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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352551 is a reply to message #352485] Sat, 16 September 2017 07:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: J. Clarke

On 15 Sep 2017 14:54:33 GMT, Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se>
wrote:

> On Thu, 2017-09-14, Bob Eager wrote:
>> On Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:10:56 +0000, Jorgen Grahn wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 2017-09-12, Huge wrote:
>>>> On 2017-09-12, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>>> ...
>>>> > Here in the UK, I had Meccano (which was invented about ten years
>>>> > before Meccano).
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps a minor brain-fart here?
>>>
>>> It's the UK -- they have the Tardis, too.
>>>
>>> /Jorgen
>>
>> To clarigfy again - Meccano was invented in the UK about 10 year sbefore
>> Erector in the USA - although the USA inventor said he had the idea
>> independently.
>
> BTW, Meccano is the one that's well-known in Sweden. I had to google
> Erector to convince myself it wasn't just another name for Meccano.
>
> Never owned either in the 1970s. I had LEGO. Also Plasticant:
> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticant

And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
introduced by a third
party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352632 is a reply to message #352551] Sat, 16 September 2017 19:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Fred Smith

On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
> introduced by a third
> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.

I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a
computer controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously
strong robots with Meccano; the major complaint about anything
Lego is that it tends to fall apart under mild strain.

Of course, you may prefer that for your children, but growing up
with Meccano, I learnt great respect for open gearboxes and
especially the damage you can do to your hand when a flat bladed
screwdriver slips...
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352638 is a reply to message #352632] Sat, 16 September 2017 20:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: J. Clarke

On Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:48:25 +0000 (UTC), Fred Smith
<fred@thejanitor.corp> wrote:

> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>> introduced by a third
>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>
> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a
> computer controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously
> strong robots with Meccano; the major complaint about anything
> Lego is that it tends to fall apart under mild strain.
>
> Of course, you may prefer that for your children, but growing up
> with Meccano, I learnt great respect for open gearboxes and
> especially the damage you can do to your hand when a flat bladed
> screwdriver slips...

Yep. Sliced myself more than once with Erector, and while the motor
was spring wound and weak, it could still pinch you real good.
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352654 is a reply to message #352632] Sun, 17 September 2017 05:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Bob Eager

On Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:48:25 +0000, Fred Smith wrote:

> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>> introduced by a third
>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>
> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a computer
> controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously strong robots
> with Meccano; the major complaint about anything Lego is that it tends
> to fall apart under mild strain.

I think that it was too late by then. By the time compute controllers
were economically viable, Meccano had largely fallen into disuse, part;y
due to neglect by whoever owned it at the time.

In the 1960s, they did produce an 'Elektrikit', which provided lights,
etc and did enhance whatever kit you had.

--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352655 is a reply to message #352638] Sun, 17 September 2017 05:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Bob Eager

On Sat, 16 Sep 2017 20:47:47 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:

> On Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:48:25 +0000 (UTC), Fred Smith
> <fred@thejanitor.corp> wrote:
>
>> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>>> introduced by a third
>>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>>
>> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a computer
>> controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously strong robots
>> with Meccano; the major complaint about anything Lego is that it tends
>> to fall apart under mild strain.
>>
>> Of course, you may prefer that for your children, but growing up with
>> Meccano, I learnt great respect for open gearboxes and especially the
>> damage you can do to your hand when a flat bladed screwdriver slips...
>
> Yep. Sliced myself more than once with Erector, and while the motor was
> spring wound and weak, it could still pinch you real good.

Same with Meccano. And at least one of the electric motors had
significant torque.

--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352656 is a reply to message #352632] Sun, 17 September 2017 05:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mausg is currently offline  mausg
Messages: 2483
Registered: May 2013
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2017-09-16, Fred Smith <fred@thejanitor.corp> wrote:
> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>> introduced by a third
>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>
> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a
> computer controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously
> strong robots with Meccano; the major complaint about anything
> Lego is that it tends to fall apart under mild strain.
>
> Of course, you may prefer that for your children, but growing up
> with Meccano, I learnt great respect for open gearboxes and
> especially the damage you can do to your hand when a flat bladed
> screwdriver slips...


+=1. Specially about lego falling apart. Very basic Lego is still
great fun.

