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Meccano Blue/Yellow/Zinc Outfits

In 1970, a new colour scheme was launched for Meccano. The silver painted parts of the mid-60's had already been dropped in favour of zinc plating in the UK, but this colour scheme was never used by the factory in Calais. In fact, French Meccano had missed out on three colour changes. After the war, the Calais factory continued with gold painted strips and blue flexible plates, dropping the pre-war cross-hatched lines. This colour scheme was still in place in 1969. The two factories agreed to 'combine' their colour schemes into one: zinc strips, yellow flexible plates, and blue for flanged plates, pulleys, and circular parts.

The most significant change, however, was the dropping of the number 9 "Master Engineer" Set, and the renumbering of all the lower outfits up by one. Thus, the new outfit 9 was in fact almost exactly the same as the 1969 outfit 8.

Chronological variations

A brief summary of the many changes and new releases during this period is as follows:

1970	New colour scheme of blue/yellow/zinc. Set 9 deleted and all lower outfits 0-8 renumbered 1-9. Sets in new dark blue boxes with silver lettering. Conversion sets renamed from 'a' to 'x', so Conversion set 1x converts a set 1 to a set 2. Sets 3M and 4M released, being the new sets 3 and 4 with the junior powerdrive 4½V motor included. New set 4EL released, which was the new set 4 plus the contents of the old Electrikit, less any duplication. New set 5ME set released, which was the new set 5 plus the Powerdrive motor and some new electronic components.
1971	Pocket Meccano set introduced January 1971.
1972	Clock kits 1 and 2 introduced.
1973	Nuts changed from square to hex (part 37c). Army Multikit and Highway Multikit sets introduced.
1974	Super Highway Multikit set introduced.
1975	Combat Multikit set introduced.
1976	Crane Building set introduced. 2½'' strip (part 5) changed style to have truncated, rather than fully rounded ends.
1977	Standard Meccano sets packaged in new 'unisex' boxes showing pictures of boys and girls playing with Meccano for the first time since the early 1908 Duke Street manual. A disastrous move that positively turned boys off from buying Meccano, obviously.  E15R discontinued and two Marklin motors imported to replace it.

Pictures wanted!

If you have any pictures of missing outfits below, or another picture of an outfit that is better or not quite the same as one that's already here, please help us by sending a copy of it! It would be very much appreciated. You can email it straight to us, or upload it to the Rust Bucket forum...

Meccano Sets

Pocket Meccano

The tiny Pocket Meccano outfit was targeted at a sale price of 25p in 1971. It contains a whole lot more entertainment than its frugal contents might suggest.

It actually sold for 39p as the parts had gone over the original budget, but was still a great success.

To the right are shown a pair of outfits – 1971 at the top (note the black plastic plates showing this to be a very early set, using up old 1960's parts), and 1974 below that with the newer manual and updated box design.

Meccano Set 1

To the left, an early outfit 1 in blue box. To the right, a 1977 version of the same outfit in the later 'unisex' box. It has been (unkindly) pointed out that the girl in the photograph is a substitute for the cat in the 1920's small parts box picture, except that the boy is taking less notice of her.

Meccano Set 2

Meccano Set 3

To the left, the earlier outfit 3; to the right, the 1977 repackaged version.

Meccano Set 4

To the left, an early 70's outfit 4, and to the right the same outfit in the 1977 modified box. Note that the flat trunnions should be placed under the part 1 and over the triangular plates (as in the photo to the right, even though they can slip out!), where there is a notch for them, rather than being pinned under the trunnions like the 'restored' example to the left.

Meccano Set 4EL

Set 4EL contained the normal Set 4 contents, bundled with the previous Electrikit parts. The Electrikit was sold on its own, with a label stating you needed at least an outfit 3 to complete the models, (now set 4 in the 70's), but this was not always noticed by the public.

Note that the lower tray (right) is identical in contents to the Set 4 tray above, but laid out differently.

Meccano Set 5

The new box lid from 1977 is shown to the right. Contents are the same as the pre-1977 outfit to the left.

Meccano Set 5ME

Set 5ME consists of the normal set 5 contents, plus the six-speed Powerdrive motor and a number of electronic components contained in the Electronics Set shown below.
This particular outfit has manuals marked Meccano-Triang, dating it to 1972. Close-ups of the upper and lower tray are shown to the right.

Meccano Set 6

Meccano Set 7

Meccano Set 8

Meccano Set 9

Meccano Set 10

This superb example of a Meccano Set 10 from 1973 spent many years in Peter Matthews' Meccano Museum in Johannesburg. Since 1986 it has belonged to William Irwin. Note that this outfit has grey tyres, even though the 'official' colour of the tyres by this time was black. Meccano would often use up old stocks of parts in less common outfits like the 10.

