In 1901 Frank Hornby (1863-1936), of Liverpool, England, together with his business partner David Elliott. produced a model construction kit for children consisting of a collection of reusable perforated strips, plates, and angle girders that could be fastened with brass nuts and bolts. Called Mechanics Made Easy, the name was changed to Meccano® when Hornby took over the whole business in 1908.
The toy appeared in a range of different sets, each enabling larger and more complicated models to be produced, culminating in the ultimate—set number 10.The accompanying instructions showed how items including a double-decker bus, a beam bridge, a cargo ship, a locomotive, and the Eiffel Tower could be constructed. Wheels, gears, axles, and motors (both steam and clockwork) were also provided.
The great joy of Meccano® was its versatility and the fact that it could be reused again—breaking up the model just made and rebuilding an entirely different
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