MECCANO MOTORISED FERRIS WHEEL 2005 SPECIAL EDITION SET 8258 IN METAL CASE

MECCANO MOTORIZED FERRIS WHEEL SET 8258 IN METAL CASE.
A SPECIAL EDITION SET FROM 2005. (THESE SETS WERE INTRODUCED IN 2003 AND ENDED PRODUCTION IN 2010).

INCLUDES 477 PARTS (ALL THE LARGER PIECES IS INDIVIDUALLY ACCOUNTED FOR SMALLER SCREWS NUTS AND BOLTS NOT INDIVIDUALLY COUNTED BUT SEEM TO BE COMPLETE)

TOOLS INCLUDED AND THE 3-VOLT MOTOR TESTED AND IN WORKING CONDITION (BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED).

INSTRUCTIONS BROCHURE FOR 8 MODELS AND 15 SUGGESTIONS INCLUDED.
BESIDES THE ICONIC FERRIS WHEEL THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR A SWING, A HELICOPTER, A BOAT SWING AND VARIOUS OTHER PLAYGROUND ATTRACTIONS.

There seems, all over the world, to be a return to traditional kinds of toys. At a time of uncertainty, people feel the need for something more solid, something they can touch. THIS VINTAGE MECCANO FERRIS WHEEL SET IS JUST SUCH AN ITEM!

THE SAME FOR A 100 YEARS: What has remained the same during all these years is the Imperial half inch perforation spacing and the whitworth thread for nuts and bolts (and other threaded parts). These unchanged standards and complete interchangeability of parts results in many modern models functioning perfectly with Meccano components that are more than 100 years old and vice versa. Indeed, old and new parts can be intermixed with impunity, the only problem being the odd mixture of colour schemes.

MECCANO UK (1901-1980)
MECCANO FRANCE (1981-2013)
MECCANO CANADA (2014-present)
In 1901 Frank Hornby (also known for his Hornby trains) took out patents for Meccano. The basic concept of using perforated strips and plates that were fastened together with nuts and bolts was very novel and the company steadily grew. In 1914, a large new factory was constructed at Binns Road in Liverpool.  This was to become their home for 66 years. In 1936, Frank Hornby died, his company was taken over by his relatives.
The Company ran into difficulties in the 1960s and Lines Brothers bought the Meccano company in 1964 and this included both British and French factories. Lines Bros. collapsed in 1971 the British factory was eventually absorbed by Airfix in 1972. General Mills purchased the majority of shares of Meccano France. Airfix battled on until 1981 till it also went under and was purchased by General Mills. General Mills now owned both Meccano U.K. and France and shifted all Meccano operations to France. 
Marc Rebibo bought Meccano from General Mills in 1985 and the French controlling company became known as Meccano France SN. In 1989, Marc Rebibo sold Meccano to Dominique Duvauchelle. Around 1990, Meccano France purchased the rights to the similar construction "Erector" trademark (existed in the USA since 1913) in the U.S.A. and started selling Meccano sets marked "Erector Meccano" in the U.S.A.
In 2000, Nikko, a Japanese toy manufacturer, purchased 49 per cent of Meccano. Development and design and most of the production remained with Meccano SN, based in France but some production was shifted to China. However under commercial pressure Nikko sold its interest in the Meccano name and System back to Meccano SN, the French parent company in 2007. During 2013, the Meccano brand was acquired in its entirety by the Canadian toy company Spin Master.
 
SIZE: 42CM WIDE 8CM HIGH 29CM DEEP
 
CONDITION: SOME SCRAPES TO THE METAL CASE. MOTOR TESTED AND IN WORKING CONDITION. WENT THROUGH ALL THE  LARGER PIECES AND THEY ARE ALL ACCOUNTED FOR. AA BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED. PDFS FOR PARTS LIST AND SOME EXTRA MODELS TO BE BUILT WILL BE EMAILED TO THE BUYER.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME INTERESTING VINTAGE AND OTHER TOYS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK.