Meccano Model Exhibition 1986
Report written by Robin Lake for our January 1987 Newsletter
Saturday 4 October 1986
Eltham United Reformed Church
Eltham
Models on Display
Here’s a list of some of those who showed models at our 1986 exhibition. Other models were also on display at the exhibition, but their owners did not give me a note and so there is no record available. Some of these unknown models were brought by visitors from other clubs and we are very grateful for their support.
Gareth Dean — Lorry; Small see-saw; Simple band-saw from the May 1966 issue of Meccano Magazine.
Phillip Edwards — 1:10 scale Caterpillar 235 excavator. Not quite complete — after 2.5 years! It will eventually use six motors and 200 watts.
John Westwood — 1912 American Avery Traction Engine, designed by Dr. Keith Cameron.
Joyce Schoolar — Noah’s Ark; Sailor; Gymnast in nickel from modified early designs.
Eric Schoolar — An ingenious, if not incredible, executive toy.
Eric Humphries — Simplified block-setting crane, especially adapted for use by the mentally handicapped to assist in the co-ordination of hands, ears and eyes.
Robin Lake — Two-speed and reverse Datsun truck; Clockwork tricyclist (‘stop me and buy one’); Variable-fall drop hammer; Electric wind-up giro; Demonstration of power steering; Demonstration of auto-control of arm motion and of auto-control of continuous rotation.
Adrian Ashford — Pre-war T. F. type Green Line coach, with three-speed and reverse gearbox, plus narrow-strip leaf springs.
Oliver Paine and Co. — Amazon class frigate, 30” long, with guns, radar, helicopter etc. A very neat model.
Frank Palin — Super Models Leaflet 29 Hammerhead crane, with string instead of chain drive to the crab. It used a 6V motor and rechargeable batteries.
David Myford — Modified hand loom from issue 59 of Meccano Magazine; Heald-making machine; Universal-chassis railway wagon.
Christopher and Ron Gould — London Transport double-decker tram, on four-foot track, with power collection via plough — very unusual?
Les Maher — Four-foot long block-setting crane with grab, operated by five motors, and fully remote controlled. It is interesting to note that 85 Axle Rods, 92 feet of Angle Girders and nine feet of Sprocket Chain were used in the construction. Nuts and Bolts not yet counted!
Jim Arthur — ‘Hercules’ showman’s traction engine; 1:12 scale railway service crane; Giant, floor-standing, level-luffing crane; Clockwork paint mixer.
Melvyn Down — Single-cylinder horizontal steam engine, with Howe’s reversing-link motor, plus sun and plant crank and governor — based on one of three of these units which powered a needle factory in Norfolk about 1885.
Francis Paine — Factory-assembled shop display model of Tower Bridge — found in the basement of a local toyshop — with motorised bascule and flashing lights.
David Smithers — High-rise crane.
Stan Bedford — Monorail locomotive.
Bert Halliday — Meccanograph and the patterns produced by it.
Bert and Betty Love — In the Hall they had three elementary models built with the new Meccano sets (these models were made especially for the Toy Fair), plus some updated Binns Road display models, such as a traction engine and climbing acrobat. In the Sales Room at the rear Bert had a contra-rotating star wheel with coloured lamps.
Special Exhibition Display
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Frank Hornby’s death, some Hornby Trains and a number of models from the past were on show. These included: A motor tractor, 1.167 (1929); An aeroplane, 1.29 (1929); A railway wagon, (circa 1925) by Robin Lake; and a couple of anti-aircraft guns of 1939 and 1977 by Jim Arthur.
Traders
John Westwood was selling copies of his Meccano Collecting and The Meccano Constructor’s Guide, using his own stand made of Meccano — of course! Eric Humphries, Frank Palin, John Longbon, Bert and Betty Love, and Melvyn Down were amongst those with Meccano for sale. John Longbon had a massive collection of second-hand Meccano, some in mint condition, on two self -supplied tables.