1937-1941

Overview

NEW - Now includes downloads of most of this eras manuals - NEW

In 1937 a completely new range of Meccano outfits was introduced. The previous lettered sets O - L were replaced by sets 0 - 10. This was the start of the well known No.10 Outfits. Virtually all the models were either new or heavily revised. There were only a few models (mainly in the smallest outfits) which were kept unchanged.

It should be noted that the early 1930s 000 Outfit complete with cardboard coloured parts continued in limited production during this period for the overseas markets only. Of interest is that it was reintroduced to the UK in 1940 - almost certainly because of wartime conditions. Details and scans of any other printings of this manual would be gratefully received.

The following manuals were issued:-
Main outfit manuals : 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7/8, 9/10
Accessory outfit manuals : 1A. 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A
'More New Models' Manual (1939) : 0-3, 4-6, 7-10
EO6/EO20 Motor - Model Leaflet (1938)
Outfit 000 & associated 000 More Models Leaflet
(See the 'Theme' section for the Mechanised Army Outfit)

There were a few significant changes to the manuals during this era. In 1938 the shorter strip plates were withdrawn and were replaced in models by flexible plates. In 1940 outfits 0 - 10 had at least one manual model changed.

American Editions

In 1937/8 after a gap of several years, Meccano outfits were once again sold in America. These outfits whilst looking like Liverpool products, were on close inspection almost certainly mainly produced in America by A.C. Gilbert (manufacturer of Erector), although a Liverpool manuafactured parts were included. See Kendick Bisset's website on Meccano in the United States for more details on these outfits.

Outfits 1-4, 6 & 7 are believed to have been available. The manuals for these outfits were printed in England by Meccano Ltd. Apart from having an American address on the front cover, they were identical to normal Liverpool manuals.