Meccano is a metal construction toy originally for children but in later years has become a serious hobby for adults.
Meccano is a miniature engineering construction system originally developed as a child's toy consisting of Angle Girders, Strips, Plates, Flexible Plates, Brackets, Pulleys, Gears, Axles in fact most engineering components are reproduced in the system
All construction parts in the system are perforated at 1/2" intervals, enabling very strong small or large assemblies to be made using nuts and bolts.
Using your ingenuity it is possible to construct almost any mechanical item such as Cranes, Vehicles, Clocks, Designing machines etc, and in any size.
The system is completely versatile and has been in use for almost a hundred years without alteration to the fundamental size and shape of the components.
Here are a few interesting articles on the history of Meccano, Hornby trains and of course Hornby himself.