Meccano Gears

As a youngster I enjoyed many hours of using Meccano (1940s & 50s). It has been decades since I owned any parts.I found http://borrill.meccanoindex.co.uk/parts.htm that offers replacement parts: specifically, gears.

Are these really gears (correct tooth form, etc)? Could they be used in projects?

Or, is this heresy and I will be banned from the forums?

There are a few stationary engines that happily use meccano gears to drive their governors. As to if their profile is correct or not it makes little difference to using them for this purpose. What were you thinking about using them for?

Jo

Dunc,

There are a few useful references in this RC thread.

... But I can't comment on their accuracy.

MichaelG.

.

P.S. Here is a direct link to the useful page

Five article on the theory of Meccano Gears

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/11/2012 19:27:24

Hi,

Meccano gears can be hobbed using a 9/16 whitworth tap. The Meccano worm wheel was originally made from lengths of 9/16 Whit brass studding and the gears made to suit. There is a Meccano gear hobbing machine which will produce them Here is a link. I am halfway through building the model and it is very rigid so far.

Hi Gray, I still have my number 10 set plus numerous other parts

Best Regards,

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 19/11/2012 21:25:26

Hi Dunc.

Like yourself I was a Meccano fan in my young days, and have maintained a distant interest over the (many) decades since.

I have used the gears on some projects, they seem to mesh ok and work well, generally I have used them on drives up to Decaperm size motors.

If you can get to one of the Meccano exhibitions you might be surprised to see what people manage to achieve with these items, also parts suppliers attend.

Still a lot of interest in Meccano. We always invite the West London Meccano Society to the St Albans MES show and a trader comes too so put late September in your diary for next year.. Also when we have a Meccano model on our club stand at publicity events it pulls in the punters because they can identify with it. Only problem is with parents who don't move their children on from the toy Lego.

I believe that during ww2, Meccano gears were used in insruments, and radio, often with a change in bore of the hole, and sometimes with a taper pin instead of a grub screw.

Meccano it seems is making a come back in NZ. Ian S C

The Meccano gears are an odd DP so that combinations can be made to mesh at multiples of 1/2".

As stated above most gears are 38 DP but there are also some 16 DP abd 20 DP. See here

Russell

Hi Russell.

This is not a problem as the odd DP gears are on special large parts which are intended to mesh together, an example is the geared quadrant and it's associated gear. All normal Meccano gears are 38DP. It's not a matter of concern.

Best regards

Terry