Editing Meccano (section)

== Compatible kits ==

Some model [[construction kits]] are compatible with Meccano. One example is the Swiss brand {{Interlanguage link|Stokys|de}}, which has been manufactured since 1941. Their elements are mainly made of thick stable metal in order to fit to the general approach of [[Swiss Made|Swiss Quality]]. Other examples are Exacto and {{Interlanguage link|Metallus (construction kits)|de|3=Metallbaukasten}}.

Meccano has always had several compatible products on the market (such as X-Series Meccano, Plastic Meccano, Mogul Toys and Speed-Play). In 2007, a plastic robot named "[[Spykee]]" arrived. The robot is controlled using a WiFi interface and has a webcam but cannot climb stairs as is sometimes claimed. It can also be controlled over the Internet and configured as a security camera. The robot is primarily packaged in a single plastic base component and comprises additional bolt-on plastic parts that are present for aesthetic purposes only (i.e. the arms do not function). The robot base does include some standard Meccano hole spacing. By September 2008, the Spykee robot family numbers five, with each robot having different capabilities.

Since the 1920s, construction kits compatible with Meccano were manufactured in the Soviet Union.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} They did not have a uniform colour scheme, parts could be in any colour. Usually the strips and girders were not painted, and the plates could be either unpainted or painted in red, yellow, and blue. In the 1970s, plastic parts were introduced. The {{transliteration|ru|ISO|Krugozor}} ({{langx|ru|Кругозор}}, "Outlook") plant in Moscow produced some sets which included electrical motors and gears. The largest set of the 1970s–1980s was called {{transliteration|ru|ISO|Yunost-3}} ({{langx|ru|Юность-3}}, "Adolescence-3") and contained about 200 parts. The {{transliteration|ru|ISO|Yunost}} ("Adolescence") series were practically identical to Meccano sets with the same number,{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} but there is no evidence of larger sets (equivalent to No. 4 or larger) being produced. There were instructions for building 44 models. Today, many similar kits, mostly Russian and Chinese-produced, are being sold in Russia.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Unlike the Czech [[Merkur (toy)|Merkur]] sets, the Soviet ones used mixed [[Metric system|Metric]] and [[Imperial units|Imperial]] measurements despite the latter having been abandoned in Russia since the 1920s. The spacing between holes was {{convert|12.7|mm|frac=16|order=flip}} and the hole diameter was {{convert|4.3|mm|frac=12|order=flip}}, but the nuts and bolts included were metric.

From the mid-1910s, in the US, there was a system called [[Erector Set|Erector]], invented by A.C. Gilbert. Erector was largely compatible with Meccano. A.C. Gilbert died in 1961, and the company went into decline, filing for bankruptcy in 1967. After several changes of ownership, in 2000, Meccano bought the Erector brand and unified its presence on all continents.