Erector set parts, parts, and more parts

Parts, parts and more parts

For me the search for Erector set parts seems to be a never ending task

I found another lot of parts just Monday.  Actually I found it on Saturday, but made arrangements with the seller to pick it up from her Monday evening.

Of all places, Facebook Marketplace was where I found this.

Seller had this listed as simply:  Erector set parts. Full tub.

She had an image that showed a Rubbermaid tub that was full to the top of various Erector set parts.

The MOST interesting part of this was that it looked like there were massive amounts of parts from 1914 . . . over a century old!

Anyway, I had arranged to look a the parts on Monday and went to the pre-arranged location and when she arrived, she pulled the tub out of her car and said, "Here is my ex-husband's beloved Erector Set."  LOL

My eyes practically bugged out of my head.

I looked at the tub and found that I was correct, there were a lot of pre-1920 parts . . . I gave her the money that we'd agreed upon and took the tub from her and was really excited at the prospect of evaluating my new treasure when I got home.

The first thing that I did was weigh the tub . . . 33 pounds !!!

After sorting, I found the pre-1920 parts included 12 inch girders, 6 inch girders, 3 inch girders, a ton of angle sections, some wheels and at least 1 plate.

There were several parts from Erector sets from the 20s through the 80s, also included were parts from Meccano sets.  Some old, some not so old.  As to parts, there were a couple of parts that I have no clue what they are, but seem to fit right in with the Erector Set theme.  😂

Some instructions for Constructioneer (Urbana) and Marklin construction kits were thrown in, and for good measure, a box of hardware. . . Construction support brackets.  LOL  Everything Erector. 

Many of these parts need some attention.  They need cleaning, many need straightening and many are just plain unusable as far as "Set pieces" go, but everything in this tub is usefull and useable to me.

BONUS
One of the little Meccano parts boxes that I highlighted in an earlier post, was included in this purchase.

To Collect or To Build, that is the question

To Collect or To Build, that is the question

Why one or the other ?

Why not both ?

I guess the question you'd need to ask yourself in that regard is, are you a purist, are you a child at heart, or are you a little of both ?

I believe that I fall into the third category.

I have a couple of sets that I'm working to complete, so I'm working with inventories and mass purchases to gather the requisite parts and pieces to appease my "Collection" mentality.

I also work with mass purchases so that I can gather several parts to build anything that I want. 

Sometimes, I build, tear down, then build again, other times, I build and leave built.  I build SOME things to fill a specific goal or need that I've found

A 3rd classification that I didn't mention above, is "investor".

Many of the parts that I've purchased have simply been because it's too good of a deal to pass up.  I can sell some of these parts for many times what I've paid for them

So, am I an investor, a purist collector, a grown child who likes to play with my construction toys, or a bit of all 3

I'm squarely in the midst of all of the above.  :)

Lego Castle with Removable Floors

AC Gilbert Products 1960

Chemistry Sets, Electricity outfits, erector sets . . . AC Gilbert did much more than just erector sets

Advertisement: Krazy Ikes 1953

1953 Advertisement for Krazy Ikes

Timeline: Construction sets by decade

What construction toy sets were available to children by decade in the 20th century ?

When were they presented to the public ?

This is by no means a complete list.

1880s
     1880 - Anchor Stone Blocks

1900s
     1900s - Unit Blocks (Traditional wood blocks)
     1901 - Meccano

1910s
     1913 - Erector Sets
     1914 - Tinker Toys
     1918 - Lincoln Logs

1920s
     1920 - Buddy L (Pressed Metal vehicles)
     1921 - Structo pressed metal vehicles

1930s
     1930 - Krazy Ikes
     1931 - Trix model construction sets
     1934 - Bayko Building Blocks
     1934 - Stanlo Construction Toy (Metal Construction toy)
     1935 - Minibrix
     1936 - Nylint Toys (Pressed Metal vehicles)

1940s
     1940s - American Bricks (Halsam)
     1946 - Mound Metalcraft (Became Tonka in 1955)
     1949 - Lego

1950s
     1950s - Skyline (Halsam)
     1950s - Girder and Panel (Kenner)
     1952 - FAC-System (Metal rod construction kit)
     1955 - Play-Doh
     1959 - Arkitex (Girder and Panel style plastic building toy)

