Not currently on display at the V&A

Structator, set 3

Construction Kit
1913-1923 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Details of parts have been taken from the booklet of instructions
1. box lid; card; covered with grey/beige paper. On the top is a label of paper printed in colours to show the title; set number; maker's mark; BREVETE EN FRANCE ET A L'ETRANGER and an illustration of a crane. Inside is a label printed in colours to show two boys in sailor suits playing with the constructional kit. Stamped on the edge 8355F. Damage has occurred to the edges.
2. box base; wood covered with grey/beige paper
3. box insert; card covered with red paper. On to this are attached the various metal parts. On each side is a red cloth lift tag.
4. booklet of instructions and lists of the equipment contained in sets 1 to 5 and 1a to 4a (I-V e Ia-IVa). Eighty pages contained within a cover of brownish orange. It is published in Italian and the front cover shows the title and maker's mark. There are photographs of constructions or drawings of various items which can be made by the equipment and a list of pieces needed. 6¼in x 8 3/4in
5. `TAVOLETTE DI LEGNO; 22/4 400x280mm con 5 scanalat'; five slatted tablet of polished wood mounted on two wooden strips nailed on. 14½in x 9in x 3/4in. some scratches to top surface
*Attached to the box insert by various means are the following items which are made of steel: GROUP A-slotted through parallel holes in card panels stapled to the insert at centre bottom one length - ASSI 7/350 - 350mm; attached to the centre of this are three T junctions - PEZZI T 1 and two L junctions - PEZZI AD ANGOLO L 2. two lengths - ASSI A VITE 6/150 - 150mm; attached between these are four angle pieces - BARRETTE 12; 45mm; and 18 tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm. At the ends of each length is a screw thread and on one is a ring - ANELLI 'ARRESTO 5 one length - ASSI A VITE 6/150 - 150mm saw blade - SEGHE 38 one length - ASSI 7/150 - 150mm; attached to this are 7 tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm; 2 tubes - TUBETTI 13/1; 6mm; and 4 rings
- ANELLI D'ARRESTO 5. one length - ASSI 7/150; 150mm; attached to this are 2 tubes - TUBETTI 13/1; 6mm; two T junctions - PEZZI T 1; and two angle junctions - PEZZI AD ANGOLO L 2. two pointed length - ASSI APUNTATE 33/1; 25mm one drill shape - PUNTA DA TRAPANO 19/1; 25mm one length - ASSI 7/25; 25mm
GROUP B-slotted in panels in the same manner as Group A and fixed to the insert at centre top one length - ASSI 7/150 150mm; attached to it four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4; and two tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm one length - ASSI A VITE 6/120; 120mm; with screw threads one length - ASSI A VITE 6/120; 120mm; attached to it are four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4; and two tubes - TUBEETI 13/2; 12mm one length - ASSI 7/150; 150mm three lengths - ASSI 7/100; 100mm; attached are four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4 and two tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm one length - ASSI 7/100; 100mm; attached is one tube - TUBETTI 13/1; 6mm one length - ASSI 7/100; 100mm one drill shape - PUNTA DA TRAPANO 19/2; 90mm one length - ASSI 7/90; 90mm; attached are three tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm and two conical rings -ANELLI CONICI 4 one length - ASSI A VITE 6/80; 80mm; attached one conical ring - ANELLI CONICI 4 and one ring - ANELLI D'ARRESTO 5 one length - ASSI 7/75; 75mm; attached one conical ring - ANELLI CONICI 4 and one ring - ANELLI D'ARRESTO 5. one length - ASSI 7/100; 100mm; attached two conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4
GROUP C-slotted in holes in the same manner and placed in upper left corner of insert four angled lengths - ASSI AD ANGOLO RETTO 26/2; 50mm four lengths - ASSI 7/75; 75mm one arc - ASSI CURVE 25/2; D-108mm Across the remainder of the insert are attached a variety of pieces generally held in place by large paper clips.
Across the top; from left to right are the following: eight solid tubes drilled with screw threads - SOPPORTI 9/1; placed over 7 discs - DISCHI 9/3 and held in place with 8 screws with sqaure heads - VITI QUADRANGOLARI 9/2 pair of pliers - PINZETTA STRUCTATOR 20 double ended angle bar - SOPPORTO DELL'ASSE DELLA RUOTA 32 wheel; painted black - RUOTE DI TRANSMISSIONE 8/50; 50mm diam. Across the centre are the following:
circular saw blade - SEGA CIRCOLARE 14; holding in place a set of cloth circles - DISCO DI PANNO 15 two cubes - MARTELLI CUBI 18 two propeller blades - PALA PER ELICA 52 one length of ASSI A VITE 6/70; 7mm; attached are two I junctions - PEZZI DRITTI I 3; one T junction - PEZZI T 1 and four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4
On the lower left is the following: one plate with angled sides - TAVOLETTE DI METALLO; RIPIEGATE; 10/1; 50 x 50mm On the lower right are the following: two flat plates - TAVOLETTE DI METALLO; NON RIPIEGATE 11/1; 50x 50mm
*Extra to the set is a brass rule marked in mm from zero to 100. Gebrüder Bing of Nuremberg; 1866-1919 succeeded by BINGWERKE 1920- 1933. The constructional kits were registered in 1913 and this one could be as early as 1913 or as late as 1923 with the new Bingwerke mark of a BW was registered though it had been in use from 1920. The defination of the coils and wheels in the circles of the diamond mark indicate 1904 rather than 1906 when the English mark with simple burst
shapes in each was registered. This kit was not designed for the English market.
*See Gwen White; Toys Dolls and Automata; Encyclopedia of Dolls; Directory
of German Dolls; Anthony Gross Collection details; A Noschka & G Knerr; Bauklotze Staunen


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.

  • Construction Kit
  • Construction Kit
  • Construction Kit
  • Construction Kit
  • Construction Kit
TitleStructator, set 3 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
metal in original card and wood box
Brief description
Constructional Kit, Structator, Bing, German; 1913-1923
Physical description
Details of parts have been taken from the booklet of instructions
1. box lid; card; covered with grey/beige paper. On the top is a label of paper printed in colours to show the title; set number; maker's mark; BREVETE EN FRANCE ET A L'ETRANGER and an illustration of a crane. Inside is a label printed in colours to show two boys in sailor suits playing with the constructional kit. Stamped on the edge 8355F. Damage has occurred to the edges.
2. box base; wood covered with grey/beige paper
3. box insert; card covered with red paper. On to this are attached the various metal parts. On each side is a red cloth lift tag.
4. booklet of instructions and lists of the equipment contained in sets 1 to 5 and 1a to 4a (I-V e Ia-IVa). Eighty pages contained within a cover of brownish orange. It is published in Italian and the front cover shows the title and maker's mark. There are photographs of constructions or drawings of various items which can be made by the equipment and a list of pieces needed. 6¼in x 8 3/4in
5. `TAVOLETTE DI LEGNO; 22/4 400x280mm con 5 scanalat'; five slatted tablet of polished wood mounted on two wooden strips nailed on. 14½in x 9in x 3/4in. some scratches to top surface
*Attached to the box insert by various means are the following items which are made of steel: GROUP A-slotted through parallel holes in card panels stapled to the insert at centre bottom one length - ASSI 7/350 - 350mm; attached to the centre of this are three T junctions - PEZZI T 1 and two L junctions - PEZZI AD ANGOLO L 2. two lengths - ASSI A VITE 6/150 - 150mm; attached between these are four angle pieces - BARRETTE 12; 45mm; and 18 tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm. At the ends of each length is a screw thread and on one is a ring - ANELLI 'ARRESTO 5 one length - ASSI A VITE 6/150 - 150mm saw blade - SEGHE 38 one length - ASSI 7/150 - 150mm; attached to this are 7 tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm; 2 tubes - TUBETTI 13/1; 6mm; and 4 rings
- ANELLI D'ARRESTO 5. one length - ASSI 7/150; 150mm; attached to this are 2 tubes - TUBETTI 13/1; 6mm; two T junctions - PEZZI T 1; and two angle junctions - PEZZI AD ANGOLO L 2. two pointed length - ASSI APUNTATE 33/1; 25mm one drill shape - PUNTA DA TRAPANO 19/1; 25mm one length - ASSI 7/25; 25mm
GROUP B-slotted in panels in the same manner as Group A and fixed to the insert at centre top one length - ASSI 7/150 150mm; attached to it four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4; and two tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm one length - ASSI A VITE 6/120; 120mm; with screw threads one length - ASSI A VITE 6/120; 120mm; attached to it are four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4; and two tubes - TUBEETI 13/2; 12mm one length - ASSI 7/150; 150mm three lengths - ASSI 7/100; 100mm; attached are four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4 and two tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm one length - ASSI 7/100; 100mm; attached is one tube - TUBETTI 13/1; 6mm one length - ASSI 7/100; 100mm one drill shape - PUNTA DA TRAPANO 19/2; 90mm one length - ASSI 7/90; 90mm; attached are three tubes - TUBETTI 13/2; 12mm and two conical rings -ANELLI CONICI 4 one length - ASSI A VITE 6/80; 80mm; attached one conical ring - ANELLI CONICI 4 and one ring - ANELLI D'ARRESTO 5 one length - ASSI 7/75; 75mm; attached one conical ring - ANELLI CONICI 4 and one ring - ANELLI D'ARRESTO 5. one length - ASSI 7/100; 100mm; attached two conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4
