Meccano Magazine facts for kids
First issue cover, Sep–Oct 1916, Vol. 1 No. 1.
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Editor | Frank Hornby (first) |
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Categories | Hobby |
Frequency | monthly / quarterly |
Circulation | 70,000 / issue (1930s) |
Publisher | Meccano Ltd |
Founded | 1916 |
Final issue | 1981 |
Company | Meccano Ltd |
Country | England |
Language | English |
Meccano Magazine was an English monthly hobby magazine published by Meccano Ltd between 1916 and 1963, and by other publishers between 1963 and 1981. The magazine was initially created for Meccano builders, but it soon became a general hobby magazine aimed at "boys of all ages".
Content
Meccano Magazine was originally aimed at Meccano builders and featured articles on Meccano construction and new Meccano developments. When Frank Hornby launched the Meccano Guild in 1919, the magazine carried regular Guild news to keep Meccano clubs informed of each other's activities. But over time Meccano Magazine became a general hobby magazine aimed at "boys of all ages". Aside from Meccano related articles, it also featured Hornby trains, Dinky Toys and other products of Meccano Ltd, plus a wide variety of general interest articles, including, engineering, aircraft, trains, modelling, camping, photography and philately. Commonwealth countries always featured strongly in articles as Meccano Ltd exported its products to these countries.
The magazines today are an excellent source of historic information and an invaluable aid to collectors of toys from those years. They have also become collector's items and there is a healthy trade in them at auctions.