"is playing a big role in automobile sectors. Despite their popularity, many diecast manufacturers went belly-up in the 1980s. Meccano (Dinky), Matchbox and Corgi all went bankrupt within a three-year span which essentially reflected the economic climate in the UK at that time. It had become virtually impossible to manufacture in England and compete on the world market. (Mattel had also long since shifted most of their production from the USA to the Far East.) Matchbox was purchased by a Hong Kong conglomerate named Universal Holdings which moved production from England to Macau. Later (1997), Mattel bought Matchbox, essentially making"
"France. In 1990 Meccano France purchased the ""Erector"" trademark in the U.S.A. and started selling Meccano sets marked ""Erector Meccano"" in the U.S.A. By 2000 Meccano France was faltering and was bought out in May 2000 by the Japanese toy company Nikko, who continue to manufacture Meccano sets in France and China, although very different from the Meccano originally manufactured by the Binns Road factory. In 2013 Meccano was acquired by Spin Master. Meccano Ltd Meccano Ltd was a British toy company established in 1908 by Frank Hornby in England to manufacture and distribute Meccano and other model toys and"
"Meccano Meccano is a model construction system created in 1898 by Frank Hornby in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The system consists of reusable metal strips, plates, angle girders, wheels, axles and gears, and plastic parts that are connected together using nuts, bolts and set screws (also known as grub screws). It enables the building of working models and mechanical devices. Meccano maintains a manufacturing facility in Calais, France. In 1913, a very similar construction set was introduced in the US under the brand name Erector. In 2000, Meccano bought the Erector brand and unified its presence on all continents. In 1901"
"Meccano Meccano is a model construction system created in 1898 by Frank Hornby in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The system consists of reusable metal strips, plates, angle girders, wheels, axles and gears, and plastic parts that are connected together using nuts, bolts and set screws (also known as grub screws). It enables the building of working models and mechanical devices. Meccano maintains a manufacturing facility in Calais, France. In 1913, a very similar construction set was introduced in the US under the brand name Erector. In 2000, Meccano bought the Erector brand and unified its presence on all continents. In 1901"
"Toys. In 2000, Meccano bought the Erector brand and unified its presence on all continents. The two brands are now sold under the Meccano brand name. In 2002, a movie based on A.C. Gilbert's life called ""The Man Who Saved Christmas"" was made for television. It focused on Gilbert's successful appeal to the Council of National Defense to reject a proposal to ban toy production in favor of wartime related materials during World War I. An extensive collection of A.C. Gilbert Company scientific and educational children's toys is housed at the Eli Whitney Museum, in Hamden, Connecticut. Meccano model of"
"Mebetoys Mebetoys was an Italian toy manufacturer that produced die-cast model cars during the 1960s and 1970s. The company was purchased by Mattel in 1969. Mebetoy's main competition in Italy was the earlier trailblazer Mercury, Polistil and the rarer Ediltoys. The Gran Toros website says that Mebetoys was started by the Besana family in 1959 as a toy die casting company, in Oleggio Castello, Novara, Italy (80 km north of Milan). The name comes from MEccanica BEsana TOYS. A diecast car line was started in 1967 (Rixon 2005, p. 36), rather late compared to the entry of many other companies"
"left of Meccano Ltd UK, giving it complete control of the Meccano franchise. All the existing Meccano sets were scrapped and a totally new range of sets were designed for production in Calais, France called ""Meccano Junior"", a new product range consisting of plastic construction kits with tools included, although these new sets would only allow the young builder to make small models. In 1985 General Mills left the toy business completely, selling off their toy divisions. Meccano was sold out to a French accountant, Marc Rebibo, and, once again, all existing Meccano sets were scrapped. The ""Meccano Junior"" sets"
"in bright neon colours. In 2000 Nikko, a Japanese toy manufacturer, purchased 49 per cent of Meccano and took on its marketing internationally through its established channels for radio-controlled toys. Development and design remained with Meccano SN, based in Calais, France. Nikko launched a successful range of new sets, including ""Crazy Inventors"" and the ""Future Master"" range. Significantly, Nikko radio control and programmable electronics started to appear in the System. However, under commercial pressure, Nikko sold its interest in the Meccano name and System back to Meccano SN, the French parent company, in August 2007. Meccano is now manufactured in"
"expansion of the range, in 1947 Meccano Ltd introduced a series of model lorries modeled to the usual Dinky scale of 1:48, and introduced the altered name of Dinky Supertoys. Some models issued in this line included: In 1950, Meccano introduced in the Supertoys series a number of Guy Vans finished in appealing period liveries. Each model was an identical all metal box van with opening rear doors. The Guy cab was joined by a Bedford S cab in 1955 and a Guy Warrior cab was introduced in 1960. Later, A.E.C. and other models were also added. Supertoys were commonly"
