American Science & Surplus

Specialties

Here at American Science & Surplus we are fascinated by discovery and invention. And we are dedicated to having fun along the way. We offer an eclectic range of products, many with a science or educational tilt to them, others simply handy or amusing. Value is important, and whenever we can, we carry surplus at prices well below retail. We love closeouts, inventory overruns, mis-​manufactures, and items whose time has not come.

We supply a wide range of unusual and hard to find items (some say bizarre stuff) to the hobbiest, tinkerer, artist, experimenter, home educator, do-​it-​yourselfer, and bargain hunter.

Customers have used American Science and Surplus items in home made cars, sculptures, precision instruments, home made telescopes, costumes, model railroads, window dressings, holiday decorations, and innumerable science projects. Our items are great gifts, inexpensive supplies, and an endless reason for a giggle or a «Gee whiz!»

History

Established in 1937.

Our founder, Mr. Al Luebbers, was working for Western Electric and had a great interest in optics. He noticed a company next door to the plant where he worked was throwing away reject lenses. He asked them if he could buy the rejects and they said, «No. But you can have them if you will haul them away.»

Al and his wife Buddy took the lenses, cleaned and polished them at their kitchen table in the evenings and offered them for sale. They placed an ad in Popular Science offering ten lenses for 50¢ and began to receive orders. Al figured that if they changed the ad to «Ten Lenses for $ 1» people would think they were better lenses and buy more. So he did. And they did. And the business was launched as American Lens & Photo. Now days, Pat Meyer, who started at American Science & Surplus sweeping floors, continues to grow the business.

We encourage you to visit; our stores aren’t just worth the trip, they ARE a trip!