Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352551 is a reply to message #352485] |
Sat, 16 September 2017 07:48 |
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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>.
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352632 is a reply to message #352551] |
Sat, 16 September 2017 19:48 |
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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...
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352638 is a reply to message #352632] |
Sat, 16 September 2017 20:47 |
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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.
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352654 is a reply to message #352632] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 05:02 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352655 is a reply to message #352638] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 05:03 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352656 is a reply to message #352632] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 05:05 |
mausg
Messages: 2483 Registered: May 2013
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352679 is a reply to message #352656] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 09:35 |
jmfbahciv
Messages: 6173 Registered: March 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352685 is a reply to message #352654] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 13:47 |
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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.
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352686 is a reply to message #352685] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 13:54 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352702 is a reply to message #352686] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 16:44 |
bert
Messages: 56 Registered: August 2012
Karma: 0
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Member |
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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.
--
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352705 is a reply to message #352702] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 17:21 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352930 is a reply to message #352485] |
Wed, 20 September 2017 05:24 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352932 is a reply to message #352930] |
Wed, 20 September 2017 06:51 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352937 is a reply to message #352932] |
Wed, 20 September 2017 07:07 |
Stephen Wolstenholme
Messages: 231 Registered: December 2011
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352938 is a reply to message #352937] |
Wed, 20 September 2017 07:20 |
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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
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Re: 1955 sci/tech toys for children [message #352943 is a reply to message #352930] |
Wed, 20 September 2017 08:45 |
scott
Messages: 4237 Registered: February 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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"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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