"packaged in white boxes with thin blue horizontal lines and were marketed all on their own – no longer were these models solely focused on railroad accessories. Still, they did not quite reach the commercial marketing level of later diecast brands like Corgi Toys or Solido. Meccano continued producing detailed Dinky Supertoys commercial vehicles through the fifties and sixties, including such subjects as a Mobile Television Control Room and Camera Van in both BBC and ABC Television liveries, a Leyland test chassis with removable miniature 5 ton weights, a series of military vehicles including a Corporal Erecting Vehicle and missile"
"are frequently used to prototype new ideas and inventions. Model realization using Meccano and Erector is limited only by the imagination and ingenuity of the builder. Erector Set An Erector Set (trademark styled as ""ERECTOR"") is a brand of metal toy construction sets, originally patented by Alfred Carlton Gilbert and first sold by his company, the Mysto Manufacturing Company of New Haven, Connecticut in 1913. In 1916, the company was reorganized as the A.C. Gilbert Company. In 2000, Meccano bought the Erector brand and unified its presence on all continents. Basic Erector parts included various metal beams with regularly-spaced holes"
"by the Great Depression. Meccano, Erector Sets, Tinkertoy, and Lincoln Logs all appeared in the early 20th century, and were promoted as developing fine motor skills, encouraging free play and creativity, and introducing children to engineering and construction ideas. Frank Hornby of Lancashire, England designed the construction toy Meccano in 1899 to encourage his children's interest in mechanical engineering. Patented as ""Mechanics Made Easy"" in 1901, it became known as ""Meccano"" in 1907. Educators were aware of societal changes caused by industrialism, and hoped to interest youngsters in possible new careers. In 1913, A. C. Gilbert introduced the Erector Set"
"avoided this problem. Lesney began making diecast toys in 1947. Their popular Matchbox 1-75 series was so named because there were always 75 different vehicles in the line, each packaged in a small box designed to look like those used for matches. These toys became so popular that the ""Matchbox"" became widely used as a generic term for any diecast toy car, regardless of manufacturer. The popularity of diecast toys developed through the 1950s as their detail and quality increased. More companies entered the field, including successful brands like Corgi brand, produced by Mettoy, Italian Mercury, Danish Tekno, or German"
"France and China. During 2013 the Meccano brand was acquired in its entirety by the Canadian toy company Spin Master. Meccano today is very different from its heyday in the 1930s to 1950s. The target market of youngsters has not changed significantly; however, the mass market, instant-appeal approach does not always satisfy serious Meccano enthusiasts. For example, it is often difficult to obtain original spares. Many parts were introduced since the Liverpool factory closed under the French-and-Japanese running of the company. These included plastic parts, can motors, and modern battery holders. Metal became an expensive raw material to work with"
"These smaller Zoomer items feature much of the same technology and interactivity as their larger counterparts. Acquired by Spin Master in 2013, Meccano (known as Erector Set in the USA) is a European construction brand with over 100 years of history. Spin Master has continued to manufacture and operate Meccano out of their European headquarters. Sets range from multi-build sets, architectural builds, and a build your own R/C car set. In 2015 the company introduced Meccanoid, a robotic building platform that allows children to build a four foot tall robot that can speak, move, and interact using a number of"
"Frank Hornby Frank Hornby (15 May 1863 – 21 September 1936) was an English inventor, businessman and politician. He was a visionary in toy development and manufacture, and although he had no formal engineering training, he was responsible for the invention and production of three of the most popular lines of toys based on engineering principles in the 20th century: Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys. He also founded the British toy company Meccano Ltd in 1908, and launched a monthly publication, ""Meccano Magazine"" in 1916. Hornby's inventions and initiatives made him a millionaire in the 1930s, and he"
"construction toy called ""Mechanics Made Easy"", which soon became known as Meccano. To manufacture and distribute Meccano, Hornby needed to raise capital to invest in factory and plant, and this resulted in the establishment of Meccano Ltd in 1908, with Hornby as the sole proprietor. A factory was acquired in West Derby Road in Liverpool and the company began producing Meccano sets for sale across the UK. In 1909 Meccano Ltd added to its range by launching the ""Hornby System of Mechanical Demonstration"". This was an educational set Hornby had created for use in schools which included a 44-page manual,"