Meccano Set 10 This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.		10-set top drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.		10-set top drawer revealed This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.
		10-set 2nd drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.
		10-set 3rd drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.		10-set second drawer revealed This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.
		10-set 4th drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, William Irwin Click on this image to see a larger version.

Below, we have another mint outfit.  This one is from slightly later, but still probably 1972-73. The 2'' tyres are still grey, but the 3'' tyres are black. The special screwdriver is wooden. There don't appear to be any spring cord connectors or hooks (parts 58a and 58b), which were introduced to the 10-set in 1973. However, we know that 10-sets in particular were often made with stocks of older parts, so the grey tyres and wooden screwdriver are no surprise.

1972/73 outfit 10 cabinet This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	top drawer overall This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	top drawer middle and lower layers This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	second drawer overall This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.
second drawer lower left This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	second drawer lower middle This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	second drawer lower right This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	third drawer overall This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.
third layer under instruction manuals This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	bottom drawer overall This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	bottom drawer under cards This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	Further pictures of this outfit can be seen in the gallery by clicking here.

To the right is an even nearer mint example, including packaging and the outer shipping crate.  Greg Rahn is obviously time travelling to get outfits like this.  The outfit shown here is dated 1975, and has black tyres and the later (1974-on) aluminium handles on the chest.  As we saw above, 3'' tyres changed to black before the 2'' ones did, but they are both black by this time.		1975 10-set shipping crate This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	1975 10-set in cardboard inner package This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.
1975 10-set top drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	1975 10-set second drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	1975 10-set third drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.	1975 10-set bottom drawer This image does not belong to the webmasters and is copyright. Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner, Greg Rahn Click on this image to see a larger version.

Meccano Conversion Sets

Conversion sets were packed into small cartons, containing plastic bags of parts. The manual for the next outfit (if required) was rolled into the box. You can see that there are only three sizes of box, one for sets 1x, 2x, and 3x, another box the same length and width but twice the depth for sets 4x to 7x, and a similar sized but longer box for set 8x (because of the 18½'' angle girders, part 7a, included in this set).

Conversion Set 1x

Conversion Set 2x

Conversion Set 3x

Conversion Set 4x

Conversion Set 5x

Conversion Set 6x

Conversion Set 7x

Conversion Set 8x

Mechanisms Set

The Mechanisms Set was introduced in 1959, and continued in a new box into the 70's. Although it didn't contain as many useful gears as the Gears Set, it did have plenty of other Meccano parts that came in handy, and a much better manual describing useful simple mechanisms.

Gears Set

The Gears Set was introduced in 1949 and improved as 'Gears Set B' in 1956. It remained most Meccano boys' introduction to gears, as very few outfits contained any useful selection of gears. Even the Set 9 of the 70's had a limited selection.

Electronic Control Set

The new electronic components in the 5ME set were also supplied in this Electronic Control Set, from 1970. "Electronic" is pushing it, as the set consisted of a battery box, light, electromagnet, relay, and connecting wires. The one electronic component was a light-sensitive cell that could switch the relay when the light shone on it.

Caterpillar / Flexible Track Pack

The Caterpillar Track Pack was introduced in 1973, for both metal and plastic Meccano (in slightly different boxes). In 1975, the Caterpillar company complained about the use of their name and Meccano changed the name to "Flexible Track Pack". The contents are identical, both boxes are shown.

E15R Electric Motor

Now showing its age in design terms, the E15R was still a powerful motor. Introduced in 1958, it can be traced back directly to the 1920's motors and was required for most of the 10-set models.

EU1071 Electric Motor

This exceptionally ugly motor was imported from Marklin in Germany to replace the E15R in 1977.  It was, surprisingly, quite powerful and sold for less than the old-fashioned E15R which it replaced.  The objective was to save money by closing down expensive production of lower volume items.

EU1072 Electric Motor

Matching the above for ugliness, the bigger brother EU1072 motor was also imported from Marklin in Germany, and although it was powerful it was far too expensive to sell well, at almost twice the price of the old E15R.

No.1 Clockwork Motor

Still almost unchanged from the original design of 1931, the Clockwork Motor gets a new blue box to match the rest of the sets from the 1970's.

Hand Generator

The Meccano Hand Generator was a short-lived motor accessory bought in from Japan intended to provide power for the Powerdrive motors. While it was interesting that it worked at all, it provided nowhere near enough power to be a satisfactory alternative to a transformer, and wasn't particularly cheap.

Super Tool Set

The 1970's Super Tool Set looks a lot more useful than it is.

