Meccano Manuals
1916-1921
Details and Downloads of Meccano Manuals
Confirmation of those print codes 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Some of these manuals feature content that contains outdated attitudes and ideas of a racist nature.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.
Note *1 - Two versions of the 119/50(Eng) Outfit 1-3 manual are known - One with the list of separate Meccano parts at the beginning like the earlier manuals and the other with the list at the end like the later manuals.
Note *2 - This manual probably does not exist. It has almost certainly has been mixed up with the misprinted 1920 manual print code - see Note *3.
Note *3 - The No.20 manual with the label stuck over the bottom panel and the 119/10 print code clearly has a misprinted print code, as the contents - in particularly the list of separate Meccano parts - match with an expected print date of 1/20. The print code should almost certainly have read 120/10.
Note *4 - Sometimes these manuals are seen without the price sticker on the front cover. However there is usually evidence to show that it was originally there.
Note *5 - It is likely that there are more editions of the No.160 outfit 0 manual. Info required on any additional versions of these manuals.
Note *6 - A manual exists - unfortunately without covers - that appears to be identical to the 521/100 Book A with the exception of the number of patents on page 1. Patents 103,370 and 2,085/11 are omitted. Is this manual just a varient of the 5/21 manual - affecting a small part of the print run, or is it a currently unknown edition?
Details of the Revised Price Stickers | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
From 1917 to 1919 many manuals were seen with revised price stickers stuck in over the printed Meccano Price List, due to rapid price increases in this period. | ||||
Date | Print Colour | Outfits Listed | Price of Largest Outfit | Accessory Parts Listed |
Jan 1st 1917 | Red | 0-2X | 2X = 19/6 | None |
March 1st 1918 | Red | 0-6, 0A-5A | 6 = 130/- | 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 94, 99, 105 |
July 10th 1918 | Red | 0-6, 0A-5A | 6 = 145/- | None |
Feb 17th 1919 | Blue | 0-6, 0A-5A, Inv | 6 = 180/- | None |
Feb 17th 1919 | Red | 0-6, 0A-5A, Inv | 6 = 180/- | 8, 9, 19A, 20A, 21, 22, 22A, 23A, 24, 25, 26, 37A, 40, 56, 59, 63, 65 |
Details of the Overseas Price Stickers | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manuals for Overseas destinations - Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa had a sticker with the Meccano Price List stuck in over the normal Meccano Price List for manuals exported to those countries. | ||||
Countries | Print Code | Date of List | Price of Outfit 6 | Last Meccano Accessory Part |
Canada | 719/5 | Jan 1919 | $40.00 | 106 |
Aust/NZ/SA | 719/5 1019/3 |
May 1919 | £12:10:00 | 101 |
Aust/NZ/SA | 120/10 420/10 |
-- | £12:10:00 | 113 |
Note - The above lists those stickers that are known, However there are likely to be more.
Note *1 - Parts list pages 4/5 in 1917 No.16 manual stamped 'See revised price list page 135'. New page 135/6 stuck in, in place of existing page.
Note *2 - The No.16A Book 1 Special manual covered outfits 1 & 2. Although it says copyright 1916 on the front cover, it includes parts up to 112 and mentions the Inventor's Accessory B outfit. This therefore dates it to around 1920. Does a 1916 version exist?
Note 3 - In order to avoid wasting surplus old manuals, many of these old manuals had new pages stuck on the stubs of old cut-out pages. this was done in order to update the manual for revised prices, parts lists etc.
Note 4 - Except where otherwise noted above, the above American manuals all have a New York address apart for Book 2, which give a Brooklyn address.
