Girder and Panel
Bridge and Turnpike/Roadways/Highway
Construction Sets

In 1957 the USA company Kenner Toys introduced some plastic Girder and Panel building kits. These followed modern building practices where a girder framework was built up and then exterior cladding was placed on the outside to create a modern type building. The following year in 1958 they introduced the Bridge and Turnpike kits, which used the same girder framework together with bracing struts and roadways to create bridges. By the early 1960s there was eleven sets in the range. These sets were also sold under license in the UK under the Chad Valley brand name. In 1964 Kenner Toys repackaged the sets in tall cardboard containers with metal tops and bottoms. Production stopped in around 1968.

In 1974 Kenner Toys, now owned by General Mills reintroduced the system, under both Kenner and the Sears brand. The green Masonite base boards were replaced with interlocking plastic plates. Production of these sets stopped in 1979.

In 1992, Irwin Toys of Toronto, Canada obtained permission to use the by now abandoned trademark and restarted manufacturing the Girder and Panel sets. These sets whilst still using the same girder framework were different to what had gone before and were mainly sold in Canada, with a few going to the USA. Not sure when they stopped production.

From 2005 Bridge Street Toys marketed the Girder and Panel system and created a new range of sets, which they marketed in Canada and the USA. These lasted until 2016 when all production stopped.

Manufacturer / Distributor

1957 to 1968: Kenner Products Co., Cincinnati 2, Ohio, USA.
Also: Chad Valley Co Ltd, Harborne, UK (Under license from Kenner, USA)
1974 to 1979: Kenner Products Co., Cincinnati 2, Ohio, USA (part of General Mills Fun Group, Inc), USA
1992 to 2004?: Irwin Toys Ltd., 43 Hanna Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6K 1X6, Canada
2005 to 2016: Bridge Street Toys LLC, Weston, Massachusetts 02493, USA

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

1957 to 1968 (Kenner / Chad Valley)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel Building set 1, introduced in 1957.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Chad Valley, Girder & Panel Building sets 1 & 2.
(Added 19/02/2022)

The 'Planning Book' for the Chad Valley No.2 and No.3 Girder and Panel Building sets. Dated 1958.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)

Photos of the Chad Valley, Junior Girder & Panel Building set.
(Thought to be the same as set 1)
(Added 19/02/2022)

The 'Planning Book' for the Chad Valley, Junior Bridge and Roadways set. Dated 1958.

Photos of the Kenner, Bridge & Turnpike Building set 4, introduced in 1958.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Chad Valley, Bridge & Roadways Building set 4.
(Added 19/02/2022)

The 'Planning Book' for the Chad Valley, No.4 Bridge and Roadways set. Dated 1958.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)

Photos of the Kenner, Bridge & Turnpike Building set 5, introduced in 1958.
(Added 19/02/2022)

The 'Planning Book' for the Chad Valley, No.5 Bridge and Roadways set. Dated 1958.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)

An instruction leaflet for the Bridge and Roadways sets.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)

Photos of the Kenner set 8, combined Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Building set, introduced in 1960.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Chad Valley, combined Girder & Panel and Bridge & Roadways Building set 8.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner set 9: combined Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Building set, introduced in 1960.
(Added 19/02/2022)

The Project Book for the Chad Valley, No. 8 and No.9 Motorised Girder & Panel and Bridge & Roadways Building Sets. Dated 1961.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)

A Chad Valley, instruction leaflet for the Motorised Girder & Panel and Bridge & Roadways Building sets.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)

Photos of the Chad Valley, Girder & Panel set 10: Motorising set.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel set 11: Hydro-Dynamic Building set, introduced in 1961.
(Added 19/02/2022)

A photo of the box of the Chad Valley, Girder & Panel set 11 Hydro-Dynamic Building set.
(Added 04/08/2019)

A Chad Valley, instruction leaflet for using the Hydro Dynamic sets.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)
(Added 04/08/2019)

The project book for the Chad Valley, No. 11 and No. 12 Hydro Dynamic sets. Dated 1963.
(The Kenner version would have been identical)
(Added 04/08/2019)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel Building set 15: Build-A-Home, introduced in 1962.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Chad Valley, Girder & Panel set: Build-a-Home set.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel Building set 17: Skyrail, introduced in 1963.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel Building set 21, introduced in 1964.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel Building set 22, introduced in 1964.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Bridge & Turnpike Building set 24, introduced in 1964.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Bridge & Turnpike Building set 25, introduced in 1964.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner set 27: combined Girder & Panel and Bridge & Turnpike Building set, introduced in 1965.
(Added 19/02/2022)

A leaflet detailing spares for Girder & Panel and Bridge & Roadways Building sets.

A leaflet detailing spares for Girder & Panel and Bridge & Roadways Building sets.

A note giving guidance on dismantling girders from the uprights.

1974 to 1979 (Kenner (part of General Mills))

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel Building set, introduced in 1975.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel set: Action Bridge & Highway set with black girders, introduced in 1976.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Sears, Bridge & Highway Building set with black girders, introduced in 1977.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel set: Action Bridge & Highway set with blue girders, introduced in 1977.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Sears, Bridge & Highway Building set with blue girders, introduced in 1977.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Kenner, Girder & Panel set: International Airport, introduced in 1977.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the KenStruct set: Interstate Highway set, introduced in 1979.
(Added 19/02/2022)

1992 to 2004? (Irwin Toys)

Photo of an advert poster for Irwin Girder & Panel sets, dated 1994.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Irwin, Girder & Panel set: Town Centre.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Irwin, Girder & Panel set: The Architect / Architecte.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Irwin, Girder & Panel set: City Scape.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Irwin, Girder & Panel set: Deluxe Skyscraper.
(Added 19/02/2022)

2005 to 2016 (Bridge Street Toys)

Photos of the Bridge Street Toys, Bridge & Turnpike set: Tektôn Truss Bridge.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Bridge Street Toys, Girder & Panel set: Tektôn Tower Building.
(Added 19/02/2022)

Photos of the Bridge Street Toys, Girder & Panel set: Children's Museum.
(Added 19/02/2022)