re: 8 insanely dangerous toys from the past

quote:

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Nothing beat playing with the mercury when a thermometer would break.

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when I was in 6th or 7th grade a friend got hold of a bunch of "quicksilver" (liquid mercury) from his dad's supply cabinet (was a military doc or druggist). I got him to give me some. We quickly learned you could shine up quarters very nicely with it. And you could be mobbed by envious kids who wanted to feel it and hold some in their hands. But then a teacher got wind of what me and my friend had, and quickly put an end to our new-found popularity. We were directed to take the stuff home, not touch it or play around with it - that it was dangerous. Having no idea why, I was ticked off by this reprimand. By the time I got home my Mom somehow got word that I had it. Her solution for the problem was to dig a small hole in the back yard, pour it in, and then cover it with dirt. She made me an offer I could not refuse. I complied, but I didn't like it.