Meccano to be sold on Friday 20th March at Vectis 

 It was on a long train journey to Birmingham to join relatives for the Christmas season that Frank Hornby is said to have had “…the sudden inspiration…” which led in 1901 to the commercial introduction and patenting of Meccano. Initially marketed as ‘Mechanics Made Easy’ this was shortened to ‘Meccano’ in 1907.

The popularity and longevity of Meccano could be put down to the fact it is more than just a toy but a learning experience that was initially aimed at fathers and sons but today encompasses the whole family. 

For one collector the appeal of Meccano was to last decades resulting in the setting up of a small dedicated Museum of Meccano. 

This collection is now being offered for sale at Vectis and includes five factory constructed display models of Windmills, Tipping Wagon, Twin Star Wheel and an unusual 1970’s Dinky Toy Display Bridge. 

There are further demonstrator models including motorised versions of cars, airplanes, space ships, traction engines and a steam wagon. Accessories, manuals starting from the 1920’s and covering several decades, books, Elektron outfits and construction sets pre and post war are also on offer.

Meccano Specialist Mike Delaney said “One of the most interesting pieces in the auction is the 24 Horse Carousel which is powered by an electric motor and includes a dummy steam engine, with over 120 lights and organ music cassette recorder built into the power supply unit.  It would make a great focal point being quite a striking piece finished with a red and white striped top cover and Meccano Flags.

The Meccano Museum Collection will be sold as part of the Model Train and Meccano Sale on Friday 20^th March 2020.

For more information on this Meccano Sale please contact –

Mike Delaney, Vectis Oxford Office - + 44 (0) 1993 709 424  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Or

Tom McCallum, Vectis Head Office - + 44 (0) 1642 750 616  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

JM02

The Vectis TV & Film Auctions are always a much-anticipated events and this one was no different. The usual superb offering of Star Wars items included vintage graded figures. Additionally, there were more modern Hasbro (Kenner) releases from a collection of an Ex -Hasbro employee and superb One-Off Hand Made Figures used for marketing purposes. A gauntlet of board games from Monopoly to Space Crusade and Dungeons and Dragons. Most of the Hasbro recent ranges were represented - My Little Pony, Spice Girls and other fashion dolls, Transformers, Power Gladiators and others. Also, in this sale was the collection of an ex Project Manager at Innovision Research and Technology which has some fascinating concept works of CommTech prototype chips for Star Wars Episode I. Further delights included Transformers, WWF, Karate Kid, TMNT and prototype carded figures for Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. The sale also had a cross section of Trading and Pokémon cards, Vectrex Computer Game System, Action Man, Star Trek and more!

Part 2 of the Ricardo Cortes-Monroy collection is to be held on the 18^th of March. Part 1, which was held in December 2019, and regarded as one of the top Yesteryear collections in the world, produced some fantastic prices realised. This sale will also feature further pre-production and colour trial models. Other items include late issue model groups, Fire engine series, a large collection of Code 2 issues including 50^th Anniversary Models of Yesteryear and Major Packs; Fred Bronner Corporation US issue blister packs and Lesney Giftware series, plus others.

The Model Train & Meccano Auction held on Friday 21st February at the Vectis Thornaby Auction Rooms comprised over 600 lots of Hornby Dublo, 2 and 3 Rail, American Outline, Marklin and Wrenn plus accessories, catalogues, books and magazines. Additionally, there were a strong selection of British and French Meccano sets, outfits, parts, figures and more unusual items such as Crazy Inventor Series, radio-controlled sets and Elektron. The sale also included general trains, kit-built items, live steam, pictures and other constructional toys.