MECCANO, ERECTOR, MÄRKLIN
& 500 Other Metal Constructional Toys
MECCANO, ERECTOR & MÄRKLIN are the best known metal constructional systems (toys), but there have been over 500 others down the years, from over 40 countries, and at least 10 are still being made in different parts of the world. 
Some were more or less copies of MECCANO, albeit with many fewer parts, but new ideas & parts were included in others. Some too had Rods instead of Strips or Girders as the main structural element, and in some the parts clipped together to avoid the need for Nuts & Bolts. The 1930s German STABIL set, left, has some unusual parts, including a few wooden ones (photo courtesy Roger Baker), and there are two rather nice models on the next page.
In size, one version of the prewar Australian TOYTOWN had just 3 different types of part, plus a Nut and a Bolt, while the Italian AMI-LAC, has about 470.
Many 'systems' were designed to be simple toys for children but some, like the still available Swedish FAC, were intended for use by professsional engineers to create mechanical prototypes, laboratory equipment, experimental models, etc.
Would you like to know more? If so there is a twice-yearly newsletter called 'OSN' (Other Systems Newsletter). It is about all metal constructional systems except MECCANO (which is well documented elsewhere) and has been running for over 15 years. Each issue has detailed information on the sets, parts, models, literature, & history of a selection of systems, old and new. Some idea of the scope can be seen from the Contents of the various issues of OSN, and from a detailed Index of Issues 1-39. For details of prices and methods of payment please turn to Prices. Some details of known systems are also giving in a Database. Newcomers to 'Other Systems' may also be interested in a Brief History of Other Systems, 1888 to 1918.
From OSN 28 onwards the Newsletters have been printed in colour; before that the illustrations were in black & white, but reproductions of most of the coloured originals can be seen in the links below. If desired they can be downloaded and stuck into the Newsletters. Certain material which has yet to appear in OSN, or supplements to articles in it, can be seen at Extra Other Systems Material .
Click to see the illustrations from:
… OSN 2
… OSN 3
… OSN 4-5
… OSN 6-8
… OSN 9-10
… OSN 11
… OSN 12
… OSN 13
… OSN 14
… OSN 15 (including a MEKSTRUCT Lorry from OSN 14)
… OSN 16
… OSN 17-19
… OSN 20
… OSN 21
… OSN 22
… OSN 23
… OSN 24
… OSN 25
… OSN 26
… OSN 27.
If your have any questions about OSN, or 'other systems', please write to Tony Knowles, 7 Potters Way, Laverstock, Salisbury, SP1 1PY, England, or email to the address below right, but omitting the "o" in the centre of "osonl" and replacing "com" by "co dot uk". (But sorry, no advice about prices can be given.)
Recent additions:
October 2008: The OSN Index and List of Contents were updated to include OSN 39. (OSN 39 was posted out on 3rd October.)
April 2007: Brief History of Other Systems, 1888 to 1918: this account may be of interest to newcomers to 'Other Systems'.
LINKS
