Condor Construction Sets
(Costruzioni Meccaniche)

Condor (also known as Costruzioni Meccaniche) was a Meccano-like construction system. It was produced in Italy from around 1960 to the early 1980s. It was preceded by DISCO LUDENDO and the earliest Condor sets were identical to it.

Early Era - In the earliest era there were six sets which went from 00 to 4 and part 28 was a circular flanged wheel with gearing (like Disco Ludendo) (see note below). Note that the flexible plates were painted red on one side and blue on the other like the later Disco Ludendo set parts. The manuals for this era was identical to the later Disco Ludendo manuals (including the front cover) except that inside the manual the words 'Disco Ludendo' were replaced by 'Condor'. Note that in this earliest era the 'Condor' logo was circular (it had also been on the later Disco Ludendo manuals).

Middle Era - Following this, there were two further distinct periods to Condor sets. A middle era where there were seven sets (sets 1 to 7) in the range. The flanged circular plate (part 28) was replaced by a pulley (see note below) and the design of the trunnions and curved strip changed. A few extra parts were also added. The 'Condor' logo was changed to a triangular shape.

Late Era - Finally in the later era an extra set was inserted in the range between sets 4 and 5. Sets 5 to 7 were then renumbered as sets 6 to 8. At some point during this later era, an additional set (number 9) was added to take the range to nine sets. This additional set essentially doubled the contents of the number 8 and only added two new types of flexible plates, namely 7x3 and 7x9 holes.

Note - the oldest version of CONDOR (like its predecessor DISCO LUDENDO) is characterized by incorporating (as AMI / LAC and BRAL do in their high numbers) circular flanged plates of 65 mm. diameter (part 28) (copied from MÄRKLIN) with their corresponding toothed couplings (which also exist for pulleys 25 mm in diameter), and by the peculiar design of the strips 5-hole curves and of flat and flanged trunnions. This 65mm flanged plate with toothed gearing was then replaced fairly early on by a 68mm pulley. Note that part 28 was assigned to both parts.

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

Early Era (Condor[a])

(Part 28 is a circular flanged plate with gearing - see note above)

Manufacturer / Distributor

Condor S.N.C., Milano, Italy

The MCS document for this system is shown below. It 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

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

NOTE : If the 'Other Systems Newsletter' pages for CONDOR [a] do 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

An early Condor set 0 manual. Note that this manual is the same as the later Disco Ludendo manuals except that 'Condor' replaces 'Disco Ludendo' inside the manual
(Added 21/06/2020)

An early Condor set. Note that the manual looks the same as the later Disco Ludendo manual
(Added 15/06/2020)

Photos of early Condor sets from an Ebay listing. Note the circular flanged wheel with gearing and the flexible plates painted red on one side and green on the other like the later Disco Ludendo sets.
(Added 19/09/2020)

Middle Era (sets 1 - 7) (Condor[b])

(Part 28 is changed to a pulley - see note above)

Manufacturer / Distributor

Condor S.N.C., Milano, Italy

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

The CONDOR manual for set 3 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)

The CONDOR manual for set 4 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)

The CONDOR manual for sets 5 to 7 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)

Later Era (sets 1 - 8 (later 9)) (Condor[c])

Manufacturer / Distributor

Condor S.N.C., Milano, Italy

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

The CONDOR manual for set 4 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)

The CONDOR manual for set 5 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)

A circa 1980s CONDOR manual for sets 6 and 7 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)
(Added 21/01/2023)

A circa 1980s CONDOR manual for sets 8 and 9 (in Italian, French, English and Spanish)
(Added 21/01/2023)