Meccano
Frank Hornby’s construction set of metal strips with evenly spaced holes, nuts and bolts – engineering as a toy.
In 1901 Frank Hornby patented a metal construction set he called Mechanics Made Easy. From 1907 it was called Meccano, and it allowed children to build cranes, bridges and machines with real nuts and bolts.
The toy was meant to teach children – usually boys – engineering and mechanics. It became a model for construction toys and spread all over the world.
Materials: Nickel-plated, later enamelled steel and brass
Manufacture: Stamped and pressed in Liverpool; sold in numbered sets that could be extended.
Holes at the same spacing (half an inch) on all parts.
Nickel-plated parts before about 1926, then red and green enamel.
Numbered sets and manuals with models to build.