Edmund Scientific Corporation

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Edmund Scientific Corporation was founded in 1942 by Norman C. Edmund as the "Edmund Salvage Corporation." From the 1940s through the 1970s it operated under the name Edmund Scientific Corporation as a supplier of chipped lenses, war-surplus optics, and low cost scientific gadgetry. Its advertisements in publications like Scientific American caught the attention of hobbyists, amateur astronomers, high school students, and cash-strapped researchers. During four decades Edmund Scientific was virtually unique and was of cultural importance in the lives of young and old scientific hobbyists.

Edmund Scientific was part of the post-World War II "war surplus" phenomenon, when the U. S. government sold off large quantities of materials. These items were disposed of at very low cost and were available to small entrepreneurs, some of whom thrived by finding markets for them. "Army and Navy Stores" were a national phenomenon and originally sold actual 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.

Image:Edmund001b.jpg Following Sputnik, Edmund was able to capitalize on a growing national interest in science and astronomy. The core of Edmund's offerings were chipped lenses. These were single-element lenses, shipped in 2.5x4.25-inch (63x108 mm) coin envelopes, with the approximate diameter and focal length stencilled 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.

Image:Edmund002c.jpg 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 Heathkits, 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. And, of course, with single-element lenses the optical quality of the resulting instruments would not be high. Nevertheless, if a junior high school student wanted to follow in Galileo's footsteps, by taking a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels, taping a positive lens and a negative lens into it, going into the backyard, and pointing it at Jupiter, Edmund could supply the necessary resources at a price commensurate with his or her means. Edmund even sold high-quality, thick, black cardboard tubes.

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 scientific hobbyists.

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:" worthy and successful enterprises, neither of which had Edmund Scientific Corporation's unique character or status. Edmund Scientifics marketed to consumers and specialized in science-themed toys, vaguely high-tech household gadgets, and "science gifts." (In 2000 Edmund Scientifics was purchased by a company named "Science Kit and Boreal Labs" which continues to operate it under the Edmund Scientifics name). As of 2004, Edmund Optics markets first-quality, brand-new custom and specialized optics to corporations. It still sells lens kits, such as their item NT54-673. Unlike the haphazard assortment of diameters and focal lengths found in the old Edmund chipped-lens kits, this kit contains thirteen lenses of uniform diameter in a regularly-spaced progression of focal lengths. Instead of single lens elements, these are achromats. Rather than being shipped in coin envelopes, they are shipped in a velvet-lined box. They are not chipped. And, at twelve hundred dollars, these lenses are not going into science fair projects.

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References

  • The Last Whole Earth Catalog, (1971), ed. Stewart Brand et. al.
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External links

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