--
greymaus.ireland.ie
Just_Another_Grumpy_Old_Man
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352679 is a reply to message #352656] Sun, 17 September 2017 09:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jmfbahciv is currently offline  jmfbahciv
Messages: 6173
Registered: March 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
mausg@mail.com wrote:
> On 2017-09-16, Fred Smith <fred@thejanitor.corp> wrote:
>> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>>> introduced by a third
>>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>>
>> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a
>> computer controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously
>> strong robots with Meccano; the major complaint about anything
>> Lego is that it tends to fall apart under mild strain.
>>
>> Of course, you may prefer that for your children, but growing up
>> with Meccano, I learnt great respect for open gearboxes and
>> especially the damage you can do to your hand when a flat bladed
>> screwdriver slips...
>
>
> +=1. Specially about lego falling apart. Very basic Lego is still
> great fun.
>
The local news reported that one guy's lego sets were stolen. He
had $15K worth. What he didn't understand is why the robbers
didn't take the instructions.

/BAH
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352685 is a reply to message #352654] Sun, 17 September 2017 13:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: J. Clarke

On 17 Sep 2017 09:02:24 GMT, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:

> On Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:48:25 +0000, Fred Smith wrote:
>
>> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>>> introduced by a third
>>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>>
>> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a computer
>> controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously strong robots
>> with Meccano; the major complaint about anything Lego is that it tends
>> to fall apart under mild strain.
>
> I think that it was too late by then. By the time compute controllers
> were economically viable, Meccano had largely fallen into disuse, part;y
> due to neglect by whoever owned it at the time.
>
> In the 1960s, they did produce an 'Elektrikit', which provided lights,
> etc and did enhance whatever kit you had.

Meccano is still in business you know--and they do now have their own
programmable products.
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352686 is a reply to message #352685] Sun, 17 September 2017 13:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Bob Eager

On Sun, 17 Sep 2017 13:47:42 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:

> On 17 Sep 2017 09:02:24 GMT, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:48:25 +0000, Fred Smith wrote:
>>
>>> On 2017-09-16, J Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> And about ten years back a Meccano-compatible robotic system was
>>>> introduced by a third
>>>> party--<https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products>.
>>>
>>> I think Meccano really dropped the ball by not introducing a computer
>>> controller, a la Lego Mindstorms. You can make seriously strong robots
>>> with Meccano; the major complaint about anything Lego is that it tends
>>> to fall apart under mild strain.
>>
>> I think that it was too late by then. By the time compute controllers
>> were economically viable, Meccano had largely fallen into disuse, part;y
>> due to neglect by whoever owned it at the time.
>>
>> In the 1960s, they did produce an 'Elektrikit', which provided lights,
>> etc and did enhance whatever kit you had.
>
> Meccano is still in business you know--and they do now have their own
> programmable products.

It is now a pale shadow of the original company, unless I am missing
something. They seem to sell little but kits of parts for a given model,
and there is no way, it seems, of buying 'extra bits'.



--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352702 is a reply to message #352686] Sun, 17 September 2017 16:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bert is currently offline  bert
Messages: 56
Registered: August 2012
Karma: 0
Member
On Sunday, 17 September 2017 18:55:00 UTC+1, Bob Eager wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2017 13:47:42 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
>> Meccano is still in business you know--and they do now have their own
>> programmable products.
>
> It is now a pale shadow of the original company, unless I am missing
> something. They seem to sell little but kits of parts for a given model,
> and there is no way, it seems, of buying 'extra bits'.

Modern labour overheads make it commercially uneconomic
to offer a spare parts service. Find your nearest Meccano
club/society (all listed on the International Meccanomen
web site) and the secretary will put you in touch with
one of the steadily increasing number of ageing Meccano
enthusiasts who have acquired more Meccano than they will
ever be able to use.
--
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352705 is a reply to message #352702] Sun, 17 September 2017 17:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Bob Eager

On Sun, 17 Sep 2017 13:44:19 -0700, bert wrote:

> On Sunday, 17 September 2017 18:55:00 UTC+1, Bob Eager wrote:
>> On Sun, 17 Sep 2017 13:47:42 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
>>> Meccano is still in business you know--and they do now have their own
>>> programmable products.
>>
>> It is now a pale shadow of the original company, unless I am missing
>> something. They seem to sell little but kits of parts for a given
>> model,
>> and there is no way, it seems, of buying 'extra bits'.
>
> Modern labour overheads make it commercially uneconomic to offer a spare
> parts service. Find your nearest Meccano club/society (all listed on
> the International Meccanomen web site) and the secretary will put you in
> touch with one of the steadily increasing number of ageing Meccano
> enthusiasts who have acquired more Meccano than they will ever be able
> to use.

