(Il Costruttore) Bral
Il Costruttore Meccanico
Meccanico

Il Costruttore Meccanico was the name given by Bral to its construction system. For a while in around the 1970s it was called Il Costruttore Bral. The system was made in Italy from the early 1920s to 2004. The system can be divided into several phases. At first the sets were numbered from 000 to 4. In 1952 they were renumbered to 1 to 9 with some additional sets added into the sequence. In the later phases the set contents gradually reduced although there was still sets from 1 to 9.

In the 1970s Bral also produced sets under the 'Meccanico' and 'Costruttore Meccanico' names for sale by other brands/stores. See the bottom of this page.

Grateful thanks to the Italian website http://meccanopassion.altervista.org/scatole.htm for the very helpful details of chronology and information on the Bral system. I have though divided the first phase into two as the manuals were completely revamped in circa 1950. Unfortunately it is very difficult to date Bral sets/manuals or other literature as none of the manuals, catalogues etc., have any dates on them.

See the following pages for Bral Elettro and the car, aeroplane and spaceship sets.

(Il Costruttore) Bral / Il Costruttore Meccanico

Manufacturer / Distributor

Roberto Braglia, Milan, Italy
Later: BRES S.R.L, Milan, Italy (same address)

The MCS document for this system is shown below. It can also be downloaded to your computer if desired here

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Pages from the 'Other Systems Newsletter' which contain information on this system are shown below. They can also be downloaded to your computer if desired here

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The report can be zoomed into, made full screen or downloaded as a pdf document by using the controls provided

Below there are manuals/leaflets and photos which can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate image.

Pre-War (sets 000-4) - to circa 1945

The system originated in the 1920s, but very little information is available about the early sets. The two manuals shown here date from circa 1935 to 1945 (based on the company's address). They are interesting in that the models fall into two categories. Those which use normal post-war parts, and those which use what is assumed to be earlier but now obsolete parts. Some of these are - Angle girders and flanged plates, where the flange has alternate round holes and longitudinal slotted holes (over two holes), Flanged Sector plates which are 6 holes long instead of 8 holes and braced girders which have the Meccano type bracing. Each set could be expanded and transformed into the next through the purchase of an add-on/conversion set.

Below there are manuals/leaflets and photos which can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate image.

A circa 1935-45 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) for set 1.
(Added 17/11/2022)

A circa 1935-45 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) for set 4.
(Added 17/11/2022)

Post-War Phase 1a (sets 000-4) - Late 1940s

In the initial post-war phase there were big changes to the manuals with a large number of new models, many to supersede the models shown in the immediate pre-war manuals, which had obsolete earlier parts shown in them. Each set could be expanded and transformed into the next through the purchase of an add-on/conversion set.

A phase 1a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 3 and 4.

Post-War Phase 1b (sets 000-4) - Circa 1950 to 1952

In circa 1950 there were again big changes to the manuals with a large number of new models. The manual cover was also changed. The rear cover now advertised Bral Electric Trains, which it is thought were introduced in the late 1940s. Each set could be expanded and transformed into the next through the purchase of an add-on/conversion set.

A phase 1b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 0.
(Shows models for sets 000-0)

A phase 1b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 1.
(Shows models for sets 000-1) (Added 17/11/2022)

A phase 1b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 2.
(Shows models for sets 000-2)

An interesting transition manual. Inside it is a phase 1b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for sets 000 to 3. However the cover refers to the renumbered phase 2 set 7
(N.B. It is thought that the old set 3 was similar to the new set 7).

Post-War Phase 2 (sets 1 - 9) - 1952 to late 1960s

In the second phase the sets were renumbered 1 to 9. These were released in the 1952 and had lots of parts and became by far the most successful phase during the system's existence. It was an expensive construction system but was probably rightly considered a good educational construction system, so it became the main construction system of many boys. Each set could be expanded and transformed into the next through the purchase of an add-on/conversion set. Sets 1 to 5 were made of cardboard, and sets 6 to 9 were made of wood with wooden trays. Set 5 was also in the wooden packaging, but the three trays were made of cardboard. The manual front covers used the same image as phase 2 manuals.

