The “LiquidCrystalScope” is a pure liquid crystal object of art. Liquid crystal was first discovered in 1888 by Friedrich Reinitzer.  It is a liquid-like, flowing substance that maintains the structure characteristic of crystals. The molecules that make these liquid crystals stack in a helical structure that produces interesting optical effects.  Years later, practical uses were found for liquid crystal, including LCD displays, beauty products, jewelry, and many other products. 

 

During the late 1960s, in Turtle Creek, PA, from the back door of a small medical start-up which had split off from from Westinghouse Electric, a sample of a three-inch square of plastic with liquid crystal attached found its way to a head shop off of Walnut Street, in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA.

 

Our clever salesman saw potential. He brought the liquid crystal sample to our company, Concept Research, which had been manufacturing and selling light-machines, incense, black lights, posters, candles, and other items to shops across the north east United States. They quickly made a deal to purchase liquid crystal from the small medical product start-up, and, in East Liberty, PA in the autumn of 1969. the “Touch-me” was born.  It was an instant sensation. Practically no-one had ever seen a “Touch-me.” In the first 18 months we manufactured over 2 million Touch-mes in the original square shape, as well as octagons, and a special circle shape for the Museum of Modern Art. In 1970, the Museum of Modern Art presented the “Touch-Me” in their fine arts shop. By the second year, our products had become so popular that there were four different manufacturers copying the original Touch-Me.

 

Today, 50 years later, the LiquidCrystalScope are being put together, in the same factory space where it all began by the same old-hippy manufacturer!