re: Forgotten toys
I'm old enough to remember that commercial for the Johnny Reb cannon -- there was a brief craze for the Civil War at its centennial, in 1961, when I was 9. It also included the precursors to "Mars Attacks!" cards: equally gory depictions of C.W. battle scenes.
I had a Gilbert chemistry set, but I don't remember hearing about the U-238 kit. I want one!