1960s
     1960 - Bilofix (wooden erector type set)
     1962 - Kenner Flintstone Blocks
     1964 - Fischertechnik
     1967 - Super City (Ideal)
     1968 - Tog'l Blocks
     1969 - Duplo
     1969 - Stickle Bricks

1970s
     1970s - Loc Blocs

1980s
     1980s - Capsela
     1980s - Pipeworks (Playskool)
     1983 - Construx
     1984 - Mega Bloks
     1984 - Robitix
     1987 - Kapla

1990s
     1992 - Steel Tec
     1993 - K'Nex
     1995 - Rokenbok

2000s
     2000s - Keva Planks
     2000s - Magnetix
     2006 - Konstruk-Tubes
     2008 - Nanoblocks
     2012 - Goldie Blox

I wish I could do this with my Erector Set

Tinker Toy Plans: Generic

Manufacturer's Document
───────────────────────
Plan Title:         Generic
Product:            Tinker Toy
Manufacturer: Spalding
Set:                     Any Set
Year:                  1955

About: Magnetix

Magnetix toys were one of the more popular toys in 2005

Produced by Mega Brands toys (of Mega Bloks fame), this toy consists of steel ball bearings, approximagely 1/2 inch in diameter and sticks, squares, triangles, etc . . . All with neodymium magnets embedded.

The idea of these toys is to build geometric shapes, easily break them down and build other shapes

In 2006, there was some controversy.  A young child reportedly died from ingesting some of these magnets.  The magnets are non-poisonous, but meodymium magnets have a very strong magnetic field. 

In 2007, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission issued a recall of Magnetix toys using the following statement:
 If a child swallows more than one tiny powerful magnet detached from the plastic building pieces or one such magnet and a metallic object, the objects can attract to each other inside the intestines and cause perforations and/or blockage, which can be fatal, if not treated immediately.

Magnetix toys were repackaged and relabeled for children 6+ years of age.

Mega Brands have since recalled these toys again

There are several "look-alike" toys that are still on the market that perform the same function as Magnetix.

Ephemera: Erector Set Valentine

Erector sets have received popularity in several different types of media

In the early 1960's this beautiful St. Valentines Day card was produced.

My wife found this on eBay and knowing my proclivity for Erector Sets, she purchased it.

This card is about 6 inches tall and 3.5 inches wide.  The little boy's shirt is flocked.

Magnetic toys - Team builder

I was chatting with a friend the other night regarding keeping her young grand daughter stimulated mentally. 

One of the things she keyed upon is that she really loves magents

Interestingly, magnets have been a passion of mine since I can remember.

A few years ago, my employer had a "team building" exercise where a portion of the exercise consisted of building structures with magnetic building toys similar to Magnetix.

They're NOT the Mega Brands toy, Magnetix, but they're very similar

This toy was presented to us in a non-magnetic can and consists of three components (of which there are several pieces)

These are short sticks about 1 inch long with neodymium magnets on each end of the sticks, long sticks that are about 2 inches long, again with neodymium magnets on each end of the sticks and simple ball bearings.

The idea is to build different geometric structures

They left the toys with us to help us "unleash our creativity" and provide us with hours of constructive fun.  :)

Laser Pegs, Lighted Lego compatible Bricks

Enhance your lego configuration with Laser Pegs

These clear plastic bricks are 100 percent Lego compatible and provide light to otherwise plain models.

The sets consist of a "main body" piece which contains the battery compartment

The set that I have uses 3 watch batteries type: 346

This is my configuration.  It's the Mini Racer model number 14913901ZxLx4gZ2

Erector Plans: Walking Beam Engine

Manufacturer's Document
───────────────────────
Plan Title:         Walking Beam Engine
Product:            Erector Set
Manufacturer: Gilbert
Set:                     7 1/2
Year:                  1957

Fostering Creativity

Fostering Creativity

I have always tried to foster creativity in my household with my children and now my grand children

I began by encouraging reading, watching educational television, going to museums, particularly the hands-on type childrens museums, trips to farms and zoos, etc . . .

I went so far as to have a 8 1/2 x 11 sign hanging in my office that consisted only of the word "THINK"

I have decided to change my tack somewhat now that I have grand children.

This brings us to my blog.

Just Construction Toys

I have always learned better by doing.  I can take classroom instruction, I can read how-to books and articles, or I can watch a video on how to do something, but the best way for me to actually learn the task is to put the tools and material in my hands and actually do it.  The manuals, teachers and videos are a WONDERFUL resource, but quite simply put, they're not enough.  At least not for me.  😄

My approach with my grand children is to have the learning toys readily at hand and to play with them with the children.  I have Legos, Erector Sets, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Tool Sets, etc . . .  All available for play.  They don't really even need to ask me.  I'll have them out building things and available for them to join me when they come to my house.