"were any job losses, Airfix shut down the Binns Road factory, bringing to an end the manufacture of Meccano in England. Meccano still continued to be manufactured in France, as the British and French businesses had different owners. At the time in the seventies Meccano France SA launched and produced their brand new famous dark blue MECCANO Construction Kits Set 1 to set 10 Boxes Model Range until the early 1990s which was considered by many MECCANO collectors today as the nearest updated model range of the original British made Meccano. These were also sold in conjunction with the smaller"
"were replaced with three ""Premier Meccano"" sets and two ""Motor"" sets (including a six-speed motor) were introduced. Due to high demand, the old Meccano No.1 to No.10 construction sets from 1981 were re-introduced. In 1989 Marc Rebibo sold what remained of Meccano to Dominique Duvauchelle. Allen head zinc plated steel bolts replaced the original slot-headed brass-plated bolts and the ""Plastic Meccano Junior"" sets were brought back. With younger model builders in mind, many theme sets were also introduced, including the ""Construction and Agricultural"" 200-Series & 300-Series, the ""Space"" 100-Series and the ""Dynamic"" 400-Series minisets. The old-style No. 5 to 10"
"It was more than just a toy: it was educational, teaching basic mechanical principles like levers and gearing. The parts for Hornby's new construction kit were initially supplied by outside manufacturers, but as demand began to exceed supply, Hornby set up his own factory in Duke Street, Liverpool. As the construction kits gained in popularity they soon became known as Meccano and went on sale across the world. In September 1907, Hornby registered the Meccano trade mark, and in May 1908, he formed Meccano Ltd. To keep pace with demand, a new Meccano factory was built in Binns Road, Liverpool"
"century of British toy making. The manufacture of Meccano, however, still continued in France. Airfix were eventually liquidated two years later and in 1981 General Mills purchased Meccano Ltd UK, giving it complete control of the Meccano franchise. It shifted all Meccano and Airfix operations to France and completely revamped the Miro-Meccano construction sets. In August 1985 French accountant Marc Rebibo bought Miro-Meccano from General Mills, reverted the French company name to Meccano S.A. and reintroduced some of the discontinued Meccano sets. In 1989 Rebibo was bought out by Finamec (Financière de Serbie), who continued the manufacture of Meccano in"
"1972, with the Dinky and Meccano businesses being acquired by Airfix. The company kept producing toys made of wood such as dolls' houses, toy forts, a Noah's ark with wooden animals as well as a small range of wooden soldiers. Lines Bros had its own railway system, the Rovex system, marketed as Tri-ang Railways. In 1964, Meccano Ltd, which manufactured the Hornby Dublo range, collapsed. Lines Bros. purchased the company, and in 1965 the combined model railway was marketed as Tri-ang-Hornby although the vast majority of the system was all Tri-ang 2 rail. In 1966 a controlling interest was acquired"
"slightly to what became known as 'light red and green' but this incarnation had the shortest lifespan as the colours changed dramatically in 1964 to the black and yellow colour scheme. However, this light red and green period did see the introduction of about 90 new parts, more modern packaging, a new cabinet was introduced for the number 10 set, the first plastic parts were introduced, and the ""exploded diagram"" instructions made their début. In 1934 the nine basic Meccano outfits (numbered 00 to 7) were replaced by eleven outfits, labelled 0, A to H, K and L, the old"
"showing all dimensions in centimetres. However, it was not a commercial success and it was discontinued after five years. This was the first use of the Hornby name, which later was to become synonymous with the company's Hornby Dublo 00 gauge model railway system. By 1910 Meccano was exported worldwide, and its success prompted Meccano Ltd to expand its operations. In 1912, Hornby and his son, Roland, formed Meccano (France) Ltd in Paris to manufacture Meccano, and an office was opened in Berlin, Germany where Märklin began to manufacture Meccano under licence. Meccano factories were also established in Spain and"
"convert a No. 6 set to a No. 7 set). As had been the case from early days, Meccano Ltd would also supply individual Meccano parts to complement existing sets. World War II interrupted the production of Meccano in England when the Binns Road factory converted to manufacturing for the war effort. The Korean War in 1950 also disrupted production due to a metal shortage and it was not until the mid-1950s that Meccano production returned to normal with new parts being added to all the sets. In 1955 outfits 00 to 10 as well as conversion sets 00A to"
"exhibited two models of Charles Babbage's difference engine, also using Meccano. In 1990 Meccano S.A. built a giant Ferris wheel in France. It was modelled after the original 1893 Ferris Wheel built by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago and was shipped to the United States to promote ""Erector Meccano"" after Meccano S.A. had bought out the ""Erector"" trade name and began selling Meccano sets in the U.S. It went on display in New York City after which it was purchased by Ripley's Believe It or Not! and put on display in their St."
