Meccano Manuals
1908-1916
Details and Downloads of Meccano Manuals
Confirmation of those manuals in red is required (Scans of these manuals would also be appreciated).
Also details of any editions not included - especially overseas editions - would be appreciated.
Note - The numbers in green are the reference numbers from the list of USA Meccano manuals produced by Kendrick Bisset. See Kendick Bisset's website on Meccano in the United States.
Information on copyright dates etc. is available for many of the American manuals on the USA © Info page.
NEW - Manual Downloads - NEW
Manual scans from my reference collection covering most of the manuals are now available for download in pdf format. Where available, these are shown in blue in the tables below. Note that some of the files are rather large.
HELP - If anyone is able to supply scans of any manual for which there is no download or where there are torn or missing pages then that would be appreciated. Please contact me first for details. I would like to make this website as complete as possible
WARNING
Some of these manuals feature content that contains outdated attitudes and ideas of a racist nature. Such ideas were wrong at the time and are wrong now. However not to include them would be to deny that they ever existed. This would also be wrong. For this reason all manual content has been included.
| Printing details of Outfit manuals - 1908 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Meccano outfits 1, 2, 3 & 4-6 |
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| Kindergarten | Outfit 1 | Outfit 2 | Outfit 3 | Outfits 4-6 | |
| 1908 | Kindergarten manual | Manual of Instructions Meccano No.1 |
Manual of Instructions Meccano No.2 |
Manual of Instructions Meccano No.3 |
Manual of Instructions Meccano Nos.4, 5 & 6 |
| Printing details of Outfit manuals - 1909-1916 (Liverpool) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal & 0 Outfits Meccano outfits 1 - 6 Top panel in all main 1-6 manuals (except where otherwise noted, plus outfit 0 from 1914) shows two boys facing inwards towards a Meccano model of a windmill (to 1912) or a Monoplane (from 1913) Manual size 9¾" x 6½" (248x168mm) approx. |
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| Royal and Outfit 0 | Outfits 1-6 | Supplementary | |
| 1908/9 | -- | Manual of Instructions Unknown manual with a plain red cover (Currently known only from a photo in Vol 8 of HCS) |
-- |
| 1909 | -- | *4 Manual of Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 61 *4 Manual of Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 61 plus supplementary model sheet bound in a rear of manual *4 Manual of Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 62 |
*4 Supplementary manual containing models 21,38,39,56,57,62 |
| 1910 | -- | Manual of Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 64 |
-- |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| 1911 | Outfit Royal(Eng) 14 models White paper with blue ink |
Manual of Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 86 |
-- |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| 1912 | Outfit 0(Eng) 15 models Front cover yellow with white border |
*6 Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 90 All keyway parts Instructions.... for eleven progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 90 Worm shown with boss |
|
| -- | -- | -- | |
| 1913 | Outfit 0(Eng) 18 models Front cover yellow with white border |
*5 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 109 page 100 blank *5 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits(Eng) Last model 109 Page 88 titled - "Meccano is more than a Toy" |
-- |
| -- | *1 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits (Colonial (NZ) Edition) Last model 109 *1 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits (Colonial (NZ) Edition) Last model 109 Higher prices |
No.13 Supplementary (Colonial edition) |
|
| 1914 | No.140 Outfit 0(Eng) |
No.14 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits(Eng) |
No.13 Supplementary (English edition) |
| Outfit 0 (Colonial edition) |
Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits (Australian edition) |
-- | |
| 1915 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| 1916 | No.140 Outfit 0(Eng) With sticker for revised prices dated 7 Feb 1916 |
No.14 (English)*2 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits Sticker over bottom panel of front cover says - English Edition |
No.14S *7 Supplementary Manual Dual English/French (16.4) |
| -- | No.14 (Colonial)*2 *3 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits Sticker over bottom panel of front cover says - Colonial Edition Price list marked 'Colonial' No.14 (Australasia)*2 *3 Instructions.... for thirteen progressive outfits Sticker over bottom panel of front cover says - Colonial Edition Price list marked 'Australasia' |
-- | |
Note *1 - These Colonial edition is not described as such. However the manual price is 1/- instead of 9d and the prices of parts & outfits are around 50% more than the English edition. The front cover is also coloured differently - light blue and pink. instead of the usual buff and light blue. Also on the bottom left of page 1 there are the letters 'NZ' probably refering to New Zealand. Two editions have been found. The second one has had the priced pages at the rear removed and new pages stuck in with higher prices.
Note *2 - These modified 1914 manuals consist of inside pages of the normal English / US ref 14.2 editions,. They use surplus No.14 American manuals which have a sticker over bottom panel of the front cover to hide the American address. Pages 1-4 & 129-134 removed and new unnumbered pages stuck in at the rear showing the 1916 version price list, spare parts list and outfit contents.