What can be learned from construction toys?  Quite literally, the sky is the limit.

Basic skills like problem solving, planning, following direction, time management, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, etc . . .  all are touched on using these toys.

Think about it:

• You want to build a model.  What parts are available, what parts are needed ?  . . . Problem Solving
• What is the best way to put this model together ? . . . Planning
• What steps will be needed before getting to certain points in the model ? . . . Following direction
• I'd like to get this model finished before I go to bed tonight.  . . . Time management  (alright, this is a bit of a stretch as an example, but you get the point) 

Very specific skills can be taught / learned via construction toys.

How to brace, load constraints, building to scale, gear ratios, etc . . .

Who would benefit from these toys ?

Pretty much everyone.

Astronauts, architects, engineers, inventors . . . all sorts of professions that have a need to manipulate objects to get a result, will have benefitted from playing with construction toys as children.

Many people from these professions have mentioned playing with construction toys of one sort or another have played a part in molding their direction in choosing the career paths that they've taken.  Some have even used toys in their profession.

One example, William Seqell Jr.  A Yale Medical Student at the time, he built the first "Artifical Heart" using Erector Set pieces

Be bold!  Break out the Legos, Tinker Toys, and Erector sets and build.😄

Mini Project: Business card holder

I wanted a standing business card holder to display my cards on my desk. 

Rather than purchase a new one, I thought I would make use of my collection of erector set parts and build one. 

I think it's rather fitting.

Here's the rather small number of parts.  A few angle brackets, short angle girders a few screws and a couple odds and ends

The parts are fitting together

and, VOILA . . . The finished product

Here it is in use, complete with business cards.  :)

Ephemera: Erector Set Birthday Card

Erector Set Birthday Card

I first saw this on Ebay as a postcard.

Being that I tend to watch auctions forever in order to get the best deal, I lost out on this.  The auction ended and I never saw it again.

I was doing a Google search and stumbled on this birthday card on Zazzle.com

If I had to guess, I'd say they won the auction that I waited too long for and digitized it. . . Just a guess, mind you  😃

Nevertheless, I scrambled to purchase this 5x7 birthday card and here it is

Pretty awesome, if I say so myself.

Eco Bricks, LEGO Compatible wooden blocks

Eco Bricks

https://www.eco-bricks.toys/

From a sales link:
"Made entirely from precision-carved Cherry Wood, an environment-friendly alternative to other types of wood that may have been harvested from old-growth forests, these interlocking bricks aren't just fun - They're friendly to the planet, too!"

Nice wooden bricks that fit 100% with Lego Bricks

There aren't as many brick configurations, but they are a nice addition to the standard Lego sets that children have played with for years

The set pictured here has the following brick configurations:
    Wheels mounted on bricks with 8x2 pegs
    8x2 bricks
    4x2 bricks
    4x2 flat top bricks
    2x2 flat top bricks

Not a lot of variation, but a lot of fun

The test is when stepped on with bare feet, they feel EXACTLY like the Lego bricks.    :)

Krazy Ikes

 Krazy Ikes

Buiding toys or just an amusment ?

My though is that it falls squarely into the realm of building toys, as you have several "body" parts and you assemble them into Krazy different animals and people.  They remind me of Tinker Toys, as you connect various pieces together to form a larger model.

I played with these toys when I was growing up in the 1960's.  My older siblings had a set of them, but never played with them.  I sort of "inherited" them.  Those toys are long gone now, but I remember having hours of fun snapping different pieces into one another to build different creatures, structures, etc, . . . whatever tickled my fancy.

Krazy Ikes were registered and created in 1930 by the Main Toy Company and made in later years by Whitman, Inc.  The original toy was wood, then in the 1950's, they were made from plastic when Whitman

The toys themselves consisted of a body, shoulder joint pieces, hip joint pieces, longer arm and leg pieces, feet and heads in the basic set.  Other sets had wheels, axles flat pieces for cart/vehicle base and other weird misellaneous pieces.

The shoulder and hip pieces slid into appropriate sockets on the body and all the other pieces fit together using a ball and socket type of connector

The heads came in different varieties.  Light bulb shaped human and animal heads.