Themed outfits

Combat Multikit Set

Highway Multikit Set

Super Highway Multikit Set

The Highway Multikit, along with the other 'themed' sets, were a great success. To expand the range, Meccano added caterpillar tracks to the highway multikit and launched an expanded "Super Highway Multikit" in January 1974. All the models in the Highway Multikit could still be built, and a second manual was included to show the eight new models possible.

Note that the red sprockets in this set have no collet nuts, and are supplied with short black plastic inserts to avoid the need for couplings on the axles. Compare these with the parts in the Caterpillar Track Pack shown above.

Manuals for these outfits

Clicking on the following images will display a copy of the relevant manual for this era of Meccano outfit. Warning – These files are very large (the size is given next to each one). The time it will take to download each one depends mainly on your connection speed. As a rough guide, 10MB takes about 35 minutes to download on a dial-up modem, around 1-2 minutes on 'ordinary' broadband, or as little as 5-10 seconds on a very fast connection. You have been warned!

The best option is almost certainly to click on the manual images with your right mouse button, then select either "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" and save the manual to your computer for viewing later.

Outfit 1 (21MB)	Outfits 2-3-4 (18MB)	Outfits 5-6-7 (33MB)	Outfit 8 (9MB)	Outfit 9 (14MB)
Combat Multikit (7MB)	Army Multikit (12MB)	Highway Multikit (8MB)	Crane Building Set (10MB)	Super Highway Multikit (7MB)

Further information

Jason      (at 10:23am, Mon 18th Aug, 08)

Is the EU1072 ugly? Well, that is open to interpretation! Some might say that this item is a lovely, heavy old-fashioned thing in the "cricket ball" mould which has a bit of power and carries the interesting feature of two built in ratios. It, is however, difficult to see why Binns Road discontinued the long-lived sideplate motor which featured in so many of the 8, 9 and 10 models. I cannot see how the replacement made financial sense, particularly in view of the price of the new unit. Does anybody know how many examples were sold during its short currency? Reply: I don't know how many they sold but it can't have been many at the price. They dropped the sideplate motors during a phase of dropping several labour-intensive manufacturing procedures. Of course, they could and should have farmed out the same product, but presumably the unions would have gone hopping mad if they'd done that.

Jason      (at 11:21am, Mon 1st Sep, 08)

Somebody "in the know" once told me that 1,000 units were sold but this seems quite few. Then again, the item was only marketed from 1977 to 79. The price in the UK in 1979 was nearly the same as a no. 5 set, which was quite a good set to have at the time. Great website, by the way. Very informative. Reply: I don't know, but I think 1000 sounds like a reasonable number. As you say, they were very expensive, and they are apparently not as powerful as they look like they're going to be.

Jason      (at 9:30am, Thu 4th Sep, 08)

Powerwise, they are not bad at all. They contain robust internal gearing, which is just as well because the armature is a fair bit smaller than that of the E15R/E20R. I suppose the attraction of the EU is the fact that it is far more compact than a sideplate fitted with added gearing and it does not suffer from the gearslip which affects quite a few of the six-speed motors [especially on the 60:1 ratio)

Richard      (at 12:27pm, Sun 7th Sep, 08)

Hi, I'm hoping someone in the know can give me a guide and I wont hold you to the info you give. I have 1 x 5ME outfit Dark Blue and Yellow around 1970/71 and 1 X 7 outfit of the same age. Boxes are bashed about and covered in sellotape so I didn't loose all the pieces when moving from house to house as a kid. I'm missing maybe a few bits but 98% all there. Can anyone give me a guide price as to what I may get for each. Your expert knowledge would be appreciated. Thanks Rich Reply: It's a bit hard when we can't see them, but you'll probably get the best prices by putting them on ebay, for international sale by paypal, with good clear photos. At a guess, I would suggest that both a 5ME and a 7 would range from GBP20 for incomplete and bashed to GBP100-120 for mint unopened. It sounds like yours are more like the former, I think. Condition is everything.

Liza      (at 12:01am, Fri 21st Nov, 08)

Hi.I would like to know the price value of the meccano set 7. it is still in the original box and all pieces are in place. all books are in the box. thank you. Liza Reply: As I said above, it's all about condition. Parts well used maybe GBP20, unused and still shrinkwrapped would be over GBP100, used with all parts excellent and checked present perhaps half-way in between.

duncan scrase      (at 2:04pm, Mon 8th Dec, 08)

the hand generator does work i have one, its very difficult to get 12volts out of it but 6/8 volts is easly done. it will power the craine motor no problem. i have stripped the hand generator and i think its well maded for the 70s after a oil and grease it was soon up and generating power again.. can any one tell me what it sold for in the 70s...

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