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Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

MECCANO DIARY

Newsletter Apil 2004

Secretary: Graeme Thomson 16 Catherine St CANTERBURY VIC 3126 9836 7359

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MMC NEXT MEETING Saturday 12 Jun 2004 At Bri Phil Hall,80 Gardenvale Rd ELSTERNWICK (Melway 67 H7) 1.00pm Sales Table 2.00pm Meeting Starts Please bring a small plate of afternoon tea to share. FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS Melbourne Meccano Club Inc Annual Exhibition in October. OTHER MECCANO CLUB MEETINGS. Meccano Modellers Association (Sydney) Meetings are held at a members house normally on the fifth Saturday of a month. Contact Malcolm Booker on (02) 9451 8807 for details. SEQMG The next SEQMG meeting is at 1:30pm on the 3 July 2004 at Dave Harrisons house: 15 Inveray Ave, Benowa Ph: (07) 5539 4867. As usual Paul Dale (07 3202 5352) would try to organise a gathering for visitors but do give him some notice! Maylands Meccano Club (Perth) Meetings are held at the Maylands Meccano Club, 16 Kennedy St MAYLANDS usually on the first Tuesday of each month. Contact Ross Smith (Secretary) on 08 9367 8906 for details

Website
http://members.tripod.com/melbmci

MELBOURNE MECCANO CLUB INC NEWSLETTER

Issue No 2 April 2004

Hornby Speedboat Club. Tonys article is on p 6. The meeting was closed about 4.20pm

Aeroplane Constructor Set from the 1930s

Have a look at Tony Presss fascinating article on p 6 about the production of this lesser known series of sets and other series by Meccano Ltd.

President Mike Maloney Treasurer Bill Davis

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Introduction Our April meeting was held at the BriPhil Hall in Elsternwick on Sunday, April 18, (delayed from the usual second Sunday to avoid a clash with Easter). Thank you to Tony Press and Russell Hiscock for the photos they have provided. There was a good turnout with thirty members, one family member, and two visitors attending the meeting. Members present were: John Brand, Malcolm Brodie, Lindsay Carroll, Chris Comer, Peter Dalliston, Bill Davis, Dave Doddrell, Peter During, John Edgar, Roger Hall, Steve Hatton, Peter Holles, John Hutchinson, Arthur Kirkbright, , Mike Maloney, Rod Marrow, John Martin, Wal Maynard, Barry McDonald, Kimball Monger, Jim Osborne, Carol Parsisson, Jack Parsisson, Tony Press, John Riley, Graham Russell, Graeme Thomson, Catherine and (son) Alexander Tritt, Jeff van Hees and Doug Ward. Visitors were Russell and (son) Callum Hiscock. Apologies were received from Angus Cummings, Dave Denner, Bill Fitzgerald, Sandra Hall, Bill and Margaret Inglis, Paul Johnstone, Nigel Jolley, Graham Jost, Ken Guilliard, Willem Secker, D. E. Thompson, and Mike Wright. As usual, trading and chit-chat occupied the time from 1 pm until 2 pm when Mike called us to order to commence a Special General Meeting Special General Meeting The purpose of this meeting was to vote on a proposed new By-Law dealing with the safety of electrical equipment

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at Club activities, the formal wording of which had been circulated to members as an insert with the February newsletter. Prior to the meeting, the Committee had received feedback from a number of members about concerns they had with the wording of three subclauses in the proposed By-Law, even though they generally supported the thrust of the By-Law to introduce a system of testing and tagging of electrical equipment. As a result, the committee through the Secretary moved a motion to improve the wording of the subclauses causing concern, namely 5.2(3), 5.7(3) and 5.7(4). With these amendments approved and incorporated in the proposed By-Law, Jim Osborne spoke in support of the motion, and there were no dissenting views. It was very pleasing that the meeting then voted unanimously to adopt the By-Law, and Mike Maloney thanked all Club members who had been involved in its development, in particular Lindsay Carroll and Graeme Thomson who had expended much effort in producing the draft. Nine proxy votes were received from members (two of which became redundant when members were able to attend the meeting in person). The full text of the approved By-Law is included as an insert with this newsletter. Normal Meeting This followed on the heels of the Special General Meeting. Mike started proceedings by informing the meeting

Newsletter Apil 2004

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FOR SALE MECCANO NUMBER 10 SET & MANY OTHER ITEMS

!

