Meccano - Tin toy - Meccano Set 2A del 1931 - U.K.

This Meccano Ltd Liverpool set no. 2 A is dated 1931. In fact, the overall arrangement is the one introduced already in the middle of 1928. Initially it contained a fascinating Ship Funnels but between 1930 and 1931 this was replaced with 2 wheels of 5 cm (burgundy red piece no. 20A). It contains about 100 pieces (of which 34 are screws and nuts) of about forty different types. The boiler could be blue very dark, or gray, or a light green with the two red terminals. (In the postwar period it will be only red and since 1962 no longer produced). The ship funnel becomes an obsolete piece already before the 1940s. The set is completed by its proper manual “Mecanisme Standard” dated 1929 of 49 pages which illustrates, section by section, all possible mechanical applications of the various pieces. Even in the Italian version this Manual was provided only in French. This is the golden era for Meccano (and later also in the 1950s–60s). Only the iconic Giant Crane for harbor concrete blocks, the automobile chassis, and the tile machine are illustrated. This is one of the sets that around 1930 enjoyed the greatest success and diffusion, in the English, French, Italian, and Spanish versions, with very few differences in detail. The pieces are moderately used but retain their luster and are never rusted or distorted. The box is in excellent condition, considering the era, and the lid has a reinforcement on the inner left side, very well done. Dimensions: 22.5 x 35 x 6 cm; weight 1.5 kg.