Some of the later sets, in the '60s thru the '70s, were licensed by Warner Brothers and others by Disney

The sets were packaged in various forms from Box with X shaped divider, to small cannisters similar to Lincoln Logs and  Tinker toys, to blister plastic on cards.

The number of pieces ranged from around 20 for some of the carded sets to well over 100 pieces in boxes.

Bringing together my lover of giant monster movies and construction Toys

American Bricks

These bricks were created by a company called Elgo that later changed it's name to Halsam

They were an alternative to Lego bricks, but completely incompatible.

The bricks had several configurations that were similar to Legos, but are wider and longer and not as toll as the more popular brick. 

These bricks were intended for the use of building houses or other buildings.

The basic configuration of an American Brick is 8 pegs x 2 pegs.  The size is 1 3/4 inches long, 3/4 inch wide and 1/4 inch tall.

The were made in two colors: white and red.

The white bricks were intended as foundation pieces and lintel pieces for the doors and windows.

The red bricks are the actual wall pieces.  They have brick texture on the outside

Other red pieces are the roof peak pieces.  They are the 2x2 hole configuration on the bottom and are a wedge that is 2 bricks tall.  The idea with these pieces is to build the peak on the ends of the house and then lay the green cardboard roofing pieces over the finished model.

There are several different configuration pre-made windows bricks in these sets. Most of them were hinged, so you could open and close them at will.
There are small 1 brick windows, 2x2 windows and 2x3 windows that have the hinges. 
There are also non-hinged picture windows and slatted glass windows.

All sets come with pre-formed, hinged doors as well.

The hinge configurations on doors and the windows that have them are right side and left side.  All intended for double window or "French" door style doors.

Some of the larger sets have garage doors

All of the accessory pieces have a hole in the bottom and a peg at the top so that they can all be built directly into the walls of the models

Here's a nice description of American Bricks from Jackie's Architectural Toys page

The American Bricks toy was my first introduction into construction toys.  I never had a set, but my cousin, who lived across the road, had a couple of sets and I would go to his house and play with them several hours a day in my early childhood.

These toys are what I credit with my love for building toys of all sorts.

American Logs

American Logs were originally produced by the Halsam corporation

Montgomery Ward had the exclusive rights for the sale of Lincoln Logs and J.C.Penny, a competing department store chain, contacted the Halsam corporation to copy and manufacture them under the Halsam label for them.  Halsam refused to duplicate them, but instead applied their own spin by creating a similar but different log toy.

These log toys were called "Frontier Logs" in the south as a direct competitor to the name "Lincoln Logs". 

The logs changed even further by becoming square and compatible with Lincoln Logs.  The word "American" was later added as a selling point.

The peaks for the structures are created by building up interlocking logs that are angled on the ends and get smaller to the peak.  The green slats are similar to those in the Lincoln Logs sets, but they're a little thicker with a thin slit going down each of the sides.  This slit allows the roofing slats to be interlocked to appear like they overlap one another.  As I was growing up and playing with them, I found the American Log roof slats and Lincoln Log roof slats were pretty much interchangeable.

In 1962 the Halsam company was purchased by the Playskool company who already owned the similar Lincoln Log toys.

Halsam filed for trademark registration of the American Logs name in 1969, while owned by Playskool.  The application cites the date of 1935 as when they entered the toy market.  The earliest advertisement that I've found for American Logs was from 1939

I've found there are two distinctly different sizes made by the Halsam company.  The traditional, or senior sized set that is compatible with Lincoln Logs and the smaller size, that's about 1/3 the size of the traditional logs.

Both were manufactured by Halsam and are labeled as American Logs.

Lego Meets Harry Potter

I found this video via a link on Facebook

This is a stroll through the Harry Potter universe's Diagon Alley highlighted by Beyond the Brick

This is the short teaser version

Here's a link to the 49 minute long YouTube.com version

Project: Recreate Erector Instruction book - Robot cover - Part 2

I believe that I've found the requisite plans and parts lists to build the robot

The parts needed to build this robot are laid out in photos 2, 3, and 4

I found another image scanned from the December 1948 issue of Popular Science that contains a nice graphic explanation of the walking mechanism

It's really quite straight forward, except I'll have to change the feet from the plans to look like the ones in this photo

Gotta build the robot before I can stage the photo  :)

Next phase of this project will be the actual building of the robot.  I'll include step-by-step photos of my progress.

More to come . . .