Number 10 set, 1962 light red and green, complete in lightly used condition with wallet of original leaflets. All tyres are excellent, with part # 142a (2" dia.) unused. A very small minority of parts are in later zinc/blue/yellow as follows: part numbers 7 (3), 89 (5), 194, 194d, 194e, 235, 235a. Housed in a custom made 5 drawer cabinet with enough space for at least another number 10 set. Price $3000. Large accumulation of parts, 37 kg in total, of which 50% are red and green, lightly to medium used. Mostly strips, plates, girders, pulleys, axles, wheels, tyres & brackets, but also plenty of gears, sprockets & contrates. Many other desirable parts. Price $700 Large accumulation of parts, dark/medium red and green, lightly to medium used. Good basis for a number 10 set. Would cost $660 to complete if buying from UK dealers, compared with $3600 for a complete number 10 set from the same dealers. Full list of parts available on request. Price $1200. Meccano Literature from 1929 to late 1970s including manuals, plans, books, & parts lists. Send for details. Vintage & rare parts including steam engines, transformer, digger bucket, spoked wheels, flywheel (part # 132). nickel parts, windmill sails, & lots more. Send for details.

! !

If interested, please contact Peter Munday 5 Dempster Place, Kambah, ACT 2902 Telephone: 02 6231 1145(H) Email: pmunday@ozemail.com.au

Aeroplane Construction outfit, a Motor Car Construction outfit and a Kemex Chemical outfit (remarking on the difficulties the Club would have if we had to comply with relevant regulations to use that!!). Also a Hornby Speedboat, with leaflet advising the availability of replacement clockwork motor, and the existence of a

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meeting last February. Members wanting a copy should contact Peter. Jeff van Hees had a number of mini models he had constructed from small sets available over the last few years. John Riley again displayed his Outfit 9 locomotive (seen at the August 2003 meeting, and a photograph in that months Newsletter), but since dismantled, parts re-painted in black, and rebuilt. It now looks much more realistic and runs well, if somewhat noisily, from the Powerdrive unit in the firebox. Our youngest, keen modelbuilder member, Alexander Tritt, again brought along three original models. There was a fine and realistic Plastic Meccano racing car inspired by the recent Grand Prix, a simple but recognisable traction engine in metal Meccano - limited somewhat by the parts available to a young builder (we all went through that stage), and an intriguing catapult-like device he had entitled an Easter Egg Flicker. The mind boggles!! Alexander had brought along a small Easter egg to demonstrate, but it was quickly

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

Vern Elliss Meccano Did You Know? In 1911 Frank Hornby started to trade with the German toy producers Marklin Bros of Wurtemburg. The same year saw very colourful Royal Meccano tins being produced and were put on sale on June 22 the Coronation Day of King George V. In the Hornby System of Mechanical Demonstration Set, the 32cm flat girder was called a double perforated strip. Also in 1911 the wheel boss for tunnel keys was patented, also the stamping of Meccano parts began. By 1912 the Royal set was phased out along with the 0 manual with the Royal cover. The 0a accessory outfit was supplied. The 0 outfits became a non standard grey carton that had a red label. Two Marklin clockwork motors were imported from Germany. They were the No 1 at 5 shillings and the No 2 at15 shillings. No 1 was reversing and no2 had 3 output spindles, clutch and start button. The sides had standard Meccano holes and the manual was printed in English, French and German. A worm was provided with a screw to prevent slipping due to end thrust. Meccano collars no 59 were also now available. Frank Hornby along with his eldest son, Roland, started Meccano France in Paris on 7 August. The first known Meccano catalogue was also printed.