"A. C. Gilbert Company The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest toy companies in the world. It is best known for introducing the Erector Set (a construction toy similar to Meccano in the rest of the world) to the marketplace. First known as the Mysto Manufacturing Company, the company was founded in 1909 in Westville, Connecticut, by Alfred Carlton Gilbert, a magician, and his friend John Petrie. The company was originally established to provide supplies for magic shows. Their magician's sets, known as ""Mysto Magic"", were marketed from the teens until the"
"Meccano hole spacing. By September 2008, the Spykee robot family numbers five, with each robot having different capabilities. Since the 1920s, construction kits compatible with Meccano were manufactured in the Soviet Union. They did not have a uniform colour scheme, parts could be in any color. Usually the strips and girders were not painted, and the plates could be either unpainted or painted in red, yellow, and blue. In the 1970s, plastic parts were introduced. The ""Krugozor"" (English: ""Outlook""; Russian: ""Кругозор"") plant in Moscow produced some sets which included electrical motors and gears. The largest set of the 1970s–1980s was"
"in the U.S. French Dinky and Solido were more popular in France. Tekno was a Danish mainstay as were Gama, Schuco, and Marklin in Germany. More importantly, the Italian market was full. Mercury had been a leader of the Italian diecast industry for a long time, but no sooner had Politoys brought out the M-series, they were joined by Mebetoys and Edil, the latter only briefly, but the competition with Mercury and Mebetoys - who often offered similar models - was a challenge. Furthermore, Mattel's Hot Wheels diminished the American market after 1967. Similar to Corgi, Dinky, and Mebetoys, Politoys"
"during one period. After Mego’s 1982 bankruptcy and dissolution, the original molds for many of the toys were sold to Hourtoys/M&D Toys for their ""Interchangables"" discount toyline, other original molds were sold to PAC Toys for use in their ""Lords of Light"" toyline and even Takara produced several series 5 toys for Italian licensee/distributor Gig’s ""i Micronauti"" line. Additionally, leftover ""Micronaut"" toyline stock from Mego’s production run was eventually sold for sale/clearance in North America by Lion Rock Limited under the ""Micronauts"" name. Below is a basic overview list of Mego ""Micronaut"" toys with size/scale, release dates and Mego series"
"Ferraris (Ralston 2009, 66). With increased costs and the competition of Politoys, Mebetoys, and other mass producers of diecast toys in Europe, Mercury had more and more difficulty keeping up (Force 1992, p. 6). Through the 1970s, fewer and fewer cars were produced. The last model was the Fiat Ritmo and the company closed its doors in 1978. Mercury (toy manufacturer) Mercury is a brand of diecast toy cars manufactured in Italy from about 1945 through the 1970s. Along with Dinky Toys in England, Mercury was a pioneer in 1:43 scale diecast toys made in Europe. Today, Mercury models are"
"for all the plastic parts instead of Bakelite. After an unfortunately long gestation period, four Meccano Bayko sets went on sale from the end of 1960 into 1961, numbered 11 to 14 to avoid being confused with the Plimpton sets. The Bayko adverts continued in ""Meccano Magazine"", and — due to the success of the cost-cutting measures — the new sets were sold at a significantly lower price than the Plimpton sets. In 1962 Meccano introduced its own decorative pieces, including opening French windows, large shop windows and pantile roofs, together with a new ""Set 15"" which included them all."
"Augustine, Florida museum. The model, the largest in size at the time, is high, weighs , was made from 19,507 pieces, 50,560 nuts and bolts, and took 1,239 hours to construct. At this mass and size, some deviation from Meccano-only parts was a necessity, to prevent it collapsing (mainly in the structural spokes). The largest model by mass would certainly be in contention but some models have topped . In the late 1990s, engineer Mark Sumner utilized Erector to create a working model for ""Soarin’”, an attraction at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California and Walt Disney World's Epcot near"