Meccano Manuals

Old Style Plastic (Junior) Meccano
Including Prima

Details and Downloads of the Manuals

Meccano Ltd introduced Plastic Meccano for younger children in 1965, It was renamed Junior Meccano in 1979 in the UK. However in France the name change was in the early 1970s. It lasted until 1993 when it was replaced by a totally new Junior Meccano system. Details of the various set manuals are noted below. Also included are the Study Kits produced by Educational Productions Ltd in collaboration with Meccano. The instruction leaflets/manuals can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate image.

In 1975 Meccano Ltd introduced Prima. A simple plastic construction system for very young children. Photos of this can be seen at the bottom of this page

UK MANUALS

1965-71

Plastic Meccano was first introduced in 1965 with three sets - 'A', 'B' and 'C'. So far I know of the four instruction leaflets during this era each of which covered all sets. Were there any others?

A combined instruction leaflet for the sets A, B & C, which is thought to date from 1965/7. Not certain whether this or the next instruction leaflet came first. It was a large double sided sheet.
(No reference No.)

A slightly different combined instruction leaflet for the sets A, B & C which is thought to date from 1965/7. Not certain whether this or the previous instruction leaflet came first. It was a large double sided sheet.
(No reference No.)

A combined instruction leaflet for the sets A, B & C which followed on from the previous two. It is thought to date from 1967 to 1970. It was a large double sided sheet.
(Ref 72937).
Other printings
An identical leaflet with Ref 160020, which probably dates from 1970.

1971-77

There were four main sets during this era - '100', '200', '300' and '400'. The manuals were reprinted several times during the era. The various printings can be identified by being either 'Meccano Tri-ang Ltd', 'Meccano (1971) Ltd', '©1973', '©1974' or '©1975'. If anyone can supply scans/information on printings not shown below it would be appreciated.
NOTE - The Flexible Track Pack remained in production until Meccano production stopped in the UK in 1981

The instruction leaflet for set 100. It was a single double sided sheet.
(Ref 160035, Meccano Tri-ang Ltd)
Other printings known
1 - Ref 160035, Meccano (1971) Ltd

2 - Ref 160035, © 1973 Meccano Ltd
(Added 18/01/20)

The instruction leaflet for set 200. It was a single double sided sheet.
(Ref 160035, Meccano Tri-ang Ltd)
Other printings known
1 - Ref 160035, Meccano (1971) Ltd
2 - Ref 160036, © 1973 Meccano Ltd
3 - Ref 160036, © 1974 Meccano Ltd
4 - Ref 160036, © 1975 Meccano Ltd

The instruction manual for sets 300 and 400.
(Ref 162180, Meccano Tri-ang Ltd)
(Added 18/01/20)
Other printings known
1 - Ref 162180, Meccano (1971) Ltd)
(Added 18/01/20)
2 - Ref 162180, Meccano & Airfix Logos, ©1974
(Added 06/06/21)
3 - Ref 162180, Meccano & Airfix Logos, ©1975

The Caterpillar Track Accessory Pack instruction leaflet.
(Ref 153041, Meccano Tri-ang Ltd)
Other printings known
Ref 153041, Meccano (1971) Ltd

Due to Trade Mark objections by Caterpillar Ltd it was subsequently renamed the Flexible Track Accessory Pack.
(Ref 153041, Meccano & Airfix Logos)

During this period, Boots sold the Set 100 Plastic Meccano set under their own name. thought to date from the mid 1970s.

1977-79

There were four main sets during this era - 'Playpack', '1', '2' and '3'.

The instruction leaflet for the Playpack set. It was a single double sided sheet.
(Ref 160039, ©1976, Airfix Logo)

The instruction leaflet for set 1. It was a single double sided sheet.
(Ref 160041, ©1977, Meccano & Airfix Logos)
(New scans 18/02/20)

The instruction manual for set 2.
(No Ref No., ©1977, Meccano & Airfix Logos)

The instruction manual for set 3.
(Ref 162182, ©1977, Meccano & Airfix Logos)

The Plastic Meccano Parts Check List for the 1977 range.
(Ref 160040, ©1977, Meccano & Airfix Logos)

1979-81

There were two main sets during this era - 'A1' and 'A2'. These were the last sets produced by Meccano(UK) before production stopped due to the Airfix group collapsing

The instruction leaflet for set A1. It was a large double sided sheet.
(No ref no., ©1979, Meccano & Airfix Logos)

The instruction leaflet for set A2. It was a large double sided sheet.
No ref no., ©1979, Meccano & Airfix Logos)

FRENCH MANUALS

Late 1960s

Meccano France also released three sets in the late 1960s, Sets 'A', 'B' and 'C'. These were identical to the UK versions.

The instruction Manual for the French sets A, B and C
(Added 18/01/20)

1971/2-1982

Meccano France released three sets in the 1970s, Sets '1', '2' and '3'. These were identical to the UK '100', '200' and '300' sets. There were at least two printings of these manuals. The only significant differences appear to be the front covers

The instruction Manual for the French set 1
(Added 18/01/20)

The instruction Manual for the French set 2
(Added 18/01/20)

The instruction Manual for the French set 3
(Added 18/01/20)

The instruction Manual for the French set 1

The instruction Manual for the French set 2

The instruction Manual for the French set 3

Sometime - probably during the 1970s Meccano France issued the schools model leaflet in association with the French Government Ministry of Education
Added 18/01/20

1982-88

Following the closure of the UK factory, Meccano (France)replaced the existing range with three new sets - '1 Star', '2 Stars' and '3 Stars'. At present I have not seen any manuals for these sets. If anyone can supply scans it would be appreciated.