Meccano
Toy Lorry
1978 (manufactured)
1978 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Meccano was invented in 1901 in England, by Frank Hornby, originally called Mechanics Made Easy. A model construction kit, it consisted of perforated metal strips, plates and girders, with wheels, pulleys, gears, shaft collars and axles for mechanisms and motion, with nuts and bolts to connect pieces. It was designed so that the only tools necessary for assembly were a screwdriver and spanners. The name Meccano was patented in 1907, and was manufactured in England until 1980. It was designed to be a constructional and educational toy and is still manufactured today, in France, and since its inception has utilised new technologies as they became available, such as electric motors and lights.
This particular construction, of an articulated lorry with electric motor and light, controlled by a remote, was designed and made by Peter MacDomnic, in 1978. He was aged 15, and had been suffering from leukaemia for nearly three years. He died a few weeks after completing it.
This particular construction, of an articulated lorry with electric motor and light, controlled by a remote, was designed and made by Peter MacDomnic, in 1978. He was aged 15, and had been suffering from leukaemia for nearly three years. He died a few weeks after completing it.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Meccano (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Zinc, paint, plastic and electrical wiring with lightbulb |
| Brief description | Toy lorry, battery powered, constructed of Meccano, metal and rubber, manufactured by Airfix Corporation of America, made in England, 1978. |
| Physical description | Meccano construction set put together as a lorry, with yellow painted flat panels connected together with an unpainted zinc framework and blue wheels with rubber tyres, screwed and bolted together. There is a plastic remote control attached by electrical wires and a light bulb at the rear top. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr and Mrs G MacDomnic |
| Object history | This Meccano lorry was constructed in 1978 by Peter MacDomnic, who died shortly after, age 15, from leukaemia. |
| Summary | Meccano was invented in 1901 in England, by Frank Hornby, originally called Mechanics Made Easy. A model construction kit, it consisted of perforated metal strips, plates and girders, with wheels, pulleys, gears, shaft collars and axles for mechanisms and motion, with nuts and bolts to connect pieces. It was designed so that the only tools necessary for assembly were a screwdriver and spanners. The name Meccano was patented in 1907, and was manufactured in England until 1980. It was designed to be a constructional and educational toy and is still manufactured today, in France, and since its inception has utilised new technologies as they became available, such as electric motors and lights. This particular construction, of an articulated lorry with electric motor and light, controlled by a remote, was designed and made by Peter MacDomnic, in 1978. He was aged 15, and had been suffering from leukaemia for nearly three years. He died a few weeks after completing it. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.243-2010 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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