1970-1977

GENERAL
In 1970 the old No.9 set was withdrawn and all the lower numbered sets were renumbered to compensate. For the first year or two a leaflet was inserted in all the sets describing these changes and the extra parts added to certain sets.

For sets up to set 7, the manuals were completely new. The models were shown in coloured drawings to match the colour of the Meccano parts. There were no photographs. As with 1962-69 there were no constructional descriptions.

Sets 8 & 9 were a reprint of the old set 7 & 8 manual models.

The 4EL set was a combination of the No.4 set together with the old Electrikit. The 4EL set manual was a reprint of the previous Electrikit manual. An Electronics set was introduced.

The 5ME set was a combination of the No.5 set and the Electronics set. There was no special manual for the 5ME set - models using the Electronics set were incorporated with the standard set manuals.

The No.1 leaflet was the same as the previous Playset leaflet.

The 10 set leaflets continued unchanged. The old 9 set leaflets were renumbered 10.21 - 10.30.

In 1977 the following sets were withdrawn - Electronics, 4EL and 5ME. Also some of the motors were replaced with different ones. The 1977 manuals were altered to reflect these changes.

Changes during the era.

• Manual Covers
• It should be noted that the covers for set 2-9 manuals were all the same expect for the size.
• In 1973 hex nuts replaced square nuts and the covers were modified to suit. This affected the pictures for the following parts:- Box Spanner (34B), Nut (37A -> 37C) Nut & Bolt (37), Threaded Pin (115A) Pawl with Pivot Bolt (147) & Pivot Bolt (147B).
• In addition the opportunity was also taken to include the follows changes/corrections:-
      The Wooden handled screwdriver (36A) was replaced by a Plastic handled screwdriver (36B)
      Picture above the flat plates corrected (52 -> 53A)
      Text against the Reversed Angle Bracket amended (124 & 125)
      Text under Corner Brackets amended (133 & 133A)
      The Large Plastic Road Wheels (187B) were deleted.
• Also in the 1973 manuals, the top of the inside front cover had the multilingual text omitted. This was corrected in 1974.
   
• Set 1 Manual
  The only difference noted is that in the 1977 version the yellow printing was lighter and the blue printing darker.
   
• Set 2 and 2/3/4 Manuals
• The first version of both these manuals had a few errors which were then corrected in the 2nd Impression:-
• Set Contents (pages 18/19 (set 2) & pages 50/51 (set 2/3/4)) - Parts 58A and 58B added for set 10. Also for sets 5 & 6 quantity of part 40 increased from 1 -> 2.
• Electronics set info (page 20 (set 2) & page 52 (set 2/3/4)) - None of the parts were numbered. The screwdriver was omitted and the plugs were coloured white instead of yellow. These errors were corrected in the 2nd Impression.
• Motor details on pages 21-24 set 2 manual only - 'M' numbers were allocated against the motors from the 2nd Impression for the set 2 manual only.
• Page 24 (set 2) & page 56 (set 2/3/4) - Initially the right hand column was blank. A list of available sets, motors etc was inserted in here in the 2nd Impression. Note that in some editions of the set 2 manual the heading 'MOTORS ETC' is sometimes missing - assumed to be a printers error as it only affected part of the print run for each edition.
• In 1977 due to the withdrawal of certain sets and change in available motors, the following changes were made to the manuals:-
• Pages 1-3 - Reference to motor M3 (E15R) and 5ME, 4EL and Electronics sets removed.
• Page 16 (set 2) & page 48 (set 2/3/4) - Reference to 5ME, 4EL and Electronics sets removed.
• Page 20 (set 2) & page 52 (set 2/3/4) - Details of the Electronics set replaced by an advert for the Multikits
• Page 21-24 (set 2) & page 53-56 (set 2/3/4) - Details of the motors etc were revised to show the new range - e.g. E15R replaced by EU1071 & EU1072. Also the Junior Power Drive motor was redesigned.
• Page 24 (set 2) & page 56 (set 2/3/4) - Reference to 5ME, 4EL and Electronics sets removed and motors amended to the new range.
   
• Set 3, 4 & 7 manuals - No changes
   
• Set 5, 5/6 & 5/6/7 manuals
  These all had the Electronics set models deleted in 1977. In the 5/6 manual the resultant two spare pages were filled with adverts for the Multikits.
   
• Set 8 manual
  From 1970-74 the manuals had stiffer more glossy covers than for set 2-7 manuals. In 1977 this reverted to be the same as the other manuals.
  In 1977 - Pages 1-3 - Reference to motor M3 (E15R) and 5ME, 4EL and Electronics sets removed.
   
• Set 9 manual
  From 1970-74 the manuals had stiffer more glossy covers than for set 2-7 manuals. In 1977 this reverted to be the same as the other manuals.
  Multi-language text giving hints on adjustment was included for model 9.2 - The only model with accompanying text.
  In 1977 the model on page 48 advertising the No.10 set set was changed from the Lifting Shovel to the Cargo Ship.
   
• Set 10 leaflets
  The original 10 leaflets 10.1 - 10.20 continued unchanged. The old No. 9 leaflets were renumbered 10.21 - 10.30. In order to use up old stock, the bottom of the remaining 62-69 series set 9 leaflets was cut off and a stick on label with the new number stuck on over the old number.
  Initially the leaflets were supplied in a green folder with narrow 'Meecano' font as used in the late 1960s. Both landscape and portrait versions are thought to have been used (the portrait version has definitely been seen). Very shortly afterwards the leaflet folder was replaced by a plastic pocket. This varied over the period from dark blue to a very dark blue/black. (probably due to different suppliers)
   
• Set 4EL and Electronics manuals
  No changes.
   
• Pocket Meccano manual
• In the first edition 'Meccano Tri-ang (no ref)' in the parts list, part 194 is called a 'Plastic Plate' and not coloured. By the 'Meccano Tri-ang (160031)' edition part 194 was called a 'Blue Plastic Plate' and coloured blue. In the 1973 edition it was again called 'Plastic Plate' although coloured blue.
• In 1974 a completely new leaflet was produced, with many of the models being replaced with new ones and hex nuts being shown. The 1975 and 1978 editions were identical.