Working model kits (and a wonderful sundial book)
No, really. I mean - own your own Stirling Engine (indeed, even build it!) and run it off a cup of coffee. And more irrestible stuff! Sundials, Astrolabes, Telescopes, sextants - WOW!

Everything included: Cardboard, any lenses, plastic bits and so on - you can't forget the batteries - there aren't any! Each kit includes assembly instructions with diagrams, historical background and principles of operation. Learn, play, build beautiful, fully functioning scientific instruments.

2009 is the YEAR OF ASTRONOMY. Don't handicap yourself or your family by NOT having a telescope in the house!! This is the cheapest way - and the most fun!

Stirling Engine
This fully functional Stirling Engine runs on a HOT cup or an ICE pack. Ingenious and simple: Heat or cool a cylinder (put it on a cup of coffee) and the piston moves air back and forth (technical word 'pists'). In this way, the air is alternatively heated and cooled, creating a cycle of compression and expansion, of high and low air pressure. A working piston, connected to the main cylinder, is kept in motion by the alternating air pressure, and in turn moves a crankshaft and flywheel. Height 16.5cm wide and 12.6cm deep.
£28

Periscope Kit
Build your own periscope with stainless steel mirrors. Make yourself 43cm taller, or see round corners easily - even though your stomach sticks out nearly half a metre!
£18

Star Dial Kit
Easy-to-use mini-planisphere helps you locate stars and constellations in the night sky. Most useful for all those interested in astronomy as you simply aim it at North and read of what is where!
£18

Universal Sundial Ring Kit
Build your own universal sundial ring. Why not? One of the most useful sundials and fascinating to construct (and thus begin to understand) this kit is complete. Cardboard and all other bits included plus full instructions, explanation and history.£21

Digital Sundial Kit
Build your own Digital Sundial. How cool to amalgamate the old and the new. This one has modern numbers NOT Roman ones! But it is a lovely working kit.
£18

Sundials
Hester Higton has filled 160 pages with a fascinating examination of the portable sundials used as timekeepers for three millennia. It is structured chronologically, with individual chapters covering particular periods of history. The focus is on the sundials themselves, but much reference is made to social, political and economic history.
£33

Kaleidoscope Kit
Comes with a stand - AND you can change the objects you put inside! Create new patterns, colours, investigate, try liquids, snow - whatever. Always has been a fascinating toy for children, but for adults too now that you can experiment.
£18

Sextant Kit
Relive the Middle Ages and make your own. Understand how it works and why they needed one. Then explain it to me as homework.
£21

Magic Lantern Kit
Build your own battery operated magic lantern. OK - I lied about needing no batteries, above. And I don't feel bad about it, either. Project picture strips to become 3 feet wide on your living room wall. This is just soooo much fun!
£21

Magnetic Compass Kit
Build your own compass, complete with protective casing. Determine the cardinal points and take bearings. Help make your sundial tell the right time!
£18

Microscope Kit
Build your own Microscope. Instant laboratory - not much to explain about microscopes that you don't already know. But have fun! Everything means more when you've built it yourself. How clever was Zaccharias Janssen! Or was it Robert Hooke. Or Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek. Or probably the Chinese had one a million years ago anyway! Still ...
£18

Artificial Horizon Kit
Cardboard assembly kit for a beautiful, fully functioning scientific instrument.
£18

Nelson Telescope
Build your own Nelson Telescope. Only used with one eye (hence 'Nelson'). Actually it just means it's a telescopic (well it would be, wouldn't it?) refracting telescope (lenses not mirrors).
£18

Newton Reflecting Telescope
My kind of toy. Bring the universe to you - a teeny-weeny bit nearer. Once you or your children have built it and used it, you'll know whether to invest in a real one. Certainly was the most memorable present I ever had as a small person!
£21

Newton Reflecting Telescope Solar Filter
The Newton Reflecting Telescope Solar Filter Ref: LH-newsolar This is a solar filter for the Newton Telescope Kit - it means you can feel safe viewing sunspots. Viewing without the filter can make you blind - and NOT in common with other methods of making yourself blind, actually DOES)
£9

Galileo Telescope
400 years ago (well, 1609) he invented the telescope. It took a while for the Catholics to come round to the idea - and even apologise! This kit makes a telescope with a length of 38 cm and has a x10 magnification which roughly corresponds to that of the great Italian scientist Galileo Galileo himself. Easy assembly.
£8