Newsletter Apil 2004

about several issues discussed at a Committee meeting earlier in the day. Testing of electrical equipment. One of our members, Rod Marrow, as an electrical contractor qualified to perform testing and tagging of equipment, has generously offered his services free of charge to test equipment brought along by members to forthcoming club meetings. Mike thanked him very much for his offer, and Rod later gave a presentation of what is involved in the tests, and provided some useful information about preparing items for test Sales of Exhibition Magazine in New Zealand. The Club has accepted an offer by the New Zealand Federation of Meccano Modellers (through whom we arrange printing of our magazine) to promote and sell copies of our 2003 Exhibition Magazine to their members. We are very pleased to have this extra promotion of our Magazine, which has attracted additional subscribers, one as far away as the United States. Club Newsletter. Bill Fitzgerald wishes to take a break from Club activities for a time and this leaves us without an editor for the Newsletter (and possibly the Exhibition magazine). Mike expressed praise and

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appreciation for the wonderful job Bill has done, and the high standard of production he has achieved, and we all hope he will return to the role in the not-too-distant future. However, until this is decided, Mike asked that anyone willing and prepared to take on the task to please contact a member of the Committee. It may be that we will have to resort to the old style newsletter. Although not present at the meeting, Bill had kindly offered to assist with the publication of this current newsletter. Thank you Bill! Mike indicated it would

Alexander Tritt

WANTED TO BUY OR BORROW Malcolm Booker has the box and some parts for the relatively recent Meccano Set Master Connection 0050 (Dragster Car), but no manual. Malcolm would like to buy or borrow the manual. (11 Kildare Gve KILLARNEY HEIGHTS NSW 2087 ph (02) 9451 8807))

reclaimed after the first flick, before eager members could take possession! Tony Press brought us back to more traditional items of Meccano in fact, pre-war traditions! He showed a 00

Peter During

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be appreciated if any photographers at the meeting could provide photos of the model displays (thanks again to Tony Press and Russell Hiscock for their response) Membership application Form. The Committee is proposing to change the Membership Application Form to eliminate the requirement for applicants to be personally known by the proposer and seconder. This often proves impractical, particularly for potential new members from interstate and overseas. The change will be considered as an agenda item at the August AGM. Date of AGM. For some years there has been a clash between the Clubs AGM in August, and the annual auction of the Victorian Branch of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association of Australia. One of our members asked whether our AGM could be moved to another date. Since the date of our AGM this year (August 8) has already been well publicised, and the hall hired, the Committee decided to make no change. However, for next year, the Secretary will liaise with the Hornby Association, and try to avoid a clash. Advertising of sales by non-members. Until this time, the Club has had no formal policy on allowing nonmembers to advertise Meccano for sale in our newsletters. In the

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

interest of alerting our members to opportunities to purchase Meccano, the Committee has decided to accept advertisements from non-members for a flat fee of $10 per advertisement in a particular newsletter (a repeat advertisement in a later newsletter will require a further $10). The advertisement may include a description of the item(s) for sale, the asking price, and the contact details of the seller. The Club takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the advertisement, or the reasonableness of the asking price. Treasurers Report. Bill Davis advised that our current balance was about $4070, and our current membership was 73. Presentation on Testing of Electrical Equipment Rod Marrow provided some details of what is covered in the required electrical tests, and demonstrated with some of the equipment he had brought with him.