Pagination/contents of Outfit 0 Manuals - 1916-21 (Liverpool and America) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liverpool | Liverpool | America | America | America | America | |
1916 (20 pages) |
1918-1921 (20 pages) |
1916 (16.2) (20 pages) |
1917 (17.2)(17.5) (18 pages) |
1920 (20.5) (20 pages) |
1921 (21.3) (22 pages) |
|
A Talk with New Meccano Boys | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 2 | Page 2 | Page 2 | Page 2 |
Money and Fame for Meccano Boys Meccano is Easy Boys! Build Bigger Models Another Competition has Started |
Page 4 | -- | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 19 | Page 19 |
Meccano is Easy Boys! Build Bigger Models The Meccano Magazine |
-- | Page 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Splendid New Meccano Models | Page 5 | Page 5 | Page 4 | Page 4 | Page 17 | Page 17 |
The More Meccano You Have the Bigger and Better the Models You Can Build |
Page 6 | Page 6 | Page 5 | Page 5 | Page 18 | Page 18 |
Meccanograph - Another Fine Special Model | -- | -- | Page 6 | Page 6 | -- | -- |
How to Build With Meccano | Page 7 | Page 7 | Page 7 | Page 7 | Page 7 | Page 7 |
Outfit 0 Models | Pages 7-16 |
Pages 7-16 |
Pages 7-16 |
Pages 7-16 |
Pages 7-16 |
Pages 7-16 |
Meccano Patents Meccano is More Than a Toy |
Page 17 | Page 17 | Page 17 | -- | -- | -- |
Prices of Meccano Accessory Parts Contents of No.0 Outfit |
Page 18 | Page 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Prices of Meccano Accessory Parts | -- | -- | Page 18 | -- | -- | -- |
Contents of No.0 Outfit | -- | -- | Page 19 | -- | -- | -- |
Meccano Patents Meccano is More than a Toy Contents of No.0 Outfit |
-- | -- | -- | Page 19 | Page 20 (RC) |
Page 20 (RC) |
Meccano Price List | Page 19 (IRC) |
Page 19 (IRC) |
Page 20 (RC) |
Page 20 (RC) |
Pages 3-6 |
Pages 3-6 |
New Accessory Parts (This is an unnumbered additional page which is blank on the rear inserted after page 6) |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 6A |
Note - Page numbering includes the cover.
Pagination/contents of Book A (Outfits 1-3) and Book 1 (Outfits 1-6) Manuals - 1916-21 (Liverpool) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No.16 Book 1 (140 pages) |
1918*1 Book A (64 pages) |
1919*1 to Early 1920 Book A (64 pages) |
1919 to Early 1920 Book 1 (140 pages) |
1920 Late Book A (64 pages) |
1920 Late Book 1 (142 pages) |
1921 Early Book A*3 (64 pages) |
1921 Late Book A (66 pages)*2 |
1921 Book 1 (142 pages) |
|
Meccano Patents | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 |
To Meccano Boys | Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Meccano Prize Competitions Important Notice |
Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 |
Outfit 1 Models | Pages 6-25 |
Pages 6-25 |
Pages 4-23 |
Pages 4-23 |
Pages 4-23 |
Pages 4-23 |
Pages 4-23 |
Pages 4-23 |
Pages 4-23 |
Outfit 2 Models | Pages 26-38 |
Pages 26-38 |
Pages 24-36 |
Pages 24-36 |
Pages 24-36 |
Pages 24-36 |
Pages 24-36 |
Pages 24-36 |
Pages 24-36 |
Outfit 3 Models | Pages 39-53 |
Pages 39-53 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Pages 37-51 |
Outfit 4 Models | Pages 54-76 |
-- | -- | Pages 52-74 |
-- | Pages 52-74 |
-- | -- | Pages 52-74 |
Outfit 5 Models | Pages 77-94 |
-- | -- | Pages 75-92 |
-- | Pages 75-92 |
-- | -- | Pages 75-92 |
Outfit 6 & Special Models | Pages 95-130 |
-- | -- | Pages 93-128 |
-- | Pages 93-128 |
-- | -- | Pages 93-128 |
Standard Details for Use in the Construction of Models on the Meccano Principle |
Pages 131-133 |
Pages 54-56 |
Pages 52-54 |
Pages 129-131 |