The manuals of this phase can be split into three sub-phases:-
Phase 2a - Manuals have small colour parts pictures on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover (probably 1950s).
Phase 2b - Manuals have small colour parts pictures on inside of front/rear covers and Bral motors and electric trains on rear cover (probably late 1950s / early 1960s).
Phase 2c - Manuals have larger colour parts pictures in centre of manual and Bral motors on rear cover (Probably mid to late 1960s (Bral electric trains stopped in 1963).
Phase 2d - Manual covers changed to same as the following phase 3, but with phase 2 pages internally. (Probably late 1960s)

Phase 2a

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 1.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 3.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 2 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) set 3.
(Added 17/11/2022)

A phase 2a Bral Il (Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 4.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 5. (Models for sets 1 to 5)
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 6.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 7.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 8.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2a Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 9.
(No colour parts picture, set 8 models in colour and Bral electric trains on rear cover)

Phase 2b

A phase 2b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 1.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral motors and electric trains on rear cover)
(Added 04/11/2023)

A phase 2b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 2.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral motors and electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2b Bral Il (Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 4.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers (more parts than previous manual) and Bral motors and electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2b Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 4A. (Models for set 5 only)
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers and Bral motors and electric trains on rear cover)

A phase 2b Bral Il (Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 6. With ad for Elettrobral in middle.
(Small colour parts picture on inside of front/rear covers (more parts than previous manual) and Bral motors and electric trains on rear cover)
(Added 07/03/2024)

A phase 2b era advert for Elettro Bral. Found stapled to the middle of the previous set 6 manual.
(Added 07/03/2024)

Photos of a phase 2b Bral Il (Costruttore Meccanico) set 6.
(Added 07/03/2024)

Phase 2c

A phase 2c Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 3.
(Larger colour parts picture in centre of manual and Bral motors on rear cover)

Phase 2d

A phase 2d Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 4.
Cover as per phase 3 but with phase 2 internal pages.
(Colour parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)

A phase 2d Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 5.
Cover as per phase 3 but with phase 2 internal pages.
(Colour parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)
(Added 14/09/2023)

Photos of a phase 2d Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) set 5.
(Added 14/09/2023)

Post-War Phase 3 (sets 1 - 9) - late 1960s to early 1980s

With the third phase, probably released in the late 1960s, Bral changed the cover of the instruction manual and the image on the box. The manuals no longer stated at the top of every page which set could build the model. They decreased the contents of the sets and stopped selling add-on/conversion sets. However despite the decrease in parts, the sets still remained interesting, allowing builders to indulge and refine their ingenuity. They continued to be in cardboard boxes for sets up to 5 and in wood with polystyrene trays for the following ones. The boxes up to 5 were contained a single thermoformed plastic tray, of little thickness and structurally not adequate for holding the pieces. For at least part of the time during this phase the sets were called 'Il Costruttore Bral'. Suspect that this may have been to differentiate the sets during the period when Bral supplied sets to other brands/stores under the 'Meccanico' name.

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 3.
(Colour parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)
(Added 04/11/2022)

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) manual for set 3.
(Black and white parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)

A different (later?) phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) manual for set 3.
Interestingly, apart from a few models near the rear of the manual, it is nearly identical to the set 3 Meccanico manual at the bottom of this page.
(Black and white parts pictures at end of manual and blank rear cover)

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 4.
(Colour parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)
(Added 17/11/2022)

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) manual for set 4.
(No parts pictures in this manual and various Bral products on rear cover) (Added 17/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) set 4.
Note that although the set is 'Il Costruttore Meccanico', its manual is titled 'Il Costruttore Bral'.
(Added 17/11/2022)

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) manual for set 5.
(Colour parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)
(Added 04/11/2022)

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) manual for set 5.
(Black and white parts pictures in centre of manual and various Bral products on rear cover)
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) set 5.
Note that although the set is 'Il Costruttore Meccanico', its manual is titled 'Il Costruttore Bral'.
(Added 17/11/2022)

A phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) manual for set 6.
(Colour parts pictures at rear of manual)
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 3 Bral (Il Costruttore Bral) set 6.
(Added 04/11/2022)

A phase 3 Bral Il (Costruttore Meccanico) advertising brochure.
(Added 07/03/2024)

Post-War Phase 4 (sets 1 - 9) - early 1980s to early 1990s

The fourth phase came out in the early 1980s. Probably in 1984. The contents of the sets were further reduced both in number of parts and in buildable models. Bral changed the numbering of the parts and, continuing in a logic already started with the third phase, the boxes contained types of parts not necessary for the construction of the models present in the instruction manual. The sets up to 5, consisting of a single thermoformed tray, continued to be sold in cardboard boxes. the box for set 6 was made of both wood and cardboard and contained three polystyrene trays while those for sets 7 and up were only made of wood, with polystyrene trays.

A phase 4 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) 'Componenti Base' leaflet dated 1984.
(Added 14/09/2023)

A phase 4 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 3.
(Added 14/09/2023)

Photos of a phase 4 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) set 3. Box is dated 1984.
(Added 14/09/2023)

A phase 4 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) 'Componenti Base' leaflet undated.
(Added 04/11/2022)

A phase 4 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for set 5.
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 4 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) set 5 (Art.90005).
(Added 04/11/2022)

Post-War Phase 5 (sets 1 - 9) - early 1990s to mid 2000s

The fifth phase probably came out in the early 1990s and the content was, if possible, further reduced. Thermoformed plastic trays for all boxes; cardboard boxes up to number 6 and wooden boxes from 7 onwards; No more booklet until 6, but only a brochure with a dozen models and 7 rather sparse booklets. Some time later Bral produced a series of sets with identical contents to that of the "low numbered" sets, calling them "300", "400", "500" and "600". Along with these sets or shortly afterwards he also produced the corresponding motorized versions, calling them 450, 460, 470 and 480.

Along with this last series Bral also produced sets aimed at the construction of a single model or sometimes just a few models, (a car, a motorcycle, a van, an airplane ...). These had therefore lost their function of stimulating the inventiveness of the boys. Production ceased in the first five years of the second millennium.

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) System 2 set (Art.90002).
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) System 5 set (Art.90005).
(Added 04/11/2022)

A phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for the Elikit set (Art.90053).
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) Elikit set (Art.90053).
(Added 04/11/2022)

A phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for the Sidekit set (Art.90055).
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) Sidekit set (Art.90055).
(Added 04/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) Idrokit set (Art.90058).
(Added 04/11/2022)

A small brochure from 2002 advertising some Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) sets.
(Added 17/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) Aeroplane set from 2002 (Art.100011).
(Added 17/11/2022)

Photos of a phase 5 Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) Dragster set from 2002 (Art.100028).
(Added 17/11/2022)

Other manuals and leaflets

A Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) manual for the Gear set.

A Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) brochure from about 1960.

A Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) illustrated parts list.

A Bral (Il Costruttore Meccanico) advertising leaflet.

A Bral general catalogue and price list that contains info on all Bral products including 'Il Costruttore Meccanico'.
The catalogue is undated, but an accompanying letter (also scanned) is dated September 1965.
(Added 08/08/2022)

A compilation of various Bral advertising literature.
(Added 14/09/2023)

Meccanico

These sets were made my Bral to be sold by other brands/stores during the 1970s.

Manufacturer / Distributor

Unknown Manufacturer

The MCS document for this system is shown below. It can also be downloaded to your computer if desired here

NOTE : If the MCS document does not appear in the window below, then refresh the page.

The report can be zoomed into, made full screen or downloaded as a pdf document by using the controls provided

NOTE - The 'Other Systems Newsletter' pages displayed further up this web page, may also include information on this system/era.

Below there are manuals/leaflets and photos which can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate image.

A Meccanico manual for set 3. On the manual it says 'Gioco Scientifico Istruttivo', which translates as 'Scientific Educational Game'
(Added 17/11/2022)

Photos of a Meccanico set 3. On the box it says 'Gioco Scientifico Istruttivo', which translates as 'Scientific Educational Game'
(Added 17/11/2022)