Newsletter Apil 2004

Rod has generously offered to carry out inspection and testing of members equipment free of charge, at our next meeting on Saturday, June 12th in particular for those items likely to be used at our exhibition or a Club meeting. The Club will cover the costs of the appropriate labels, log book, etc., and is required to have registered in its Log Book those items that are used at Club activities. Please bring along for testing any mains power electrical equipment you intend using at club activities. Model Presentations / Items of interest Lindsay Carroll displayed two small Mission Universe models from the late nineties period, not generally available in Australia, but brought to mind from a recent discussion item on Spanner. He also displayed a very neat miniature silver Rolls Royce model from plans in a recent CQ, complete with wire wheels (from the Crazy Inventors series). Roger Hall displayed an original fairground model Flying Boat, driven by a standard 3V motor and using multi-stage pulley/ driving band speed reduction within the tower (grunt of satisfaction from

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Kimball!). Roger had a brochure showing proposed new items from Meccano for the coming year, including some with radio control. Peter During brought along a simple Ezybilt model windmill from the 1940s, and a partly-built racing car chassis from the Master Connections series, and explained he was having a problem in following the instructions for the model. Certainly the diagrams in the Instruction Manual are not very clear with regard to the steering mechanism and springing! Peter also mentioned that he had some copies of a Club photograph taken at Jack Parsissons Easter Egg Flicker!

Lindsay Carroll

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the originals. The picture shows a 1937 Hornby Speedboat Swift. As shown by the many advertisements in Meccano Magazine of the early 30s, to keep up with the growing interest in Electricity and Science many British toy manufacturers such as British Games Ltd and Lotts were selling Electrical and Chemistry sets. In the Summer of 1933 Meccano Ltd introduced the Elektron Outfit. These new Outfits contained a different series of Parts numbered from 1500 to 1588, with nothing in common with the regular Meccano range apart from the 6 BA Screws. There were three original Elektron Outfits, No 1 covering magnetism and static electricity, No 1a covering current electricity and No 2 covering magnetism, static electricity and current electricity. The packaging was initially quite complicated with a few strung pieces and small compartments for other small parts. As usual with Meccano Products the presentation was excellent with the colourful packaging far outweighing the opposition products and the Manual had a beautiful coloured cover. There was a bewildering array of Elektron Parts, very difficult to identify and when found in an old collection of Meccano they might be bypassed as they are generally not stamped Meccano, although still of excellent quality. Later,

Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

the Outfit No 1a was made the No 2, the original larger No 2 being dropped from production and the Manuals only had black and white covers. The picture shows a 1937 Elektron No 1 Outfit. Also during this Summer of 1933 Meccano Ltd introduced an Outfit to compete with Lotts Chemistry Sets. The Kemex Outfit series initially comprised Outfit No1 for 130 experiments, No 2 for 250 experiments, and No 3 for 350-400 experiments. These new Outfits included an even more diverse array of special Parts numbered K1 to K134, including Florence Flask, Test Tube, Magnesium Ribbon and Sodium Nitrate, with a brightly covered Manual. The glassware was standard laboratory supplies issue, in fact the Test Tubes are identical to those currently available. For experiments, a small Spirit Lamp was provided (P/N K22) although the larger Outfits were available with a Bunsen Burner (P/N K45). By 1935 the range had increased to Outfit No 0, 1, 2L (Spirit Lamp), 2B (Bunsen Burner), 3L and 3B. There were a few problems with the authorities regarding the safety of the chemicals provided, resulting in some substitution in later Outfits. The picture shows a Kemex Outfit 0. an electrical test to prove correct polarity (correct connection of active, neutral and earth conductors). If all tests are passed, then the item is deemed acceptable and can be labelled as passing the Standard. The labelling is valid for 12 months for Club purposes.

Newsletter Apil 2004

The testing commences with a visual and physical inspection for undamaged cords, fittings and wellanchored terminations. If the cord or plug is a 3x core type, or the casing is substantially of metal, then Rod would expect that the equipment was meant to be earthed, and look for evidence of an earthed attachment. Likewise, a 2x core cord or plug would indicate an unearthed power unit, motor, etc., and he would expect to see evidence of an acceptable double insulated unit.