Pages 52-54 |
Pages 129-131 |
Pages 52-54 |
Pages 52-54 |
Pages 129-131 |
The Meccano Electric Motor The Meccano Spring Motor |
Page 134 | Page 57 | Page 55 | Page 132 | Page 55 | Page 132 | -- | -- | -- |
Meccano Motors and Accessory Outfits |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 55 | Page 55 | Page 132 |
Particulars and Prices of Meccano Parts |
Pages 4-5 |
Pages 4-5 |
Pages 56-57 |
Pages 133-134 |
Pages 56-58 |
Pages 133-135 |
Pages 56-58 |
Pages 59-61 |
Pages 135-137 |
Price List | Page 135 | Page 58 | Page 58 | Page 135 | Page 59 | Page 136 | Page 59 | Page 62 | Page 138 |
Contents of Outfits | Page 136 | Page 59 | Page 59 | Page 136 | Page 60 | Page 137 | Page 60 | Page 57 | Page 133 |
Contents of Inventor's Outfits | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 58 | Page 134 |
Meccano Magazine More Fun for You, Boys! |
-- | Page 60 | Page 60 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Meccano is More Than a Toy (Standard Rear Cover) |
Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover |
Note *1 - Some Book A manuals with print code 119/50 have the 'Particulars and Prices of Meccano Parts' pages at the front (like the earlier 1918 manuals) and others have them at the rear (like the later manuals). Obviously a transitional manual.
Note *2 - Some manuals have an additional page glued in at the rear which results in a total number of pages which is not a multiple of four.
Note *3 - A copy of the 521/100 Book A manual has been seen with pages 55-58 removed and new Canadian price list unnumbered pages stuck in dated 9/21. Pages are 55-7 : Parts and Particulars of Meccano Parts. Page 57 : Prices of Meccano Parts. Page 58 : Motors and Electrical/Inventor's Outfits
Note 4 - Some manuals have an additional totally blank page at the front and rear inserted between the cover and the contents. (This is not included in the number of pages in a manual).
Pagination/contents of the various manuals for Outfits 1-6 - 1916-23 (America) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1916/7 (16.1)(17.6) No.16 Book 1 (Outfits 1-6) (140 pages) |
1917 (17.1) No.16 Book 1 (Outfits 1-6) (140 pages) |
1920 (20.1) No.16 Book 1 (Outfits 1-6) (144 pages) |
1920 (20.3) No.16A Book 1 Special (Outfits 1-2) (44 pages) |
1922/3 (21.2)(21.5)(22.5) No.21 (Outfits 1-3) (68 pages) |
1923 (23.5) No.23A (Outfits 4-6) (76 pages) |
|
Meccano Patents | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | -- | Page 1 | -- |
To Meccano Boys | Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 1-2 |
Pages 2-3 |
-- |
Meccano Prize Competitions Important Notice |
Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 2 | Page 3 | -- |
Particulars and Prices of Meccano Parts |
Pages 4-5 |
Pages 4-5 |
Pages 4-5 |
-- | Pages 57-60 |
-- |
Meccano - Instructions for Outfits 4, 5 & 6 Important Notice Grand Prize Contest |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 1 |
Outfit 1 Models | Pages 6-25 |
Pages 6-25 |
Pages 6-25 |
Pages 3-22 |
Pages 4-23 |
-- |
Outfit 2 Models | Pages 26-38 |
Pages 26-38 |
Pages 26-38 |
Pages 23-35 |
Pages 24-36 |
-- |
Outfit 3 Models | Pages 39-53 |
Pages 39-53 |
Pages 39-53 |
-- | Pages 37-51 |
-- |
Outfit 4 Models | Pages 54-76 |
Pages 54-76 |
Pages 54-76 |
-- | -- | Pages 2-24 |
Outfit 5 Models | Pages 77-94 |
Pages 77-94 |
Pages 77-94 |
-- | -- | Pages 25-42 |
Outfit 6 & Special Models | Pages 95-130 |
Pages 95-130 |
Pages 95-130 |
-- | -- | Pages 43-70 |
Special Meccano Models No.330 Meccano Motor Chassis |
-- | -- | -- | -- | Page 52 | -- |