Note *3 - Two colonial editions have been seen. One with the additional stuck in pages marked 'Australasia' and the other marked 'Colonial'. Both say 'Colonial' on the front cover. For the Canadian version see US ref 16.7 which is the same except that there is no sticker on the front page covering the American address etc.
Note *4 - The first 1909 manual did not include models 21, 38, 39, 56, 57 & 62. These extra models were initially published in a supplementary manual. This supplementary manual was later included by being bound in to the rear of the main manual. Following this a further edition of the 1909 manual was published with the additional models fully incorporated into the manual in the correct order.
So far the only 1909 manual examined is a copy of the later full version.
Note *5 - The first main 1913 manual had a blank page on page 100, with page 88 being "The Science of Mechanics Taught by Meccano". Later editions of the 1913 manual had a page titled "Meccano is More Than A Toy" inserted at page 88. The resulted in all following pages being moved up one page, so that page 100 was now used.
Note *6 - An early 1912 manual showing all keyway parts is expected to exist, but it has so far not been seen. Confirmation required.
Note *7 - The 14S Supplementary manual has been seen priced at 6d for the UK market, 9d for Colonial market and 20 Cts for the French market.
Note *1 - On page 1 of the 1910 manual, the word 'copyrighted' is covered by a paste-on.
Note *2 - Early editions of the 1913 main manual (13.3 & 13.6) had a blank page on page 100, with page 88 being "The Science of Mechanics Taught by Meccano". Later editions of the 1913 manual (13.1, 13.2 & 13.5) had a page titled "Meccano is More Than A Toy" inserted at page 88. The resulted in all following pages being moved up one page, so that page 100 was now used.
Note *3 - The 1912 Outfit 0 manual has so far only been seen from scans (of unknown provenance) of a US edition. Unfortunately these were missing page 2 (IFC)
Note *4 - This No.14 US manual is modified for the Canadian market in exactly the same way as the Colonial and Australasia manuals noted above in the previous section. I.e. Pages 1-4 & 129-134 removed and new unnumbered pages stuck in at the rear showing the 1916 Canadian version price list, spare parts list and outfit contents. It is included with the American manuals due to the unmodified front cover.
Note *5 - The copy scanned was unfortunately missing its covers and pages 1/2 and 99/100. Because of the small numbers at the bottom of some pages, which are identical to the first 1913 UK version, it was almost certainly printed in the UK.
Note 6 - From 1911, American manuals have a copyright date on the front cover.
| Pagination/contents of Royal and 0 Outfit Manuals - 1911-14 (Liverpool and America) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
America | |
| 1911 Royal (11.2) (8 pages) |
1912 Outfit 0*1 (12.3) (12 pages) |
1913 Outfit 0 (13.4) (16 pages) |
1914 Outfit 0 (14.5/14.6) (20 pages) |
1915 Outfit 0 (15.3) (20 pages) |
|
| How to Make Models and Toys with Meccano | -- | ?? | Page 2 | Page 2 | Page 2 |
| Meccano Parts | -- | -- | Page 3 | -- | -- |
| Outfit 0 models | Pages 2-5 |
Pages 3-9 |
Pages 4-12 |
Pages 3-16 |
Pages 3-16 |
| Contents of Outfit | Page 5 | -- | -- | Page 19 | Page 19 |
| Separate Parts Price List of Separate Parts |
Page 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Separate Parts | -- | Page 10 | -- | -- | -- |
| Meccano Motors (Patent Pending) (Spring Motors) |
-- | -- | Page 13 | Page 17 | -- |
| Meccano Motors (Low voltage Electric Motors) |
-- | -- | -- | -- | Page 17 |
| Meccano is More Than a Toy | -- | -- | Page 14 | Page 18 | Page 18 |
| Price List of Additional Parts | -- | Page 11 | Page 15 | -- | -- |
| Price List | Page 7 | Page 12 (RC) | Page 16 (RC) | Page 20 (RC) | Page 20 (RC) |
| Selection of Models from Other Outfits | Page 8 (RC) | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Note *1 - The 1912 Outfit 0 manual has so far only been seen from scans (of unknown provenance) of a US edition. Unfortunately these were missing page 2 (IFC).
Note 2 - Page numbering includes the covers.
