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Parts 28 & 29: Contrate Wheels
The term 'contrate wheel' is a fairly unusual synonym for what is more often known as a crown wheel (because its appearance is similar to a crown). For the first few years, Hornby referred to this as a "contrite wheel" (sic), but at least that was corrected. The word 'contrate' is probably only still used today because of its inclusion in the Meccano system.
28 | Contrate wheel, 1½'' 50t | 1902 | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | N°8 | |
29 | Contrate wheel, ¾'' 25t | 1902 | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | N°8 |
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The parts
Two very early parts in the Meccano system, designed to transmit drive when the axles are at 90 degrees. Later on, bevel gears were introduced to do the job better, but contrates were by that time stamped out from sheet brass and thus much cheaper to make. Although they were only included in outfits from 8 upwards in the 1937-on sets, they were included in the Gears outfit and thus are very common parts.They are also used as clutches, since a pair of equal size mesh perfectly and only take a fraction of a revolution to do so (unlike the dog clutch, which can take up to half a revolution). The 50-tooth part 28 also meshes perfectly with a 50-tooth gear part 27. Since the large contrate is a common part with 8 holes it is often used as the crown wheel on a differential, and the smaller contrates used inside the differential instead of bevels. Sadly, part 28 was never made with six holes and therefore cannot be easily used to make a spur differential.
Chronological variations
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Please do not download or copy it for any purpose. It has been
kindly provided for use on this site by the image owner,
Clive Weston
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,
Richard Payn
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,
Michael Conduit
Variations and oddities
Here's a strange duck – a nickel-plated contrate. The stamping appears to be late pre-war (about mid-30's), but it is nickel plated as you can see by the brass one next to it. The tappings are brass internally, showing that it appears to have been nickel plated before it was tapped. Perhaps it was dropped in the nickel tank by mistake, says Michael Conduit?
All images on this site are copyright. This particular image belongs to the
webmasters, and you may copy it for your personal use, or for a non-
commercial website - if you credit the source. All other rights reserved.
Tighten the nut slowly and the boss will come out cleanly. You can then press it in the other side, as shown on the example to the right. This is a very useful space-saving part, and might even pass as "genuine Meccano" depending upon how strictly you interpret the rules!
Dealer spare parts boxes
Individual part numbers
Part numbers for the parts on this page are as follows: Unique part numbersFor 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 | 28 | 29 |
---|---|---|---|
Milled from solid brass, squared profile, feather key | 02 | .mm | .mm |
Milled from solid brass, squared profile, feather and tongue key | 07 | .mm1 | .mm1 |
Milled from solid brass, squared profile, tongue key | 07 | .mm2 | .mm2 |
Milled from solid brass, squared profile, tongue key, wide teeth | ?? | .mm2a | |
Stamped out with square profile, 1911 boss, tongue key | ?? | .mm2b | |
Brass with rounded profile, patent boss, tongue key | 11 | .mm3 | .mm3 |
Brass with rounded profile, deep flange, 1911 boss, single-tapped | 12 | .br4 | |
Brass with rounded profile, patent boss single-tapped | 12 | .br1 | .br1 |
Brass with two holes, patent boss single-tapped | ?? | .br1a | |
Brass with eight holes, patent boss single-tapped | ?? | .br1b | |
Brass with standard boss, single-tapped | 21 | .br2 | .br2 |
Brass with standard boss, double-tapped | 28 | .br3 | .br3 |
Brass, post-war stamped, double-tapped | 45 | .br | .br |
Yellow plastic, marked Meccano England, long brass pummel | 79 | .ye | |
Yellow plastic, marked Meccano England, short brass pummel | 79 | .ye2 | |
Yellow plastic, marked Meccano and bar, brass pummel | ?? | .ye1 | |
Black plastic, brass pummel | 93 | .bk | |
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
Total number of messages on this page: 7. This is page 2 of 2.
michael conduit (at 2:47pm, Sun 20th Jul, 08) |
I have a post war part 28 which is silver coloured so probably nickel plated. The double tappings are brass so the plating was done before the threads were cut and are likely original. |