Standard Details for Use in the Construction of Models on the Meccano Principle |
Pages 131-133 |
Pages 131-133 |
Pages 131-133 |
-- | Pages 53-55 |
Page 71 |
The Meccano Electric Motor The Meccano Spring Motor |
Page 134 | Page 134 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Price List of Outfits | -- | -- | -- | -- | Page 56 | -- |
Meccano Motor and Transformers | -- | -- | Page 134 | -- | Page 61 | -- |
Meccano Inventor's Outfits | -- | -- | Page 135 | -- | -- | -- |
Meccano Electrical Outfits Meccano Inventor's Outfits |
-- | -- | -- | -- | Page 62 | -- |
Meccano Magazine More Fun for You, Boys! |
-- | -- | -- | -- | Page 63 | -- |
Price List | Page 135 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Contents of Outfits | Page 136 | Page 136 | Page 136 | Page 36 | Page 64 | -- |
Meccano Price List | -- | Page 135 | Pages 137-140 |
Pages 37-40 |
-- | Page 72 |
Meccano is More Than a Toy (Standard Rear Cover) |
Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover |
Pagination/contents of Book 2 and Book 3 - 1918-23 (Liverpool and America) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liverpool & America |
Liverpool | Liverpool | Liverpool | America | Liverpool | ||||
Book 2 1918 (18.1) (84 pages) |
Book 2 1919-Early 1920 (86 pages)*2 |
Book 2 Late 1920 (86 pages)*2 |
Book 2 1921 (86 pages)*2 |
Book 2 1920-3*1 (20.4)(22.1)(23.6) (84 pages) |
Book 3 (54 pages)*2 |
||||
Hornby Trains (in colour) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Frontispiece (2 pages) |
|||
Meccano Patents | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | Page 1 | |||
100 New Meccano Models | Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
Pages 2-3 |
-- | |||
Meccano for Scientific Boys The Meccano Magazine Important Notice |
Page 3 | Page 3 | Page 3 | -- | Page 3 | -- | |||
Meccano for Scientific Boys The New Meccano Manual of Instruction No.3 The Meccano Magazine Important Notice |
-- | -- | -- | Page 3 | -- | -- | |||
Model No's 327-418 | Pages 6-65 |
Pages 4-63 |
Pages 4-63 |
Pages 4-62 |
Pages 6-65 |
-- | |||
Interesting Experiments in Applied Mechanics with Meccano (Model No's 419-428) |
Pages 66-79 |
Pages 64-77 |
Pages 64-77 |
Pages 63-75 |
-- | -- | |||
Interesting Experiments in Applied Mechanics with Meccano (Model No's 419-426) |
-- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 66-78 |
-- | |||
Model No's 429-455 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Pages 2-43 |
|||
The Meccano Electric Motor The Meccano Spring Motor |
-- | Page 78 | Page 78 | -- | -- | -- | |||
Meccano Motors and Accessory Outfits |
-- | -- | -- | Page 76 | -- | Page 44 | |||
Contents of Outfits | -- | -- | -- | Page 77 | -- | -- | |||
Contents of Inventor's Outfits | -- | -- | -- | Page 78 | -- | -- | |||
Particulars and Prices of Meccano Parts | Pages 4-5 |
Pages 79-80 |
Pages 79-81 |
Pages 79-81 |
Pages 79-82*1 |
Pages 45-47 |
|||
Price List | Page 80 | Page 81 | Page 82 | Page 82 | Page 79 | Page 48 | |||
Meccano is More Than a Toy (Standard Rear Cover) |
Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover | Rear Cover |
Note *1 - These American manuals have pages 4/5 glued together and 79/80 removed and replacement pages 79-82 (unnumbered) stuck in, in their place
Note *2 - Some manuals have an additional page glued in at the rear (and/or the front) which results in a total number of pages which is not a multiple of four.
Note 3 - Some manuals have an additional totally blank page at the front and rear inserted between the cover and the contents. (This is not included in the number of pages in a manual)