I suspect that they made more money on spare parts than they did on
'kits'.

I *know* one can get used stuff like that, but it's fiddly to say the
least. I used to walk into the local dealer (a tool shop, as it happens)
and buy whetever I wanted then and there.



--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352930 is a reply to message #352485] Wed, 20 September 2017 05:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Kerr-Mudd,John

Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> wrote in
news:slrnornqd9.14au.grahn+nntp@frailea.sa.invalid:

> On Thu, 2017-09-14, Bob Eager wrote:
>> On Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:10:56 +0000, Jorgen Grahn wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 2017-09-12, Huge wrote:
>>>> On 2017-09-12, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>>> ...
>>>> > Here in the UK, I had Meccano (which was invented about ten years
>>>> > before Meccano).
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps a minor brain-fart here?
>>>
>>> It's the UK -- they have the Tardis, too.
>>>
>>> /Jorgen
>>
>> To clarigfy again - Meccano was invented in the UK about 10 year
>> sbefore Erector in the USA - although the USA inventor said he had
>> the idea independently.
>
> BTW, Meccano is the one that's well-known in Sweden. I had to google
> Erector to convince myself it wasn't just another name for Meccano.
>
> Never owned either in the 1970s. I had LEGO. Also Plasticant:
> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticant
>
> /Jorgen
>

I had Bilofix (sic!) a wood and plastic combo for less adept fingers
(also caused less damage to said fingers!)
http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/File:Bilofix-master-building-box1 5.jpg
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352932 is a reply to message #352930] Wed, 20 September 2017 06:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Bob Eager

On Wed, 20 Sep 2017 09:24:43 +0000, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:

> Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> wrote in
> news:slrnornqd9.14au.grahn+nntp@frailea.sa.invalid:
>
>> On Thu, 2017-09-14, Bob Eager wrote:
>>> On Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:10:56 +0000, Jorgen Grahn wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 2017-09-12, Huge wrote:
>>>> > On 2017-09-12, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>> ...
>>>> >> Here in the UK, I had Meccano (which was invented about ten years
>>>> >> before Meccano).
>>>> >
>>>> > Perhaps a minor brain-fart here?
>>>>
>>>> It's the UK -- they have the Tardis, too.
>>>>
>>>> /Jorgen
>>>
>>> To clarigfy again - Meccano was invented in the UK about 10 year
>>> sbefore Erector in the USA - although the USA inventor said he had the
>>> idea independently.
>>
>> BTW, Meccano is the one that's well-known in Sweden. I had to google
>> Erector to convince myself it wasn't just another name for Meccano.
>>
>> Never owned either in the 1970s. I had LEGO. Also Plasticant:
>> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticant
>>
>> /Jorgen
>>
>>
> I had Bilofix (sic!) a wood and plastic combo for less adept fingers
> (also caused less damage to said fingers!)
> http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/File:Bilofix-master-building-box1 5.jpg

That looks nice. I had Bayko, which would never be allowed today:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayko

--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352937 is a reply to message #352932] Wed, 20 September 2017 07:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Stephen Wolstenholme is currently offline  Stephen Wolstenholme
Messages: 231
Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 20 Sep 2017 10:51:42 GMT, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:

