Editing Meccano (section)

== History ==
{{For|early Meccano history|Frank Hornby}}

=== First sets ===
[[file:Meccano Set, Edinburgh Museum of Childhood.JPG|thumb|An early Meccano set on display in the [[Museum of Childhood (Edinburgh)|Edinburgh Museum of Childhood]]]]

In 1901 [[Frank Hornby]], a clerk from [[Liverpool]], England, invented and [[patent]]ed a new toy called "Mechanics Made Easy" that was based on the principles of [[mechanical engineering]].<ref name="patent">{{cite patent |country=GB |number=190100587 |status=patent |title=Improvements in Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People |pubdate=1901-11-30 |gdate=1901-11-30 |fdate=1901-01-09 |pridate=1901-01-09 |inventor=Frank Hornby }}</ref> It was a model construction kit consisting of perforated metal strips, plates and girders, with wheels, pulleys, gears, [[shaft collar]]s and axles for mechanisms and motion, and nuts and bolts and set screws to connect the pieces. The perforations were at a standard {{convert|1/2|in|mm|1}} spacing, the axles were [[Standard wire gauge|8-gauge]], and the nuts and bolts used {{convert|5/32|in|mm|1}} [[British Standard Whitworth|BSW]] threads. The only tools required to assemble models were a [[screwdriver]] and [[Wrench|spanners (wrenches)]]. It was more than just a toy: it was educational, teaching basic mechanical principles like [[lever]]s and [[gear]]ing.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

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 [[trademark]], and in May 1908, he formed [[Meccano Ltd]]. To keep pace with demand, a new Meccano factory was built in Binns Road, Liverpool in 1914, which became Meccano Ltd's headquarters for the next 60 years. Hornby also established Meccano factories in France, Spain and [[Argentina]]. The word "Meccano" was thought to have been derived from the phrase "Make and Know".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mecworld.co.za/jmh/jmh/articles_files/what_is_meccano/whatismec.htm |title=What is Meccano?|work= Johannesburg Meccano Hobbyists |first=Patrick |last=O'Shea |access-date=17 July 2007}}</ref>

[[file:Meccano-Pears-Advert-1920.jpg|alt=Advertisement in Pears' Annual Christmas 1920.|thumb|left|Advertisement in ''Pears' Annual Christmas'', 1920]]

The first construction sets had parts that were rather crudely made: the metal strips and plates had a [[tinplate]] finish, were not rounded at the ends and were not very sturdy. But manufacturing methods were improving all the time and by 1907 the quality and appearance had improved considerably: the metal strips were now made of thicker [[steel]] with rounded ends and were [[nickel]]-plated, while the wheels and gears were machined from [[brass]].

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.

In 1926, to mark the 25th anniversary of his patent, Hornby introduced "Meccano in Colours" with [[red]] and [[green]] coloured Meccano pieces. Initially plates were a light red and items like the braced girders were a pea-green. However, the following year strips and girders were painted dark green, the plates Burgundy red, while the wheels and gears remained brass. In 1934, the Meccano pieces changed colour again: the strips and girders became [[gold (color)|gold]] while the plates were changed to [[blue]] with gold criss-cross lines on them, but only on one side, the reverse remaining plain blue. This new colour scheme was only available in the United Kingdom until the end of the [[Second World War]] in 1945. The old red and green sets were still produced for the export market and were re-introduced in the UK after the war.

=== Heyday ===
[[file:Meccano No7 Instructions (front).jpg|thumb|Instruction book for the 1956 Meccano No. 7 and 8 Outfits, showing a model of a walking [[drag line excavator]] built with the red and green Meccano pieces of the time]]

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 No. 7 Outfit becoming the L Outfit. 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 having fewer pieces than 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 6A would 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.

The Second World War 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 9A were available.<ref>{{cite book |title=Instruktion för bygglåda Nr. 2 |year=1955 |publisher= Meccano Ltd |language=sv}}</ref>

In 1958, the colours were changed 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 1961, a Mechanisms Outfit and a Gears Outfit were added to the range,<ref>{{cite book |title=Meccano The Thrill of Build-It-Yourself |year=1961 |publisher= Meccano Ltd}}</ref> and in 1962 outfit 00 was withdrawn.<ref>{{cite book |title=Contents of Meccano outfits 1962 |year=1962 |publisher= Meccano Ltd}}</ref>

=== Takeovers ===
[[file:20030514 160101-Meccano set-rt1.jpg|thumb|left|1970s No. 2 Meccano set]]

In the early 1960s, Meccano Ltd experienced financial problems and was purchased by [[Lines Bros Ltd]] (who operated under the brand name "Tri-ang") in 1964. In an attempt to redefine Meccano's image, the colour scheme was changed again, this time to yellow and black plates, with silver strips and girders. The silver was soon replaced by zinc in 1967 when it was found that the silver pieces marked easily. The colours of yellow and black were chosen because they were the colours typically used by most large [[construction vehicle]]s of the day.

In 1970, [[electronics|electronic]] parts 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.<ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Models outfit 2 |year=1971 |publisher= Meccano Ltd}} {{page needed|date=December 2013}}</ref>

[[file:Meccano locomotive.jpg|thumb|A model [[steam locomotive]] built with Meccano]]

Lines Brothers went into voluntary [[liquidation]] in 1971 and [[Airfix]] Industries purchased the Meccano business in the UK and [[General Mills]] of the US purchased the French business. The French company was known as Miro Meccano. In 1973, outfits 1 to 10 were still available, but new kits were added: Army Multikit, Highway Multikit, Pocket Meccano, and two Clock Kits.<ref>{{cite book |title=Meccano sarjat ja uutuudet 1973 (outfits and novelties)|year=1973 |publisher= Ky Lelumyynti |location=Helsinki, Finland |language=fi}}</ref>

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. While some Airfix divisions were profitable, particularly their model kits, they needed to save money. With unions threatening all out industrial action if there were any job losses, Airfix shut down the Binns Road factory,<ref>Ward, Arthur, ''The Boys Book of Airfix''</ref> 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.

From the early Seventies, Meccano France SA launched and produced their updated Model Range with the world famous rectangular Blue MECCANO Construction Kits Set 1-Set 10 also known as '''MECCANO Outfits One To Ten''' featuring the new blue and yellow parts and these ranged from Set One To Set Five with a simple models many of these powered by the '''M-Series Electric Motors''' to build then the Set Six To Set Ten with more mechanical parts all types of gears so that one could install more powerful electric motors to move their models too when it became much harder but tempting enough. The original Meccano M-series Electric Motors Model Range are of red and yellow kits to choose from and these included small 6V Motors used in small geared models to 20V Motors for the largest geared models either using R6 to R14 household batteries or even an AC/DC Converter Transformer. These standard Meccano Boxes Model Range were of large proportions until the early 1990s they are still available in used sets sold privately in the UK and elsewhere. These were also sold in conjunction with the smaller "Complementary Sets CX Series" so that the builders could assemble and build even more technical and more realistic working models using real mechanical parts with his own existing normal sets giving a never ending construction ideas and of course more demanding and harder for the owner as the Meccano Sets 1 to Set 10 Sequence can be normally very challenging. Meccano was also provided an important source to help develop Mechanical Sollutions for home made vehicles like Farmtrailers, Yardcranes and in some cases even Go Karts and Racing Cars for fun racing are known to have been built all inspired by Meccano Limited.

Around this same period MECCANO FRANCE launched called the much rarer MECCANO MECANIQUES SET aka MECHANICALS BOX perhaps more valuable to us Meccano Enthusiasts which was a Special Edition Box which was not to build models but allowing to make kits of anything mechanical taken from Car Mechanical Parts from a Gearbox, Steering and Transmissions and so on today this is a very rare original MECCANO Set to find.

=== General Mills acquires all rights to Meccano ===

In 1981, General Mills bought up Airfix Products and with it what was 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.

[[file:Meccano motorcycle3.JPG|thumb|left|Meccano model motorcycle built with the Meccano Motion System 50 set]]

=== Meccano becomes independent ===

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 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. [[Hex key|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 sets remained in production until 1992.

