Meccano
The invention that started the cogs turning…
Frank Hornby’s original patent to self assemble a Railway Crane out of infinitely interchangeable parts
A Meccano-built traveling crane as seen in 2022 at Rainhill Model Railway Show on Merseyside
A stunning large-scale Princess Elizabeth locomotive built from Meccano. It was on display at an exhibition held at Christ Church, Waterloo, Liverpool in 2022
Here’s a link to the North West Meccano Guild’s website -
North West Meccano Guild
A basic Plastic Meccano set
Modern post-Meccano factory Red Arrows ‘flying’ from the FHHC ceiling in Maghull. They were on sale as kits in the early 2000s
Following the sad demise of Liverpool’s Meccano Factory in 1979 production of Meccano started up once again in France as this YouTube video explains -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbGkNy2_ZjE
2025 Update - On seeing a brand new Meccano set on sale at a major UK retailer in November ‘25 we checked who the producer currently is.
It seems Meccano is currently made by a network of partners under the ownership of Canadian company Spin Master.
The last Meccano producing factory, which was located in France, closed in 2024, with production continuing through Spin Master's global partners in Europe, Asia, & Latin America.
We wonder what Liverpool-born and world famous Maghull resident Frank Hornby would think of today's Meccano offerings nearly 90 years since his death?
Peter Schofield - Building a Meccano tri-engine biplane from scratch
An overall view of a Meccano biplane
Peter’s model prototype view of a Meccano biplane
Meccano really does span many generations.......
At its inception, the invention was not referred to as Meccano, but was named “Mechanics Made Easy”, the intention was to educate children by the means of a toy which very closely modelled the world in which they lived.
In Frank Hornby’s own words:
“One Christmas Eve I was travelling from London to Birmingham to spend the holiday with a relative who had some children. I had been wandering on the way there what I could do to amuse them. The train stopped and I looked out of the window quite idly. We were opposite a goods yard and there was a small crane there. It occurred to me that I could make a crane like that for the children using strips of steel. I sat in the carriage dreaming about it. New possibilities kept coming; I saw what this new game could mean. I was drunk with delight when I got out of the train. Meccano started in my workshop.”
A Meccano truck on display at Maghull’s FHHC, built by Meccano expert & our Trustee - Jim Gamble
A more modern Meccano Motorised Set No.6 on display at the FHHC
Two great examples of Meccano-built model steam locos displayed at Christ Church, Waterloo, Liverpool in 2022
Plastic Meccano for younger children was produced from 1965.
This simple crane model is on display at the Frank Hornby Heritage Centre having been donated by the North West Meccano Guild.
‘The Plastic Meccano Nut’ website explains the Plastic Meccano story
Plastic Meccano History link
A giant wooden Meccano windmill on display at the Frank Hornby Heritage Centre in Maghull. We think it was constructed for a toy fair for the Meccano company. We don’t have all of its parts though.
A Pre-Second World War Meccano plane displayed at Heywood Model Railway Society Show, Rochdale - November 2025
‘Flying’ over a model railway layout
Detailing still to be done but looking great - November 2025
Maghull's Frank Hornby Heritage Centre has been fascinated to learn how Peter Schofield designed/built a tri-engine biplane in Meccano. The plane, an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy Mk1 City of Glasgow, was indeed a famous aircraft of its day.
It was flown, in June 1928, by Captain Gordon P Olley from Croydon to Edinburgh Turnhouse in a race with the LNER's world famous Flying Scotsman locomotive. The plane won by 15 mins.
Peter's prototype is to the left, with the present stage of construction (November 2025) being the twophotos above. The photo (left above) is a detailed Meccano plan of a very similar aircraft.
Peter has more detailing work to do to complete his project but it's a delight to see Meccano building/designing being done in 2025.