Meccano

Backblipped for 1st July

The purpose of our break was to attend the Meccano Exhibition in Skegness - a resort more familiar to me as a holiday venue when I was small. Mr Flum, a budding engineer, was a keen Meccano modeller, still has much of his collection, selected pieces of which have been used for repairs around the house.

In 1901 Frank Hornby, a clerk from Liverpool, England, invented and patented a new toy called "Mechanics Made Easy" that was based on the principles of mechanical engineering.[2] It was a model construction kit The only tools required to assemble models were a screwdriver and spanners (wrenches). It was more than just a toy: it was educational, teaching basic mechanical principles like levers and gearing.
The parts for Hornby's new construction kit were initially supplied by outside manufacturers, but as demand began to exceed supply, Hornby set up his own factory in Duke Street, Liverpool. As the construction kits gained in popularity they soon became known as Meccano and went on sale across the world. In September 1907, Hornby registered the Meccano trade mark, and in May 1908, he formed Meccano Ltd.

Displays of intricate working models abounded, from the Laxey Wheel to the Falkirk Wheel, Switzerland's Pilatus Cogwheel Railway and a complete depiction of Brooklands Garage, complete with vehicles and tools. However, for blip I've chosen this depiction of magician Tommy Cooper, modeled by Roger Marriott, as Mr Flum tells me it uses the older components, which have evolved over the years. Along with exhibits were stalls showing clones of Meccano (copies under different names) from foreign countries, complete vintage sets in mint condition (if you have £800-odd to spare) and several stalls of literature and spare parts.

We were entertained in the foyer by a super jazzband, the California Feetwarmers, who were to appear in the Tower Gardens later but, though we planned to attend, the weather thought otherwise;  we gave up the idea of sitting outdoors in torrential rain and went for dinner. Sod's law meant that by the time we ate the sky was blue...