Meccano hay tedder - the second version

This is the model that from 1928 replaced the first, 1916 version of a hay tedder. Here shown in a 1930 Dutch edition instruction book; again a Hooi Keer Machine.

It is model number 2.9 so meant to be made with the parts in an outfit 2.

This iteration is a bit easier to decipher - although that may be with the benefit of having seen the previous version. Here made using a 1930 Outfit Number 3 in the dark red-green colour scheme. This time it clearly is a horse-drawn implement, with clear footsteps and a seat.

The odd thing is that whilst it is a much better looking model, it no longer demonstrates the actual working of a tedder. It is no longer a technical demonstration. With the small pulley, 3" wheels and driving a regular 1" pulley on the tedder-rod, the tedder rake rotates slower than the machine moves - so it doesn't 'ted'. 

To be fair, the manuals of the time did state that any model in them could be improved on in at least a dozen ways. To make it 'work' the transmission from axle to tedder-rod needs to be speeded up - done by changing the small pulley on the axle to a 1.5" pulley driving the 1" on the tedder-rod.

Now it works - but of course an Outfit 2 did not have a 1.5" Pulley, Meccano Part No. 21. To make this small improvement one would've had to go to buy this part - readily available in toy-shops, perhaps sold from a large dealer-cabinet.

For 4 pennies, a Meccano-boy would've set a step towards expanding his Outfit - as was of course the idea behind the tiered system of Outfits.

This hay tedded model stayed in the manuals under various numbers, until it was replaced by a new design in 1934 with the introduction of the blue-gold Outfits with many new parts.

August 2025 safari - doorway building toy

Last weekend went to a few thrift-stores not visited before, even though relatively nearby. Expectations for finding typewriters are low, but; new stores - new chances. 

One store did have a group of machines huddled together.

Surrounded by sewing machines (some quite old/nice machines) and joined by a few adding machines. All the adding machines were 10-key specimens of probably the late 1950s, by Walther, Monroe and Addo (i.e. Facit). A mangle and portable record-player in there as well - plus a few electric heaters. (Hadn't seen that before in thrift-stores; seem hazardous things - unless you're only going to be using them for display?)

The Olivetti machines may have been donated by/from the same source - both have the period-typical drab green-grey and still very solid. The Lexikon has glass-topped keys, oddly contrasting with its sleek mid-century modern lines.

Another thrift-store had one typewriter - a very beige plastic Scheidegger machine in an equally plasticky case. Probably 1976 or thereabouts.

It was on a table next to an equally beige cat-carrier :-)

All machines were left where they were. 

Something completely different was however picked-up; a very small set of wooden building-blocks.

With a mystifying array of numbers on the lid-label and some examples of what could be built (at least, that was the assumption). In the store it was all a bit jumbled, but puzzling all the parts into the box at home, the set actually looks complete.

The aeroplane on the smallest arch-block is also shown on one of the lid-label constructions - these are almost certainly the correct, original blocks. This also means that the lid-label is very misleading; all the pictured constructions have three long bars, and the set only will hold the one - this may have baffled and frustrated some child 90 years or so ago.

With such a small set, you can only really construct tiny facades - or doorways! It's a doorway portal construction set :-) 

Definitely giving its 1 Euro's worth - it still is a small box of fun!

(And still wondering about that coded message on the lid; it's probably in cypher :-)

Update: extra information from a knowleadgable collector of these sets; sets this small were often made as promotional gifts; so give-aways from stores. A manufacturer would have a dedicated catalogue for such advertising/promotional sets - the numbers should be the catalogue-items that this label is suitable for. The large amount of numbers suggest there were a great many different packings for the label's box-size. The label is however pasted on a 5x6, i.e. 30-unit box - incorrectly, because you need at least two 4-unit blocks extra to build the illustrations. Production would've been not too strict; if the factory ran out of correct 30-unit labels, then they'd use the closest they did have. In any case, this tiny set was almost certainly manufactured in Blumenau, Germany around 1930 and probably as a promotional gift-item. 

Finishing touches for the Burroughs Portable adding machine

Final touches on the Burroughs Portable adding machine restoration; refreshing the infill of the black numeral keys. The white infill of the black keys had worn - partly lost and with 'bubbles' showing black.

They were fine from a distance, but now that we've gone this far in restoring this machine... 

In the usual manner, some latex paint was mixed to be close to the cream of the white keys. Then applied with a small brush to all the black keys. The black keys are nicely smooth, so after letting the latex-paint dry any excess wipes off easily and cleanly. Refreshed keyboard!

Even when not seeing exactly what was changed, the machine simply looks a little 'cleaner' still.

To illustrate that the infill really is not white - it's almost light-brown - pictured here below with a white sheet of paper for contrast.

This wide-carriage specimen still had 6 tabulator stops fitted - from looking at other machines online that's not a bad score. On this eight-column machine, there are indeed 6 positions to evenly fill the width of the carriage. To however also have a stop at the centre - e.g. to park the carriage or when using the paper-roll -  a seventh stop would have been nice. Hmm.

Definitely going a bit far for this Burroughs Portable; a few new, extra tabulator stops were manufactured and added to the machine. Yes, excessive ;)

(Quickly-made tabs from tough plastic - surprisingly strong. Now that these work well enough, won't be making them from brass sheet. Added bonus is that they're easily identified as fake-parts.)

They blend in reasonably well, and functional - like the whole machine :-)