Toy Story at East Boldon
From
Airfix to Meccano to Corgi and beyond - Boldon Auction Galleries have it all coming up for Auction on Wednesday 17th
August from 10am.
We have a large collection of Meccano, Mamod, Airfix, Corgi, Comics, Football Annuals, Hornby, Sporting ephemera and more.....
Meccano is a model construction system created
in Liverpool by Frank Hornby in 1901, consisting of reusable metal strips,
plates, angle girders, wheels, axles and gears that are connected together
using nuts and bolts. The word Meccano
is thought to have derived from the words “Make and Know”.
The first
sets under the new Meccano name were numbered 1 to 6. In 1922 the No. 7 Meccano
Outfit was introduced, which was the largest set of its day, and the most
sought after because of its model building capabilities and prestige.
From 1926 onwards
the Meccano pieces changed colour with regularity as did the numbering and
labelling of the sets. The nine basic
Meccano outfits (numbered 00 to 7) were replaced by eleven outfits, labelled 0,
A to H, K and L, the old No. 7 Outfit becoming the L Outfit. This L Outfit is
often regarded as the best of the largest Meccano outfits. In 1937 the
alphabetical outfit series was replaced by a numeric series, 0 to 10, the L
Outfit being replaced by the smaller No. 10 Outfit. Although reduced in size
from the L Outfit, the No. 10 Outfit became Meccano's flagship set and remained
relatively unchanged until it was discontinued a half-century later in 1992.
Accessory sets were retained, numbered 1A to 9A, that converted a set to the
next in the series (for example, accessory set 5A would convert a No. 5 set to
a No. 6 set). As had been the case from early days, Meccano Ltd would also
supply individual Meccano parts to complement existing sets.
In 1961 a
Mechanisms Outfit and a Gears Outfit were added to the range, and in 1962
outfit 00 was withdrawn. During 1970's electronics were introduced, and the
current black coloured plates were changed to blue. The range of sets was
reduced by one with the deletion of the old No. 9 set and the renumbering of
the old No. 0 to 8 sets to No. 1 to 9. The No. 10 set remained unchanged. Airfix Industries purchased Meccano the
following year adding new kits - Army Multikit, Highway Multikit, Plastic
Meccano, Pocket Meccano and two Clock Kits.
In 1978
the range of Meccano sets was further reduced and changed with the replacement
of the No. 2 to 8 sets by six completely new sets, labelled A and 1 to 5. The
old No. 9 and 10 sets were left largely unchanged. In 1981 all existing Meccano
sets were discontinued and “Meccano Junior” was born. By 1985 this was replaced with three “Premier
Meccano” sets and two “Motor Sets”. Owing
to high demand however 1985 also saw the re-introduction of the old Meccano No.
1 to No. 10 construction sets from 1981.
Another change happened in 1989 with the re-introduction of the “Plastic
Meccano Junior” sets being brought back.
Theme sets, “Action Control” sets with infrared controls and a “Motion
System” were also introduced in the 1990’s.
Meccano is now manufactured in China and France and is part of the Spin
Master toy company.
What are you waiting for come along and release your inner child!
Don't forget that we are open for Viewing:
Saturday 13th August 10am - 1pm
Tuesday 16th August 2pm - 6pm
and on the morning of the Auction from 9am
From 1926 onwards
the Meccano pieces changed colour with regularity as did the numbering and
labelling of the sets. The nine basic
Meccano outfits (numbered 00 to 7) were replaced by eleven outfits, labelled 0,
A to H, K and L, the old No. 7 Outfit becoming the L Outfit. This L Outfit is
often regarded as the best of the largest Meccano outfits. In 1937 the
alphabetical outfit series was replaced by a numeric series, 0 to 10, the L
Outfit being replaced by the smaller No. 10 Outfit. Although reduced in size
from the L Outfit, the No. 10 Outfit became Meccano's flagship set and remained
relatively unchanged until it was discontinued a half-century later in 1992.
Accessory sets were retained, numbered 1A to 9A, that converted a set to the
next in the series (for example, accessory set 5A would convert a No. 5 set to
a No. 6 set). As had been the case from early days, Meccano Ltd would also
supply individual Meccano parts to complement existing sets.
In 1978
the range of Meccano sets was further reduced and changed with the replacement
of the No. 2 to 8 sets by six completely new sets, labelled A and 1 to 5. The
old No. 9 and 10 sets were left largely unchanged. In 1981 all existing Meccano
sets were discontinued and “Meccano Junior” was born. By 1985 this was replaced with three “Premier
Meccano” sets and two “Motor Sets”. Owing
to high demand however 1985 also saw the re-introduction of the old Meccano No.
1 to No. 10 construction sets from 1981.
Another change happened in 1989 with the re-introduction of the “Plastic
Meccano Junior” sets being brought back.
Theme sets, “Action Control” sets with infrared controls and a “Motion
System” were also introduced in the 1990’s.
Meccano is now manufactured in China and France and is part of the Spin
Master toy company.