GROUP C-slotted in holes in the same manner and placed in upper left corner of insert four angled lengths - ASSI AD ANGOLO RETTO 26/2; 50mm four lengths - ASSI 7/75; 75mm one arc - ASSI CURVE 25/2; D-108mm Across the remainder of the insert are attached a variety of pieces generally held in place by large paper clips.
Across the top; from left to right are the following: eight solid tubes drilled with screw threads - SOPPORTI 9/1; placed over 7 discs - DISCHI 9/3 and held in place with 8 screws with sqaure heads - VITI QUADRANGOLARI 9/2 pair of pliers - PINZETTA STRUCTATOR 20 double ended angle bar - SOPPORTO DELL'ASSE DELLA RUOTA 32 wheel; painted black - RUOTE DI TRANSMISSIONE 8/50; 50mm diam. Across the centre are the following:
circular saw blade - SEGA CIRCOLARE 14; holding in place a set of cloth circles - DISCO DI PANNO 15 two cubes - MARTELLI CUBI 18 two propeller blades - PALA PER ELICA 52 one length of ASSI A VITE 6/70; 7mm; attached are two I junctions - PEZZI DRITTI I 3; one T junction - PEZZI T 1 and four conical rings - ANELLI CONICI 4
On the lower left is the following: one plate with angled sides - TAVOLETTE DI METALLO; RIPIEGATE; 10/1; 50 x 50mm On the lower right are the following: two flat plates - TAVOLETTE DI METALLO; NON RIPIEGATE 11/1; 50x 50mm
*Extra to the set is a brass rule marked in mm from zero to 100. Gebrüder Bing of Nuremberg; 1866-1919 succeeded by BINGWERKE 1920- 1933. The constructional kits were registered in 1913 and this one could be as early as 1913 or as late as 1923 with the new Bingwerke mark of a BW was registered though it had been in use from 1920. The defination of the coils and wheels in the circles of the diamond mark indicate 1904 rather than 1906 when the English mark with simple burst
shapes in each was registered. This kit was not designed for the English market.
*See Gwen White; Toys Dolls and Automata; Encyclopedia of Dolls; Directory
of German Dolls; Anthony Gross Collection details; A Noschka & G Knerr; Bauklotze Staunen
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.5cm
  • Width: 40.6cm
Height: 12in Width: 16in Depth: 2¼in
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
diamond shaped Gebrüder Bing mark - GB over N with rays behind; coils in top and bottom rings; wheels in others
Historical context
In the early 1900s, Bing was a famous German brand name and the largest toy company in the world, best known for its train sets and steam-powered toys. Inspired by Hornby’s Meccano, Bing started producing ‘Structator’ construction sets in 1913.

However, the First World War forced Bing out of the export market, and hyperinflation in Germany in the 1920s made toy production even more difficult. Bing stopped production of the ‘Structator’ in 1923, and by 1927 the company was experiencing severe financial difficulties.

The Bing brothers, who were Jewish, fled to England during the rise of Nazism in Germany. The company then went into liquidation and closed down for good in 1933.
Production
Made by: Gebrüder Bing; Nürnberg
Germany
Collection
Accession number
B.438:1-1994

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest