Meccano Manuals

Manual Print Quantities
1918-1969

Below is noted the approximate print quantities for all English language versions (including known overseas editions) exluding American editions, for manuals from 1918 to 1969. These are based on the manual print codes. All quantities are in thousands. It is only possible to estimate print quantities from 1918 to 1969 as before 1918 print codes were not used and after 1969 the Print Codes were changed to Print References which did not indicate the quantity printed.

It should be noted that up to 1961 only English language versions of the manuals are included, whereas from 1962, the manuals are all multi-language which has the effect of increasing the number of manuals printed.

Print Quantities 1918-21
Year 0 0-3 Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Total
1918 25 100 - 25 - 150
1919 200 450 50 10 - 710
1920 150 210 30 20 - 410
1921 65 140 10 5 15 235
Total 440 900 90 60 15 1505

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1918 to 1921 = 376 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1918 and 1921 = 1505 Thousand (i.e. 1,505,000)

Print Quantities 1922-27
Year 00 0 0-3 Book 1 Total
1922 - 50 160 23 233
1923 5 40 - 11 56
1924 5 80 135 15.5 235.5
1925 25 67.5 130 12.5 235
1926 30 50 120 14.5 214.5
1927 20 85 157.5 23 285.5
Total 85 372.5 702.5 99.5 1259.5

Average number of manuals printed per yearfrom 1922 to 1927 = 209 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1922 and 1927 = 1259.5 Thousand (i.e. 1,259,500)

Print Quantities 1928-35
Year 000 00 00a 0 0a 00-1 1a 00-2 2a 00-3 3a 00-4 4a 4-7
5-7		 Total
1928 - 62.5 - 195 - - - - - 238.5 - - - 45 541
1929 - 75 - 89 - - - - - 106 - - - 17.25 287.25
1930 134.5 106.5 - 266.5 - - - - - 227 - - - 16 750.5
1931 35 29.5 13.25 55 15 44.5 16 20 12 10.75 4.5 7.5 2.5 5 270.5
1932 29.25 53 9 44 10.5 25 10 10 9.1 5.75 2.5 3.5 1 4 216.6
1933 11.5 18 - 40.5 6 23.75 12.4 10.25 - 5 0.25 1.75 0.25 1.15 130.8
1933 25 19 - 4 - - - - - 1 - 1 - - 50
1933 13 2.5 - - - - - - - - - - - 1.5 17
Total 248.25 366 22.25 694 31.5 93.25 38.4 40.25 21.1 594 7.25 13.75 3.75 89.9 2263.65

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1928 to 1935 = 282 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1928 and 1935 = 2263.65 Thousand (i.e. 2,263,650)

Print Quantities (Lettered Manuals) 1934-37
Year O Oa A
O-A		 Aa A-B
O-B		 Ba A-C
O-C		 Ca A-D
O-D		 Da A-E
O-E		 F-L Total
1934 - - 50 7.5 25 7.5 21 6 12 4 12 8.5 153.5
1935 - - 20 4.95 30 4.025 21 3.225 13.55 1.75 11.7 5.6 115.8
1936 58 12 32.5 2 14 3.25 25.5 2.75 12.75 2.3 16.75 7.85 189.65
1936 - 15 15 2.5 12 2.5 6 2 1.5 1 2 2.4 61.9
Total 58 27 117.5 16.95 81 17.275 73.5 13.975 39.8 9.05 42.45 24.35 520.85

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1934 to 1937 = 130 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1934 and 1937 = 520.85 Thousand (i.e. 520,850)

Print Quantities 1937-41
Year 000 0 1 1a 2 2a 3 3a 4 4a 5 5a 6 6a 7/8 9/10 More
Models		 Total
1937 - 60 64 8 105 12 59.5 12 53.5 9 25 6 19 4 11 3 - 451
1938 - 50 45 10 20 10 29 7.5 24 6.5 12 4.5 19.5 3 7.75 2 - 250.75
1939 5 46 64.5 10.5 58 12.75 43 7.5 34 5 14 3.5 13 - 8 - 232 556.75
1940 12 55 130 14 60 15 42 12 25 10 15 6 8.5 - 6.5 1 - 412
1941 - 45 - - - - - 2.75 - - - 3 5 3 4 1.5 - 64.25
1941 10 - 55 12.5 42 15 40 15 16 12.5 10 9 - - - - - 237
Total 27 256 358.5 55 285 64.75 213.5 56.75 152.5 43 76 32 65 10 37.25 7.5 232 1971.75

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1937 to 1941 = 394 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1937 and 1941 = 1971.75 Thousand (i.e. 1,971,750)

Print Quantities 1945-47
Year 0 1 1a 2 2a 3 3a 4 4a 5 5a 6 6a 7/8 Total
1945 61.25 91.25 14 77 17 64.75 16 17.75 13.5 8.25 9 - - - 389.75
1946 85 65 10 75 7 95 5 57.5 2.5 52.5 2.5 30.25 5 5 497.25
1947 75 56 15.5 55 17 50 20.5 38.5 15 26 11 49 2 20 450.5
Total 221.25 212.25 39.5 207 41 209.75 41.5 113.75 31 86.75 22.5 79.25 7 25 1337.5