In 1994, additional theme sets were introduced and a [[Pullback motor|pull-back friction motor]] was added to the Plastic Meccano System. In 1996, "Action Control" sets with [[infrared]] controls were added and 1999 saw the introduction of a "Motion System" range of sets that changed the look of Meccano completely. There were six one-model sets, two five-model sets, and five new sets numbered 10 to 50, the 20 to 50 sets being motorised. A complete change from the normal practice (sticking to a single majority colour) was that every set had its own colour scheme, often 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.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/12038966 Meccano revives French production] ''[[BBC News]]'' 24 December 2010</ref> During 2013, the Meccano brand was acquired in its entirety by the Canadian toy company [[Spin Master]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Strauss|first=Marina|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/spin-master-acquires-iconic-meccano-in-bid-to-take-on-lego/article13746703/|title=Spin Master acquires iconic Meccano in bid to take on Lego|work=[[Globe & Mail]]|date=13 August 2013|access-date=25 February 2014 }}</ref>

[[file:Modern Meccano .jpg|thumb|Modern Meccano and its tools]]

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 and many of the metal parts were replaced with plastic parts. Allen (hex-headed) zinc electroplated steel bolts replaced the slotted bolts.

Original specialist parts, such as very long (up to {{convert|2|ft|1|adj=on}}) angle girders, loom shuttles, printing rollers, etc. often required for large Super Models are becoming more difficult to obtain. There are replica manufacturers who satisfy the needs of enthusiasts who wish to build models requiring these parts.

What has remained the same during all these years is the [[Imperial unit|Imperial]] {{convert|1/2|in|1}} perforation spacing and the {{convert|5/32|in|1}} inch [[British Standard Whitworth|whitworth thread]] for nuts and bolts (and other threaded parts). These unchanged standards and complete interchangeability of parts results in many modern models functioning perfectly with Meccano components that are more than 100 years old and vice versa. Indeed, old and new parts can be intermixed with impunity, the only problem being the odd mixture of colour schemes.

=== Spin Master era ===

In 2013, Canadian toy company [[Spin Master]] acquired Meccano. It launched "Meccano Evolution", a new "back to basics" iteration of Meccano, which allowed smaller and more detailed models to be built using simpler and more "functional" parts than were supplied in previous "new Meccano" sets. Meccano Evolution has narrower strips, with holes spaced at twice the density of the original system. In late 2013, the company also opened a public "Meccano Lab" play space and R&D centre, in [[Calais]], France.<ref>[http://www.meccano.fr/actualites/meccano_lab.html Meccano ouvre les portes de son laboratoire expérimental le 6 novembre 2013 : Le Meccano Lab'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206065815/http://www.meccano.fr/actualites/meccano_lab.html |date=6 December 2013 }} Meccano Fr.</ref><ref>[http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/region/calais-meccano-lab-pour-les-grands-enfants-adeptes-ia33b48581n1676507 Calais : Meccano Lab, pour les (grands) enfants adeptes de jeux de construction ] L Voix du Nord, 6 November 2013</ref>

In 2015, Spin Master launched Meccanoids, Meccano [[modular design|modular]] robots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meccano.com/meccanoid/|title=Introducing Meccanoid|publisher=Mecanno Maker System|access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q03nIupGAIQ|title=Meccanoid G15KS|website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Poeter|first=Damon|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2474738,00.asp|title=Spin Master Revives Meccano With 'Meccanoid' Robot Kit|work=[[PC Magazine]]|date=6 January 2015|access-date=12 January 2015}}</ref>

In February 2023, Spin Master said the Calais factory would close as it was still losing money.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/23/last-dedicated-meccano-factory-to-close-in-france | title=World's last dedicated Meccano factory to close in France | newspaper=The Guardian | date=23 February 2023 | last1=Willsher | first1=Kim }}</ref> The factory closed on 31 October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radio6.fr/article-66261-meccano-calais-fin-de-la-production-le-31-octobre-une-offre-de-reprise-a-l-etude.html|title=Meccano/ Calais : fin de la production le 31 octobre, une offre de reprise à l'étude.|website=radio6.fr}}</ref>

In January 2025, [[Spin Master]] announced it was licensing Meccano to British toy company Addo Play under a long-term agreement. Addo Play has agreed to develop, design and manufacture a refreshed line-up of Meccano products. These will include play-sets, junior products and collaborations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://toyworldmag.co.uk/addo-play-signs-multi-year-global-licensing-agreement-for-meccano/ | title=Addo Play signs multi-year global licensing agreement for Meccano | date=15 January 2025 }}</ref>