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Jeff van Hees Lindsay Carroll

If the equipment is acceptable from the physical inspection, Rod then carries out an electrical test of insulation between live and earthed terminals and casing/s, a test to prove the electrical connection of the earth conductor to what should be earthed apparatus, and

Rod recommended that if plugs (and/or sockets of an extension cord set) need to be replaced, that they be replaced with a clear plastic type, so that the connections could readily be seen to be sound and correctly terminated. There are now available plugs and sockets with a shroud, which help to prevent exposure of the pins. He pointed out that whilst older Bakelite or rubber fittings were not prohibited by the test, the possibility of deterioration was higher and it was good practice to use more modern fittings.

For 240V motors, the most satisfactory arrangement was for a unit with permanently connected cord, which could be checked in the same way as a power unit. Other 240V motors incorporated into a model would require specific inspection and test and may need to comply with other electrical regulations beyond the scope of AS/NZS 3760:2001. (cont p 8)

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Melbourne Meccano Club Inc

Newsletter Apil 2004

interchangeable Tails, the fold out Manual giving details for constructing 6 Models. The picture shows a 1937 boxed No 1 Motor Car Constructor Outfit. To compensate for the downturn in product sales during the UK Summer, Meccano introduced the Hornby Speedboat in June 1932. By 1933 the range had grown to three basic Speedboats, No 3 Condor in red and cream, Gannet in blue and white and Curlew in green and ivory, No 2 Swift also in three colour combinations, red/ cream, blue/white and yellow/white and No 1 Martin. The 12" long Swift lasted unchanged until the war stopped manufacture in 1941, but the Martin was quickly replaced by a lower cost design Hawk. Later in 1933 the range was again expanded to include two beautiful new Speedboats, both using the same hull as the original No 3. These were Limousine Boat No 4 Venture and Cabin Cruiser No 5 Viking. By 1934 three new racing Speedboats appeared , Racer I,

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A new direction for Meccano Outfits in the 30s by Tony Press

In the 20s, Binns Road manufactured large quantities of Meccano for an appreciative public, following many years of extensive development. By 1928 there was plethora of new Meccano Parts, culminating in the largest to date, the Geared Roller Bearing. Ernest Bearsley, a first class toolmaker and practical engineer who had joined Frank Hornby in 1906, was Works Director at Binns Road, and under his firm control the product quality was second to none, and Frank Hornby, supported by his sons Roland and Douglas was still in command. By 1931, management saw the need for a more diversified range of products and in September the Aeroplane Constructor Outfit No 1 appeared with a simple fold out sheet Manual depicting six models using interchangeable metal parts, quickly followed by a larger No 2 Outfit covering an improved range of models depicted in a Meccano type Manual. The new Outfit Parts were completely different to regular Meccano, with special large sheet metal panels. These were quickly improved in design and by 1932 a new smaller O Outfit arrived, followed by the OO in 1935. The parts in the new range were not interchangeable with the larger Outfits, with a single piece body pressing and 11" wingspan, assembled with nickel plated 6 BA Bolts with hex Nuts compared to the No 1 Outfit with 18" wingspan assembled with nickel plated standard dome head Meccano Bolts and square Nuts. The picture on the front cover shows a 1937 boxed Aero Constructor Outfit OO. Following the successful release of the Aero Outfits, in August 1932 Binns Road introduced the Motor Car Constructor Outfit, fitted with Ackerman steering gear, internal expanding brakes and white rubber 1 tyres similar to the Meccano 1 Motor Tyre, assembled using the same 6BA Bolts as the O Aero Outfit. By 1933 a new smaller Car was produced, the No 1 Motor Car Constructor. The original larger Car was now given the designation No 2 Motor Car Constructor. This new model had 1" tyres in white rubber which were later replaced with full rubber Wheels used with a pressed tin hub cap. It had a removable Hood and two

II and III using the same hulls as Martin, Swift and Condor respectively. The Racer Clockwork Motors were modified to run faster, but not as far as