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Part 38/38d: Washers

38	Washer	1909	-	200	200	85	N°00
38a	Plastic spacer	1990	-
38d	Washer, ¾''	1937	-	n/a	n/a	4	N°3	part 217b until 1946

The parts

The picture to the right shows the three parts on this page. To the left, the standard 3/8" washer, in the middle the larger 3/4" washer, and on the right the much later (1990's) black plastic spacer, which is really a substitute for the collar (part 58), but lives here because it was given the part number 38a.

Chronological variations

The early washer is a bit of a mystery. The part is shown as being introduced in 1909, but doesn't turn up anywhere until the Inventor's Outfit A of 1915. It wasn't included in outfits until 1922, when it was suddenly included in quantity (200!) in the largest outfit 7.

The larger washer is a much later part. Originally introduced as a small disc in the X-series Meccano, it was included in the Meccano range in 1937 as "Disc, 3/4'' diameter" and part 217b. After the war the part was renumbered and renamed to be the more familiar ¾'' washer, part 38d. It appears that most pre-war Meccano discs are stamped Meccano (see picture of type 38d.ni2 below), and most post-war washers aren't stamped. Not certain here, though...

Variations and oddities

None known

Dealer spare parts boxes

The picture to the right shows the standard 50's spare parts boxes for parts 38 and 38d, very common spare parts as there were rarely enough in an outfit. Interestingly, the small paper envelope is for part 38d's, showing that these envelopes were in used immediately after the war (pre-war, this would have been a part 217d).
Later, the same parts were supplied in plastic bags with a yellow printed rectangle showing the part numbers. These date from the 60's.

Individual part numbers

Part numbers for the parts on this page are as follows:    Unique part numbers
For identification, each variation has been given a suffix to the main Meccano part number. These suffixes consist of a two-character code for the colour, and if there are many variations, a further number and sometimes letter code to identify each variation. See the bottom of the 'Parts' page for further details.

You don't need to worry what the codes are, just click on any one for a photograph.

The button above turns on and off the display of DMS numbers (where they are known). The DMS (Development of the Meccano System, Hauton and Hindemarsh) published in 1972 and added to in 75 and 82, suggested part numbers for every variation of every Meccano part. These numbers aren't perfect, but they are recognised and also referenced in the EMP (Encyclopedia of Meccano Parts, Don Blakeborough).

Description	from	38	38a	38d
Nickel-plated 21swg disc (X-series part X477 only)	32			.ni1
Nickel-plated 21swg disc, part 217b, stamped MECCANO	37			.ni2
Nickel-plated (38=18swg, 38d=21swg)	09	.ni		.ni
Blackened steel †	51-52	.bs		.bs
Zinc plated	73	.zn		.zn
Blackened steel † (Army/Combat)	73	.bs1		.bs1
Matt brass plated † (Highway)	73	.mb		.mb
Iridescent	79	.ir		.ir
Black plastic	90		.bk
		ALL	ALL	ALL

Please send us pictures of missing parts! Hints and tips for pictures
Take a picture of the part in very good light, preferably on a plain yellow background, without a flash but with a tripod.
Ideally, trim the picture to about 150 pixels per inch of the Meccano part (unless the part is particularly big or small), save it as a reasonably good quality jpg file with a filename of exactly the part number, for example 19b.ni1.jpg, and email it to us by clicking on 'Contact us' at the top of the page. Thanks!

• A greyed-out box shows that no part exists for that colour combination.
• Part number codes with a green background have an attached picture of the part, just click once on the code to show a photograph of that part in a separate window.
• Parts marked "†" were temporary or economy parts, or existed only within specific themed outfits. The previous part continued throughout or afterwards.

Further information

T Gant      (at 2:53pm, Tue 8th Sep, 09)

As per Nick's comment, though I recall finding three distinct thicknesses of brass plated washer in the late 70's.

Nick Rodgers      (at 12:41am, Thu 12th Jul, 07)

What happened about the discussion on Spanner re the thin version of washer that was brass plated?

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