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1945 and 1947 = 445 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1945 and 1947 = 1337.5 Thousand (i.e. 1,337,500)

Print Quantities 1948-53
Year 0 0a 1 1a 2 2a 3 3a 4 4a 5 5a 6 6a 7/8 9 10 Total
1948 37.5 20 85 26 70 28 82.5 28 44 20 39 21 38 13 22.5 4.5 - 579
1949 11 - 40 22.5 40 22.5 35 22.5 30 17.5 15 15 42 17.5 35 11.6 3 380.1
1950 49 20 116 25 130 22.5 124 25 96 22.5 71 17.5 92 15 53 6.5 1.5 886.5
1951 75 - 90 27.5 85 27.5 70 30 60 25 45 27 50 20 25 6 3 666
1952 30 17.5 50 17.5 40 20 40 22.5 27.5 17.5 17.5 10 15 - 10 - - 335
1953 32.5 - 71 10 60 15 56 15 48 12.5 22.5 7.5 3 10 - 2 2.3 367.3
Total 235 57.5 452 128.5 425 135.5 407.5 143 305.5 115 210 98 240 75.5 145.5 30.6 9.8 3213.9

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1948 to 1953 = 535 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1948 and 1953 = 3213.9 Thousand (i.e. 3,213,900)

Print Quantities 1954-61
Year 00 0 0a 1 1a 2 2a 3 3a 4 4a 5 5a 6 6a 7/8 9 More
Models		 Total
1954 55 90 35 100 50 95 52.5 90 50 60 20 38 32.5 40 20 27 2.5 - 857.5
1955 35 50 - 85 - 85 - 70 20 45 20 25 12.5 27.5 - 10 4 - 489
1956 60 25 - 183 17.5 195 20 110 25 84 15 27.5 10 36 7.5 13.5 1 - 830
1957 60 75 10 65 12.5 70 12.5 50 20 35 7.5 10 10 12.5 - 10 3 - 463
1958 35 55 12.5 60 17.5 60 15 55 7.5 35 10 21 - 16 6 7.5 - - 413
1959 15 77.5 10 100 10 105 10 25 10 22.5 10 10 10 10 5 - 2.5 - 432.5
1960 20 25 - 30 26.5 30 31 130 30.5 82 27 64 10 33.5 5 5 - 15 564.5
1961 16 27 10.5 99.5 5.5 95 8.5 63.5 14 66 6.5 8.5 - 6 - 7 0.6 40 474.1
Total 296 424.5 78 722.5 139.5 735 149.5 593.5 177 429.5 116 204 85 181.5 43.5 80 13.6 55 4523.6

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1954 to 1961 = 565 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1954 and 1961 = 4523.6 Thousand (i.e. 4,523,600)

Print Quantities 1962-69
Year 0/1 1 2/3 4/5/6 7/8 More
Models		 Total
1962 650 - 303 256 22.3 42 1273.3
1963 - - 100 90 - - 190
1964 325 - 200 90 15 - 630
1965 300 - 150 90 - - 540
1966 - 400 300 180 15 - 895
1967 - 275 250 90 15 - 630
1968 - 150 100 100 - - 350
1969 - 365 285 40 - - 690
Total 1275 1190 1688 936 67.3 42 5198.3

Average number of manuals printed per year from 1962 to 1969 = 649 Thousand.

Total number of manuals printed between 1962 and 1969 = 5198.3 Thousand (i.e. 5,198,300)

Print Quantities of Pre-war 'Other' Manuals 1926-36
Year New/Prize
Models		 Standard
Mechanisms		 How to Use
Meccano Parts		 Steam
Engine		 Total
1926 - 5 - - 5
1927 - 10 - - 10
1928 35.5 18 - - 53.5
1929 20 51 - 35 106
1930 21 - 35 5 61
1931 20 - 30 - 50
1932 15 - - - 15
1933 - 3 2.65 - 5.65
1933 - - - - 0
1933 - - - - 0
1934 10 15 - - 25
1935 - 3.7 15.1 - 18.8
1936 - 11 - - 11
1936 - - - - 0
Total 121.5 116.7 82.75 40 360.95

Average number of New/Prize Model manuals printed per year from 1928 to 1934 = 17 Thousand.

Average number of Standard Mechanisms manuals printed per year from 1926 to 1936 = 10 Thousand.

Average number of How to Use Meccano Parts manuals printed per year from 1930 to 1935 = 13 Thousand.

Average number of Steam Engine manuals printed per year from 1929 to 1930 = 20 Thousand.

