NORTH WEST MECCANO GUILD


Clicking on many of the pictures enlarges them and provides extra information. The models are usually attributed to the builder.

The Guild is always interested in preventing good Meccano going to waste. If you have any Meccano to re-cycle, please contact the Secretary or a member at one of our events.

Click  “Exhibitions” for a calendar of our events. Or “Event Details” for information about individual ones.

Click “North West” for information about Meccano on display and  Meccano related locations in the North West of England.

The Meccano Bridge built for BBC series

“ Toy Stories”

Pictures taken by the NWMG Chairman during its construction in a laboratory in Liverpool University. (Except one)

The bridge was made in two halves, each half using a different method for making a bridge that can be opened to allow ships to pass though. One half was a rolling bascule bridge (associated with the American engineer - Scherzer). Tower Road Bridge in Birkenhead Docks is an example. The shore end is extended by a quadrant shaped curved section. The other was a swing bridge of which there are several examples crossing the Manchester Ship Canal and the Weaver Navigation.

A rolling bascule was selected in order to avoid the problem of making a strong enough pivot in Meccano. Most swing bridges rotate on roller bearings but this one was not unique in swinging on ball bearings.

The bridge was constructed in the engineering laboratory of the University of Liverpool. Fortunately, ample space was available as well as access to power tools and workshop facilities. Even the materials testing machinery was brought into use.

The lack of time available for the design of the bridge  meant that non-Meccano connecting plates had to be used for most of the joints. Considerable forethought would have been needed to enable Meccano parts to be used.

The Chairman inspecting the joint between the curved and straight sections on the rolling bascule half of the bridge.

Students at work on one side of the bridge


This picture shows the impressive sweep of the rolling bascule.

Above

A close-up of part of the bridge showing the non-Meccano cleats used at the joints.

Left

The straight swinging half of the bridge. Did the black part 52s come from Binns Road?

Another view of the swinging half.