 1968 and 1972, and occasionally thereafter, until 1998...
of items "relevant to independent education," Stewart Brand
Stewart Brand
Stewart Brand is an American writer, best known as editor of the Whole Earth Catalog. He founded a number of organizations including The WELL, the Global Business Network, and the Long Now Foundation...
noted: "Edmund is the best source we know of for low-cost scientific gadgetry (including math and optics gear). [In this category,] many of the items we found independently... turned up in the Edmund catalog, so we were obliged to recommend that in this area we've been precluded." That is, the Edmund catalog was virtually a Whole Earth Catalog for items related to scientific fields.
End of an era
In the 1970s, as the viability of Edmund's business model waned, Norman Edmund's son Robert Edmund refashioned the business into two new ones, Edmund Scientifics and Edmund Optics. Edmund Scientifics marketed to consumers and specialized in science-themed toys, vaguely high-tech household gadgets, and "science gifts." Edmund Optics did not have a public showroom like Edmund Scientifics, although the two organizations shared the same building. The large back room of Edmund Scientifics still sold military surplus from WWII and other wars well into the 1980s and into the mid 1990s. Some of the items in the surplus room were from German and other non-American militaries. None of these items were in the mail-order catalogs. They also sold other surplus wares of interest to hobbyists, including specialized motors and other miscellaneous electronics, parts from toys, and other household items.In line with their focus on optics, Edmund Scientifics's entrance vestibule housed a pale-blue working WWII Japanese submarine periscope. Children were often drawn to this periscope. Drawing on the periscope's popularity, sometime in the 1970s a hall of mirrors
House of mirrors
A house of mirrors or hall of mirrors is a traditional attraction at funfairs and amusement parks. The basic concept behind a house of mirrors is to be a maze-like puzzle. In addition to the maze, participants are also given mirrors as obstacles, and glass panes to parts of the maze they cannot...
, complete with black light
Black light
A black light, also referred to as a UV light, ultraviolet light, or Wood's lamp, is a lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation in the long-wave range, and little visible light...
s, was installed towards the rear of the building.
The Barrington, NJ, store closed in 2001 when Edmund Scientific was acquired by its current owner, Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories
Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories
Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories is a supplier of elementary, middle school and high school-level science education materials and equipment in the United States. Science Kit primarily focuses on the following science disciplines: biology, chemistry, earth science and physics...
.
As of 2007, Edmund Optics continues to offer brand-new stock optics, as well as offering custom and specialized optics to corporations and higher education institutions.
Edmund Scientific today
In 2000 Edmund Scientific was purchased by Science Kit and Boreal LaboratoriesScience Kit and Boreal Laboratories
Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories is a supplier of elementary, middle school and high school-level science education materials and equipment in the United States. Science Kit primarily focuses on the following science disciplines: biology, chemistry, earth science and physics...
, a western New York based science supply company. Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories is part of a group of companies that provide science supplies to elementary, middle, and high schools as well as colleges and universities. This group falls under the unofficial umbrella "VWR Education" and are owned by VWR International
VWR International
VWR, headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, is a global laboratory supply and distribution company with worldwide sales in excess of $3.6 billion in 2010....
, a multi-national conglomerate with offices in India, China, Europe, Canada and the United States. They are no longer affiliated with Edmund Optics Inc.
As of 2009, online sales now make up the bulk of Edmund Scientific's revenues. The company still sells telescopes (including an updated version of their Astroscan
Astroscan
The Astroscan is a wide-field Newtonian reflector telescope produced by the Edmund Scientific Corporation. It was designed by Norman Sperling and Mike Simmons to be used as an introductory telescope. Rather than using a more traditional equatorial or altazimuth mount the Astroscan features a...
Telescope), microscopes (mostly they carry the Boreal brand which is manufactured for their parent company Science Kit LLC), surplus optics, magnets and Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
es. They continue to sell many of their old favorites along with new items such as the Impossiball and Hand Boiler
Hand boiler
A hand boiler or love meter is a glass sculpture used as an experimental tool to demonstrate Charles's Law and vapour-liquid equilibrium or as a collector's item to measure love...
s as well as other science-themed toys, novelty items, gifts and gadgets.
Edmund Scientific in movies and television
- Wah Chang, the artist who designed and built several props in the 1960s for Star TrekStar Trek: The Original SeriesStar Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
, used moiré patternMoiré patternIn physics, a moiré pattern is an interference pattern created, for example, when two grids are overlaid at an angle, or when they have slightly different mesh sizes.- Etymology :...
s found in the Edmund Scientific Educator's and Designer's Moiré Kit for the texture used in the Starfleet communicator props.
- Edmund Scientifics has provided items used in television shows such as HouseHouse (TV series)House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, MythBustersMythBustersMythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
, 2424 (TV series)24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
, Modern MarvelsModern MarvelsModern Marvels is a documentary television series that premiered on January 1, 1995 on History. The program focuses on how technologies affect and are used in today's society....
, motion pictures such as Star Trek, and the new version of Escape to Witch MountainEscape to Witch MountainEscape to Witch Mountain is a science fiction novel written by Alexander Key in 1968. It was adapted into a film of the same name by Walt Disney Productions in 1975, directed by John Hough. A remake directed by Peter Rader was released in 1995...
.
- Edmund Scientific was referenced in the Simpsons episode "Two Bad Neighbors" (original airdate January 14, 1996) where Bart Simpson carries a box of locusts labeled with Edmund Scientific to play a retaliatory prank on new neighbor George H. W. Bush.
- In episode 14 "Farthing's Comet" of the 1970s television show, "The Star Lost" the three main characters visit "the observatory". Off in the corner of the room can be seen a 1960s Edmund Scientific 6 inch reflector telescope.
See also
- AstroscanAstroscanThe Astroscan is a wide-field Newtonian reflector telescope produced by the Edmund Scientific Corporation. It was designed by Norman Sperling and Mike Simmons to be used as an introductory telescope. Rather than using a more traditional equatorial or altazimuth mount the Astroscan features a...
, a wide-field Newtonian reflector telescope produced by the Edmund Scientific Corporation.
External links
- Edmund Optics Website of the professional optics company
- Edmund Scientific Website of the science supplies and gifts company
- Anchor Optics Low-cost provider of optics and optical equipment (a division of Edmund Optics)