Friday, January 6, 2017

Spanning almost a century with spoked wheels

Loosely based on a model in the instruction manual, a small motorcar built from early nickel parts.


Ribbon added by the kids; it's quite robust to be played with too. Survives rollovers just fine. Probably just like the real motorcar of around 1920, just keep a screwdriver handy to fasten any bits that become loose or rattle.

This was a first using of a recently acquired set of spoked wheels (19a). These are marked 'fabriqué en Angleterre' as early twenties' parts and were in 'used' condition. Some careful bending, cyanoacrylate for loose bosses and India ink to make rusty-patches less glaring; again good to go for building.


The small wheels for headlamps are more recent, but the double-bent bracket with the rounded corners supposedly was made not later than '16. Amazing how well these parts can survive.


The flanged plates too are probably a century old. They've got the 1913 patent marking, but no Meccano stamping yet anywhere.


The bush wheels are also twenties' articles, with the 'fabriqué en Angleterre' marking.


Impressive how well all these bits have weathered a century - and can still be toyed with and played with too :-)

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