Erector Set

A metal building kit is a modular, models can be manufactured with the metal from different parts. These models can be either fictitious or made ​​after submission.

Development and dissemination

The best known in Germany metal kits are the "Stable" Walther, the boxes of the company as well as the Märklin has become known under the name Trix system. Worldwide, developed by Frank Hornby modular system "Meccano " was widespread, its technical standards, in particular the hole spacing of 1/2 inch = 12.7 mm, now regarded as the international standard. In all about 450 often very short-lived brands and systems have been established. Given the competition from plastic kits like LEGO or fishing technology and electronic toys was the economic success of the metal kits since the 1970s decline. The production of STABLE - kits was set in 1970, Märklin TRIX METAL and disappeared after stepwise reductions in 1999 from the market, but the unique anniversary edition of a thematically oriented Märklin Large kit was released in 2004 ( excavator ). Only the originally developed in the GDR kits for the brand "Construction" and the Czech branded " Mercury " will continue to be offered in significantly improved form, finally, the first in 1942, developed by the brothers Stockmann in Switzerland system of Stokys - kits, which is despite its peculiarities to the value specified by "Meccano " technical standards oriented and is therefore compatible.

A special feature in the metal modular system is a modular series of the GDR, where the first pneumatic is used in this modular world that has the possibilities in model substantially expanded. The kits P01 ( pressure air compressor ), P02 ( pneumatic controls and drives ) and P03 ( electro-pneumatic controls and drives ) the ORSTA model technique designed circa 1983 in the VEB Kombinat ORSTA hydraulic Leipzig and the building blocks P01 and P02 in the VEB hydraulic Dippoldiswalde manufactured in series. The kit P03 was developed in the VEB industrial plants Karl- Marx-Stadt and produced in only 100 pieces. With this modular computer-controlled robot models were built.

A renaissance of metal construction sets paves the one by the activity of companies, which produce in large scale replicas of Märklin and MECCANO parts and thus serve a worldwide fan community. In Germany METALLUS is now internationally known manufacturer of such replicas. On the other hand come in recent times more and more robot kits of metal on the market. A German manufacturer with a very wide range of products is the company EITECH from Pfaffschwende. This company offers not only the traditional metal construction sets, but also drive units and accessories such as solar cells and fuel cells for alternative energy.

As the first company offers the RCEE GmbH of Bremen since 2011, under the brand tronico colored model kits are made ​​of metal with licenses. The focus is very much on licenses in the field of agricultural machinery, tractors or tractor preferably called and Construction. The licenses for Germany is currently the brands Fendt, Claas, Massey Ferguson and Krampe. Toy Fair 2012 for the future model range includes brands MB trac, MB Unimog, Valtra, Liebherr, Linde and crown were presented.

Prehistory

The precursor of the metal kit is the " model kit", which was developed by Gustav Lilienthal, the brother of the aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal. The Lilienthal kit consisted of perforated strips of wood and cladding panels made ​​of cardboard, with which the voids could be filled between the strips. The patent for this kit was submitted by Otto Lilienthal, since Gustav Lilienthal put through a recently lost to the process also developed by him Stone Blocks in financial difficulties. In the patent from 1888 states:

Now it was only a small step from wood construction to bolted metal parts.

Julius Weiss reported from Hamburg in 1892 under patent number 67599 for a patent for a " bridge kit" - now from stamped metal parts - at. The box was actually marketed in 1896 by Richter, Rudolstadt, discontinued due to lack of success but after only one year.

The real breakthrough became the only metal construction with the patent by Frank Hornby in Liverpool ( GB) (1901 ), which incorporated the first time wheels in his system. First marketed under the name " Mechanics Made Easy", from about 1908 under the name "Meccano ".

Brands and compatibility

The number of producers was particularly in the mid-20th century and especially in Germany (East and West ) in size. The most important feature for compatibility is the hole spacing, are secondary hole diameter and tread width.

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