Vern Ellis’s MECCANO — Did You Know?
Did you know that in 1906, the new A to E boxes
contained Angle Girders?
Listed in the sales leaflet was a new beginner’s box
‘X’ and an Accessory box ‘X1’; the six models
included a Rope Railway and a Windmill. The Bent
Strips and the 9½” Perforated Strips were deleted.
New part numbers ran to 40.
A “Tested” Electric Motor, suitable for Mechanics
Made Easy outfits, was mentioned in the Instruction
Book.
1906 also had a mystery elementary outfit, which in
the Mechanics Made Easy manual was listed as a
Children’s edition. The Worm had to have two keys
to overcome the end thrust. Ball Cord was used to
simulate bracing. The Bent Strips resembled the
modern Single Bent Strip and 2½” × 1″ Double Angle
Strip.
It is a possibility that the old boxes were sold off
under the “mystery” Simplified Mechanics name.
The big stores in Liverpool and London included
some Mechanics Made Easy models in their
Christmas displays and in their advertisements. They
also described Mechanics Made Easy in their retail
catalogues as “Boys Best Toy”.
In the 1906/7 Clyde Model Dockyard catalogue a
“Great Competition” was announced with 100 prizes.
In 1901 the Mechanics Made Easy outfits had