Meccano Manuals
1908-1916
Downloads of Meccano Manuals
This page contains downloads of all the manuals published between 1908 and 1916 that I can find. For convenience they are split into separate years. Click on the thumbnail to download the required edition in pdf format. It also shows known editions that I don't currently have. Scans of these would be appreciated.
Confirmation of those print codes in red is also required (Scans of these manuals would also be appreciated). Also scans of of any other editions, especially other overseas/colonial editions would be gratefully received.
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.
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Some of these manuals feature content that contains outdated attitudes and ideas of a racist nature.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.
1908 manuals
The instruction manual for the Kindergarten outfit.
A 1908 instruction manual for outfit 1.
The 1908 instruction manual for outfit 2 is awaited.
The 1908 instruction manual for outfit 3 is awaited.
The 1908 instruction manual for outfits 4 to 6 is awaited.
1909 - Liverpool
The 1908/9 instruction manual for outfits 1 to 6 - Last model 61 is awaited
The 1909 Supplementary instruction manual for outfits 1 to 6 containing models 21,38,39,56,57,62 is awaited
The 1909 instruction manual for outfits 1 to 6 - Last model 61 plus bound-in supplementary sheet of models is awaited
The 1909 instruction manual for outfits 1 to 6 - Last model 62
(Added 23/12/2022)
Note - 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.
1909 - USA
(09.1) A USA 1909 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 62.
1910 - Liverpool
A 1910 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 64.
1910 - USA
(10.1) A USA 1910 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 64.
Note - On page 1 of the 1910 manual, the word 'copyrighted' is covered by a paste-on.
1911 - Liverpool
A 1911 instruction manual for the Royal outfit - 14 models is awaited.
A 1911 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 86.
1911 - USA
(11.2) A USA 1911 instruction manual for the Royal outfit - 14 models. Pink paper with reddish purplish ink.
(11.1) A USA 1911 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 86.
1912 - Liverpool
The 1912 instruction manual for outfit 0 - 15 models is awaited.
A 1912 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 90 -All keyway parts - but Worm is shown with a boss).
Note - An early 1912 manual showing all keyway parts is expected to exist, but it has so far not been seen. Confirmation required.
1912 - USA
(12.3) A USA 1912 instruction manual for outfit 0 - 15 models.
(12.1) A USA 1912 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 90. UK accessory outfit prices and keyway type worm on page 77
(12.2) A USA 1912 instruction manual for eleven progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 90. USA accessory outfit prices and bossed type worm on page 77
Note - 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)
1913 - Liverpool
A 1913 instruction manual for outfit 0 - 18 models.
The 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109 - Page 100 is blank. Scans of this manual are awaited.
A 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109 - Page 88 titled - "Meccano is more than a Toy"
A 1913 (No.13) Supplementary instruction manual
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A 1913 instruction manual for the New Zealand market for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6)- Last model 109
A 1913 (No.13) Supplementary instruction manual for the New Zealand market
Note 1 - 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 2 - This 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.
1913 - USA
(13.4) A USA 1913 instruction manual for outfit 0 - 18 models.
(13.6) A USA 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109. As Ref 13.3 except that the text
formatting on some model pages is different. Printed in UK
(13.3) A USA 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109. Printed in Albany. Outfit prices - page 99. Some have a trade cover
(13.1) A USA 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109. Printed in Albany. Outfit prices - page 100
(13.5) A USA 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109. As ref 13.1 but with New York address pasted over Albany address. Scans of this version are awaited.
(13.2) A USA 1913 instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) - Last model 109. New York address, Outfit prices - page 100
Note - 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 - The copy scanned of ref 13.6 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.
1914 - Liverpool
A 1914 (No.140) instruction manual for outfit 0.
A 1914 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6)
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A 1914 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6) for the Australian market
1914 - USA
(14.5) A USA 1914 (No.140) instruction manual for outfit 0. New York address
(14.6) A USA 1914 (No.140) instruction manual for outfit 0. As per ref 14.5 except that it has both the New York and Albany addresses. Scans of this version are awaited.
A(14.2) USA 1914 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). 134 pages + 2 no number
High voltage motor on page 130
New York address
(14.4) A USA 1914 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). As per Ref 14.2
except that it has both the New York and Albany addresses
(14.3) A USA 1914 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). 134 pages + i, ii. Scnas of this version are awaited.
(14.8) A USA 1914 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). As per ref 14.4 but with additional outer trade cover
(14.1) A USA 1914 No.13 Supplementary instruction manual. With advert for the high voltage motor
(14.7) A USA 1914 No.13 Supplementary instruction manual. With advert for the low voltage motor
1915 - USA
(15.3) A USA 1915 (No.140) instruction manual for outfit 0. Inventor's Accessory outfit mentioned
(15.1) A USA 1915 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). 134 pages + 2 blank. Inventor's Accessory outfit mentioned. Low voltage motor on page 130
1915 / Early 1916 - Liverpool
A 1914 (No.140) instruction manual for outfit 0. With sticker for revised prices dated 7 Feb 1916
A 1916 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). Sticker over bottom panel of front
cover says - English Edition
A 1916 (No.14S) Supplementary instruction manual. Dual English/French
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A 1916 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). Sticker over bottom panel of front cover says - Colonial Edition. Price list marked 'Colonial'
A 1916 (No.14) instruction manual for for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). Sticker over bottom panel of front cover says - Colonial Edition. Price list marked 'Australasia'
Note 1 - 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 - 2 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.
1916 - USA
(16.5) A USA 1916 No.14S Supplementary instruction manual.
(16.7) A USA 1916 (No.14) instruction manual for thirteen progressive outfits (1 to 6). With Canadian price lists pasted in at the end
Note - 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.
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