Editing Meccano (section)

=== First sets ===
[[file:Meccano Set, Edinburgh Museum of Childhood.JPG|thumb|An early Meccano set on display in the [[Museum of Childhood (Edinburgh)|Edinburgh Museum of Childhood]]]]

In 1901 [[Frank Hornby]], a clerk from [[Liverpool]], England, invented and [[patent]]ed a new toy called "Mechanics Made Easy" that was based on the principles of [[mechanical engineering]].<ref name="patent">{{cite patent |country=GB |number=190100587 |status=patent |title=Improvements in Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People |pubdate=1901-11-30 |gdate=1901-11-30 |fdate=1901-01-09 |pridate=1901-01-09 |inventor=Frank Hornby }}</ref> It was a model construction kit consisting of perforated metal strips, plates and girders, with wheels, pulleys, gears, [[shaft collar]]s and axles for mechanisms and motion, and nuts and bolts and set screws to connect the pieces. The perforations were at a standard {{convert|1/2|in|mm|1}} spacing, the axles were [[Standard wire gauge|8-gauge]], and the nuts and bolts used {{convert|5/32|in|mm|1}} [[British Standard Whitworth|BSW]] threads. The only tools required to assemble models were a [[screwdriver]] and [[Wrench|spanners (wrenches)]]. It was more than just a toy: it was educational, teaching basic mechanical principles like [[lever]]s and [[gear]]ing.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The parts for Hornby's new construction kit were initially supplied by outside manufacturers, but as demand began to exceed supply, Hornby set up his own [[factory]] in Duke Street, Liverpool. As the construction kits gained in popularity they soon became known as Meccano and went on sale across the world. In September 1907, Hornby registered the Meccano [[trademark]], and in May 1908, he formed [[Meccano Ltd]]. To keep pace with demand, a new Meccano factory was built in Binns Road, Liverpool in 1914, which became Meccano Ltd's headquarters for the next 60 years. Hornby also established Meccano factories in France, Spain and [[Argentina]]. The word "Meccano" was thought to have been derived from the phrase "Make and Know".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mecworld.co.za/jmh/jmh/articles_files/what_is_meccano/whatismec.htm |title=What is Meccano?|work= Johannesburg Meccano Hobbyists |first=Patrick |last=O'Shea |access-date=17 July 2007}}</ref>

[[file:Meccano-Pears-Advert-1920.jpg|alt=Advertisement in Pears' Annual Christmas 1920.|thumb|left|Advertisement in ''Pears' Annual Christmas'', 1920]]

The first construction sets had parts that were rather crudely made: the metal strips and plates had a [[tinplate]] finish, were not rounded at the ends and were not very sturdy. But manufacturing methods were improving all the time and by 1907 the quality and appearance had improved considerably: the metal strips were now made of thicker [[steel]] with rounded ends and were [[nickel]]-plated, while the wheels and gears were machined from [[brass]].

The first sets under the new Meccano name were numbered 1 to 6. In 1922 the No. 7 Meccano Outfit was introduced, which was the largest set of its day, and the most sought after because of its model building capabilities and prestige.

In 1926, to mark the 25th anniversary of his patent, Hornby introduced "Meccano in Colours" with [[red]] and [[green]] coloured Meccano pieces. Initially plates were a light red and items like the braced girders were a pea-green. However, the following year strips and girders were painted dark green, the plates Burgundy red, while the wheels and gears remained brass. In 1934, the Meccano pieces changed colour again: the strips and girders became [[gold (color)|gold]] while the plates were changed to [[blue]] with gold criss-cross lines on them, but only on one side, the reverse remaining plain blue. This new colour scheme was only available in the United Kingdom until the end of the [[Second World War]] in 1945. The old red and green sets were still produced for the export market and were re-introduced in the UK after the war.