I had a chemistry set too, in fact it became quite anabsorbing hobby. I also made stink bombs by mixing Tartaric Acid & FerrousSulphate, resulting in filling the kitchen with Hydrogen sulphide gas, alsofound in rotten eggs. It is unfortunately very poisonous, corrosive, flammable,and explosive.
My mom certainly used some very well chosen words to describewhat she was going to do with my chemistry set.
My friend also managed to produce chlorine gas with Tartaricacid and a domestic household bleach and nearly chocked himself to death. Chlorinegas, also known as bertholite, was first used as a weapon in WWI.
There was a company called Phillip Harris and Co in LionelSt, just off Newhall St who sold lab equipment for schools etc, I have afeeling that they are still trading somewhere else now.
The good old Midland Educational also sold chemicals and labequipment too, one shop I certainly miss; as well as the old type nurses uniformslol