> On Wed, 20 Sep 2017 09:24:43 +0000, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
>
>> Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> wrote in
>> news:slrnornqd9.14au.grahn+nntp@frailea.sa.invalid:
>>
>>> On Thu, 2017-09-14, Bob Eager wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:10:56 +0000, Jorgen Grahn wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > On Tue, 2017-09-12, Huge wrote:
>>>> >> On 2017-09-12, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>> > ...
>>>> >>> Here in the UK, I had Meccano (which was invented about ten years
>>>> >>> before Meccano).
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Perhaps a minor brain-fart here?
>>>> >
>>>> > It's the UK -- they have the Tardis, too.
>>>> >
>>>> > /Jorgen
>>>>
>>>> To clarigfy again - Meccano was invented in the UK about 10 year
>>>> sbefore Erector in the USA - although the USA inventor said he had the
>>>> idea independently.
>>>
>>> BTW, Meccano is the one that's well-known in Sweden. I had to google
>>> Erector to convince myself it wasn't just another name for Meccano.
>>>
>>> Never owned either in the 1970s. I had LEGO. Also Plasticant:
>>> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticant
>>>
>>> /Jorgen
>>>
>>>
>> I had Bilofix (sic!) a wood and plastic combo for less adept fingers
>> (also caused less damage to said fingers!)
>> http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/File:Bilofix-master-building-box1 5.jpg
>
> That looks nice. I had Bayko, which would never be allowed today:
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayko

Why would it not be allowed?

Steve

--
http://www.npsnn.com
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352938 is a reply to message #352937] Wed, 20 September 2017 07:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Bob Eager

On Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:07:33 +0100, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:

> On 20 Sep 2017 10:51:42 GMT, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 20 Sep 2017 09:24:43 +0000, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
>>
>>> Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> wrote in
>>> news:slrnornqd9.14au.grahn+nntp@frailea.sa.invalid:
>>>
>>>> On Thu, 2017-09-14, Bob Eager wrote:
>>>> > On Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:10:56 +0000, Jorgen Grahn wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> On Tue, 2017-09-12, Huge wrote:
>>>> >>> On 2017-09-12, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>> >> ...
>>>> >>>> Here in the UK, I had Meccano (which was invented about ten years
>>>> >>>> before Meccano).
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Perhaps a minor brain-fart here?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> It's the UK -- they have the Tardis, too.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> /Jorgen
>>>> >
>>>> > To clarigfy again - Meccano was invented in the UK about 10 year
>>>> > sbefore Erector in the USA - although the USA inventor said he had
>>>> > the idea independently.
>>>>
>>>> BTW, Meccano is the one that's well-known in Sweden. I had to google
>>>> Erector to convince myself it wasn't just another name for Meccano.
>>>>
>>>> Never owned either in the 1970s. I had LEGO. Also Plasticant:
>>>> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticant
>>>>
>>>> /Jorgen
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I had Bilofix (sic!) a wood and plastic combo for less adept fingers
>>> (also caused less damage to said fingers!)
>>> http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/File:Bilofix-master-building-box1 5.jpg
>>
>> That looks nice. I had Bayko, which would never be allowed today:
>>
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayko
>
> Why would it not be allowed?

Long, thin, potentially sharp steel rods to poke in the eye!
--
Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org
Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352943 is a reply to message #352930] Wed, 20 September 2017 08:45 Go to previous message
scott is currently offline  scott
Messages: 4237
Registered: February 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
"Kerr-Mudd,John" <notsaying@invalid.org> writes:
> Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> wrote in
> news:slrnornqd9.14au.grahn+nntp@frailea.sa.invalid:
>
>> On Thu, 2017-09-14, Bob Eager wrote:
>>> On Thu, 14 Sep 2017 19:10:56 +0000, Jorgen Grahn wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 2017-09-12, Huge wrote:
>>>> > On 2017-09-12, Bob Eager <news0006@eager.cx> wrote:
>>>> ...
>>>> >> Here in the UK, I had Meccano (which was invented about ten years
>>>> >> before Meccano).
>>>> >
>>>> > Perhaps a minor brain-fart here?
>>>>
>>>> It's the UK -- they have the Tardis, too.
>>>>
>>>> /Jorgen
>>>
>>> To clarigfy again - Meccano was invented in the UK about 10 year
>>> sbefore Erector in the USA - although the USA inventor said he had
>>> the idea independently.
>>
>> BTW, Meccano is the one that's well-known in Sweden. I had to google
>> Erector to convince myself it wasn't just another name for Meccano.
>>
>> Never owned either in the 1970s. I had LEGO. Also Plasticant:
>> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticant
>>
>> /Jorgen
>>
>
> I had Bilofix (sic!) a wood and plastic combo for less adept fingers
> (also caused less damage to said fingers!)
> http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/File:Bilofix-master-building-box1 5.jpg

And all we had was lincoln logs.
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