Matador Construction Sets

Matador was a simple wooden construction system made in Austria. It is a very old system and was invented in 1899 by Austrian engineer Johann Korbuly (1860-1919). It was patented in 1901 (the same year as Frank Hornby's metal construction system that became Meccano), and started production in 1903. The company was then taken over by Korbuly's sons. It is still being manufactured today by Matador Spielwaren in Markersdorf, Austria. Their website is https://www.matador.at.

New 15/09/2023 - From 1905 to 1939 Matador published a Newsletter called Matadoe Zeitung. All 83 issues can be downloaded from the Matador Zeitung page.

Manufacturer / Distributor

Matador Spielwaren, Markersdorf, Austria

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 this system 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

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

Pre-War Literature

Paper cutting of Matador sets, 1914
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instruction for the Matador Canon set, circa 1914
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for making a Matador crystal radio, 1924
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador experiments with static electricity, 1924
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Physics set
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador electric models, 1928
(Added 25/10/2023)

Parts list for Matador sets, 1934
(Added 25/10/2023)

New parts in Matador set 4, 1935
(Added 25/10/2023)

Parts list for Matador sets, 1937
(Added 25/10/2023)

Parts list for Matador sets, 1938
(Added 25/10/2023)

Contents lists for Matador sets, 1939
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador aircraft models
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Canon set 34K
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Car Engine model 1187
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Clock model
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Farmyard model 1116
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Clockwork Motor (Federmotor)
(Added 25/10/2023)

Info on Matador Clockwork sets 5 to 8
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador - Book 34
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 1 - Book C
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador sets 1 and 2 - Book D
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 3 - Book E
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador - Book F - 36 models
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador - Book F Supplement
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 00Z
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 33F with motor
(Added 25/10/2023)

Post-War Literature

Instructions for Matador models 55.3, 55.7, 55.8, 55.9
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador models 55.4
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador models 55.5 and 55.6
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 00 - 1957
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 0 - 1958
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador Gears set - 1969
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 0 - 1975
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 2 - 1976
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 3 - 1977
(Added 25/10/2023)

Instructions for Matador set 4 - 1977
(Added 25/10/2023)

Parts list for Matador sets - 1950s
(Added 25/10/2023)

Contents list for Matador sets - 1955
(Added 25/10/2023)

Contents list for Matador sets - Nov 1966
(Added 25/10/2023)

Parts list for Matador sets - 1974
(Added 25/10/2023)

Sets and recent literature

Photos of previous Matador sets 1, 2 & 3
(Added 27/02/2022)

Photos of a previous Matador set 2
(Added 27/02/2022)

Photos of a few pages of a previous Matador set 2 manual
(Added 27/02/2022)

Photos of a previous Matador set 3
(Added 27/02/2022)

Photos of the current Matador Maker sets
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Maker set M034
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Maker set M070
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Maker set M108
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Maker set M175
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Maker set M263
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instructions for current Matador Country Maker set
(Added 27/02/2022)

Photos of the current Matador Explorer sets
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Explorer set E099
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Explorer set E222
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Explorer set E318
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Explorer set E407
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instruction manual for current Matador Explorer set E717
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instructions for current Matador Catapult Explorer set
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instructions for current Matador Planes Explorer set
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instructions for current Matador Space Explorer set
(Added 27/02/2022)

The instructions for using the Matador tools
(Added 27/02/2022)