Total number of Pre-War 'Other' manuals printed between 1926 and 1936 = 360.95 Thousand (i.e. 360,950)

Print Quantities Gears & Mechanisms manuals 1949-69
Year Gears A Gears B & Gears Mechanisms Total
1949 40 - - 40
1950 35 - - 35
1951 25 - - 25
1952 - - - 0
1953 12.5 - - 12.5
1954 22.5 - - 22.5
1955 20 - - 20
1956 - 30 - 30
1957 - 22.5 - 22.5
1958 - 10 - 10
1959 - 10 36 46
1960 - 25 - 25
1961 - 10 - 10
1962 - 10 - 10
1963 - 15 75 90
1964 - - - 0
1965 - 15 75 90
1966 - 15 10 25
1967 - - - 0
1968 - 10 - 10
1969 - 15 - 15
Total 155 187.5 196 538.5

Average number of Gears manuals printed per year from 1949 to 1969 = 16 Thousand.

Average number of Mechanisms manuals printed per year from 1959 to 1969 = 17 Thousand.

Total number of Gears & Mechanisms manuals printed between 1949 and 1969 = 538.5 Thousand (i.e. 538,500)

Print Quantities for Pre-War Supermodel Leaflets 1928-36
Leaflet 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 Total
SML1 10 - 5 - 2.5 - 5 - - 22.5
SML2 10 - - - - - - - 0.5 10.5
SML3 10 - - - - - - - - 10
SML4 10 - - - - - - - - 10
SML5 10 - - - - - - - 0.5 10.5
SML6 10 - - - 1 - - - 0.6 11.6
SML7 5 - 1 - 1 - 4.5 - - 11.5
SML8 10 - - - - - - - - 10
SML9 10 - - - - - 4.5 - - 14.5
SML10 10 - - - - - 4.5 - - 14.5
SML11 10 - 1 1 1.5 - 4 - 0.5 18
SML12 10 - 1 - 1.5 - - - - 12.5
SML13 10 - - - - - 4 - 0.5 14.5
SML14 5 - - 3 - - - - - 8
SML15 5 - - - - - - - - 5
SML16 10 - - - - - - - - 10
SML17 5 - - - - - - - - 5
SML18 5 - - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML19 5 5 - - - - 4 - - 14
SML20 - 5 - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML21 5 - - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML22 5 - - 1.5 - - 4.5 - - 11
SML23 5 - - - - - - - - 5
SML24 - - - - - - 7.5 - 0.4 7.9
SML25 5 - - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML26 5 - - - - - - - - 5
SML27 5 - - - - - - - - 5
SML28 5 - - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML29 5 - - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML30 - 5 - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML31 - 5 - - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML32 - 5 - - - - - - - 5
SML33 - 5 - - - - - - - 5
SML34 5 - - - - - - - - 5
SML35 - - 5 - - - - - 0.5 5.5
SML36 - - 5 - - - - - - 5
SML37 - - 5 - - - - - - 5
Total 205 30 23 5.5 7.5 0 42.5 0 7.5 321

Average number of SML leaflets printed per year from 1928 to 1936 = 35 Thousand.

Average number of SML leaflets printed per model from 1928 to 1936 = 8 Thousand.

Total number of SML leaflets printed between 1928 and 1936 = 321 Thousand (i.e. 321,000)

Print Quantities for Early Model Leaflets 1921-27
Leaflet 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 Total
Motor Chassis 5.5 - 2 1 - 2 0.5 11
Loom 2 - 1 1 - 1 1 6
Ship Coaler - - - - 1 - 1 2
Clock - - - 1 - - - 1
Total 7.5 0 3 3 1 3 2.5 20

Average number of model leaflets printed per year from 1921 to 1927 = 2 Thousand.

Average number of model leaflets printed per model from 1921 to 1927 = 5 Thousand.

Total number of model leaflets printed between 1921 and 1927 = 20 Thousand (i.e. 20,000)

Print Quantities for Outfit 10 Leaflets 1954-69
Year 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 Total
1954 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 - - - - - - - - 30
1955 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 50
1956 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - - - - - 36
1957 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0
1958 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 - - - - - - 2
1959 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 - - 1 3
1960 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0
1961 - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.5 0.5 - 3
1962 2 - 2 2 2 2 2 - - 2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2 - 2 1.5 1.5 2 29
1963 - - - - - - - 1.5 1.5 - - - - - - 1 - - - - 4
1964 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0
1965 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0
1966 1.5 1.5 - - - 1.5 1.5 - 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 - - - - - - - - 12
1967 - - - 1.5 1.5 - - 1.5 - - - - 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 - 1.5 1.5 - 13.5
1968 - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - 2 6
1969 2 2 - - - 2 2 - 2 2 2 2 - - - - - - - - 16
Total 13.5 13.5 12 11.5 11.5 13.5 13.5 11 13 13.5 13 13 6.5 6.5 6 6 7.5 6 6 7.5 204.5

Average number of No.10 leaflets printed per year from 1954 to 1969 = 12 Thousand.

Average number of No.10 leaflets printed per model from 1954 to 1969 = 10 Thousand.

Total number of No.10 leaflets printed between 1954 and 1969 = 204.5 Thousand (i.e. 204,500)

Total number of manuals/leaflets printed from 1918 to 1969 = 23239 Thousand (i.e. 23,239,000)

Page content last updated - 9 August 2013