| Pagination/contents of Main Outfit Manuals - 1909-14 (Liverpool and America) |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool & America |
America | Liverpool | |
| Early 1909*1 |
1909*1 (09.1) (56 pages) |
1910 (10.1) (68 pages) |
1911 (11.1) (54 pages) |
1912 (12.1)(12.2) (84 pages) |
Early 1913*2 (13.3)(13.6) (104 pages) |
1913*2 (13.1)(13.2) (13.5) (104 pages) |
1914*3 (14.2)(14.3) (14.4)(14.8) (138 pages) |
1915 (15.1) (138 pages) |
1916 *5 (136 pages) |
|
| Meccano Patents | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Frontispiece | Frontispiece | Frontispiece |
| Meccano ("Copyrighted" in 1910) |
?? | Page 1 | Page 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Introduction | -- | -- | -- | Page 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| How to Make Models and Toys with Meccano | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | -- |
| Meccano Parts | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 2 | Page 2 | -- | -- | -- |
| Meccano Parts and Prices | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
-- |
| New Meccano Coupling New Meccano Crank |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 4 | Page 4 | -- |
| New Meccano Double Bracket | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 5 | Page 5 | Page 5 |
| Standard Details for use in Construction of Models on the Meccano Principle |
-- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 2-3 |
Pages 94-96 |
Pages 93-95 |
Pages 127-129 |
Pages 127-129 |
Pages 127-128 |
| Outfit 1 models | Pages ??? |
Pages 2-10 |
Pages 2-11 |
Pages 2-7 |
Pages 4-14 |
Pages 3-18 |
Pages 3-18 |
Pages 6-34 |
Pages 6-34 |
Pages 6-34 |
| Outfit 2 models | Pages ??? |
Pages 11-17 |
Pages 12-18 |
Pages 8-11 |
Pages 15-20 |
Pages 19-28 |
Pages 19-28 |
Pages 35-49 |
Pages 35-49 |
Pages 35-49 |
| Outfit 3 models | Pages ??? |
Pages 18-27 |
Pages 19-28 |
Pages 12-19 |
Pages 21-28 |
Pages 29-36 |
Pages 29-36 |
Pages 50-61 |
Pages 50-61 |
Pages 50-61 |
| Outfit 4 models | Pages ??? |
Pages 28-35 |
Pages 29-37 |
Pages 20-25 |
Pages 29-38 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 62-82 |
Pages 62-82 |
Pages 62-82 |
| Outfit 5 models | Pages ??? |
Pages 36-44 |
Pages 38-50 |
Pages 26-33 |
Pages 39-53 |
Pages 52-65 |
Pages 52-65 |
Pages 83-98 |
Pages 83-98 |
Pages 83-98 |
| Outfit 6 models | Pages ??? |
Pages 45-49 |
Pages 51-61 |
Pages 34-45 |
Pages 54-75 |
Pages 66-87 |
Pages 66-87 |
Pages 99-120 |
Pages 99-120 |
Pages 99-120 |
| Meccano is More Than a Toy | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 88 | Page 121 | Page 121 | Page 121 |
| The Science of Mechanics Taught by Meccano | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 88 | Page 89 | Page 122 | Page 122 | Page 122 |
| HSMD Models | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 89-92 |
Pages 90-93 |
Pages 123-126 |
Pages 123-126 |
Pages 123-126 |
| Meccano Motors (HV Electric and Water Motors) |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 130-131 |
-- | -- |
| Meccano Motors (LV Electric Motor) |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 130 | -- |
| Meccano Motors (Spring Motors) |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 96 | Page 97 | Page 132 | Page 131 | -- |
| Meccano Models - Some of them Prize Winners | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 132 | -- |
| Contents of Outfits | Page ??? | Page 50 | Page 62 | Page 46 | Page 76 | Page 97 | Page 98 | Page 133 | Page 133 | Page 132 |
| Separate Parts | Page ??? | Page 51 | Page 63 | Page 47 | Page 77 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Price List of Additional Parts | Page ??? | Page 51 | Page 63 | Page 47 | Page 78 | Page 98 | Page 99 | -- | -- | -- |
| Price List of Meccano Accessory Parts | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 130-131 |
| Price List | Page ??? | Page 52 | Page 64 | Page 48 | Page 79 | Page 99 | Page 100 | Page 134 | Page 134 | Page 129 |
| The Hornby System of Mechanical Demonstration | -- | -- | -- | Page 49 | Page 80 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Printers Trade Mark | Rear Cover |
Rear Cover |
Rear Cover |
Rear Cover |
Rear Cover |
Rear Cover |
Rear Cover |
Rear Cover*4 |
-- | -- |
Note *1 - The 1909 manual is known in three versions. An early version without models 21, 38, 39, 56, 57 & 62. A second version with the extra models in a supplement bound at the rear and a third version which includes the extra models. The supplement is also known as a separate manual. The American manual reference 09.1, is virtually identical to the the third Liverpool version.
Note *2 - The first 1913 manual had a blank page on page 100, with page 88 being "The Science of Mechanics Taught by Meccano". Later editions of the 1913 manual had a page titled "Meccano is More Than A Toy" inserted at page 88. This resulted in all following pages being moved up one page, so that page 100 was now used.
Note *3 - American manual reference 14.3, not yet examined.
Note *4 - The 1914 American manuals do not have the printers Trade Mark on the rear cover.
Note *5 - These modified 1914 manuals have pages 1-4 & 129-134 removed and new unnumbered pages (129-132) stuck in at the rear showing the 1916 version price list, spare parts list and outfit contents.