Mr. Wizard probably had nothing to do with it - and it's a rare thing - but still cool after all these years. Lets do show and tell!
My original blog post with manual and project schematics -
http://www.frantone.com/Mr_Wizard/Mr_Wizard.html
Amazing film showing the Lectron manufacturing process -
https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=JezPBtwqQYM
Official Lecron info website - https://lectron.info/
Ratheon Lectron Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raytheon_Lectron
#toy #collect #lectron
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By Fran

13 thoughts on “Rare toys!! mr. wizard’s experiments in electronics”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Johan Von Shitzengiggles says:

    I used to love watching Mr.Wizards world when I was a kid.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars sleethmitchell says:

    the first youtube video that i watched of yours took me right back to mr. wizard's show. it was in black and white and he still had hair.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Paul Romsky says:

    I never had this kit; I received the Radio Shack 150-in-1 kit for Christmas 1976 – my favorite gift ever. In high-school (1977 to 1981) our electronics lab was equipped with 8 benches with top notch Lab Volt instruments built into a console: Analog VOM, DC and AC Power Supplies, Waveform Generator, Ammeters, Voltmeters, AC Outlets, Ground and Antenna lugs. We even had a single channel CRT Oscilloscope on each bench. 2 students per bench. On one side of the bench was 4 drawers filled with Lab Volt components mounted on red plastic with velcro on the bottom. There was also a thick project manual and velcro board to hold the components in place. The contacts were small corrugated nickel plated tabs riveted to the plastic. Connections were made with wires with unique clips that slipped between the ridges of the tabs so they were always firm and straight.

    When I started teaching Summer STEM at home, I made my own for the students. I cut small pieces of cabinet grade 1/8 inch plywood. I printed paper overlays on my ink jet printer. The overlays have a schematic symbol, part type/value, pin numbers, and sometimes vital component characteristics like Vbe=1.2V. The overlays is affixed to the plywood using a metal squeegee to put a super thin layer of wood glue on the plywood and the overlay put on top and held down with books for an hour. The glue is so thin it does not leech through the paper. Then I apply 3 very light misted coats of polyurethane to seal the paper and protect it. Very very misted coats at first so the mist collects on the surface of the paper and not bleed into it. Then 3 more coats of slightly increasing finish coats. After that, I nail and glue in bright brad finish nails for contacts. The components are mount on top with the leads going through the plywood with tiny channels cut underneath with a dremmel for the leads to connect to the nails. Finally, a piece of velcro is glued to the bottom. If a component needs to be replaced, the velcro can be lifted to get access to the leads. I used colored Alligator Leads for the interconnections. They whole setup works very well and my students love them. I can make (add) new components as the need arises and maintain the same look and feel. I even mounted an Arduino UNO to a larger piece of plywood with brad nails for each pin. I may add pre-wired circuits to save the students time with common circuits – like Diode Logic Gates and Common Emitter NPN Inverters. I need to make up a bunch of NAND gates to show how any other gate or even latches can be made with just NAND gates.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jason Riffle says:

    I loved watching Mr Wizard reruns on Nickelodeon when I was a kid.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Joseph says:

    I had this when I was a kid. Thanks for reminding me of the wonderful time I had working with this kit.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars senoJSR says:

    I have one of these

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Stanley Gerrick says:

    It's funny how a relatively brief and enjoyable childhood experience often leads to a lifetime intellectual pursuit or career. ✨💫

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Peter Klauß says:

    Wow, this was called "scolartron" here in Germany and we had this in our physics class. The school was closed but my grandfather was a friend of the janitor. I got the opportunity to help myself to my heart's desire in the physics collection.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jimmy Gallaway says:

    That's crazy I almost had forgotten Mr. Wizard I loved this show as a child Fran you're awesome 👍

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Charles Kinzer says:

    I grew up watching Mr. Wizard and it was one of my favorite shows. He did make at least one mistake on an experiment and in later years admitted it and explained what really happened. It is the experiment where a candle is sitting in a dish of water. Mr. Wizard puts an upside down glass over the candle and pretty quickly the candle goes out as the oxygen gives out. But some water from the dish is pulled partially up the upside down glass. Mr. Wizard's explanation back in the day was that the oxygen burned reduced the amount of gas therefore lowering the pressure in the glass. Not true because the volume of gasses pre and post burning are actually the same. Instead, in the process of placing the glass, heated air filled the glass. As that gases now trapped in the glass cooled, the pressure DID drop and this is the reason water pulled up (actually pushed up) into the glass.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hola! Doctor Wacky says:

    There was a kind of a surplus store in my town when I was growing up. And they had a great big box just full of bits and pieces from that set. And I could be wrong but I think Lafayette radio may have sold those kits

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars W. Apnj says:

    OMG.. I have a set of those branded LECTRON…. I learned electronics with it as a kid along with other science kits of the day. Had a careerr with Bell Laboratories.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Betty Dingus says:

    I remember my brother and I playing with our yard-sale Electric Dominoes. I found it a few weeks ago and found that the lightbulb cube is missing. So disappointed. Consoling myself with littleBits and Snap Circuits kits. Eventually I’ll learn enough to move on to grown-up electronics.

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