Top Home Bottom

Parts 46-48d: Double angle strips

46	Double angle strip, 2½''x1''	1904	-	4	4	4	N°7	Was Large bent strip
47	Double angle strip, 2½''x1½''	1919	-	2	2	2	N°10	Part 112 until 1923
47a	Double angle strip, 3''x1½''	1921	-	2	2	2	N°10	Part 112a until 1923
48	Double angle strip, 1½''x½''	1919	-	8	8	4	N°4	Part 60a until 1923
48a	Double angle strip, 2½''x½''	1912	-	18	18	12	N°0	Part 60 until 1923
48b	Double angle strip, 3½''x½''	1919	-	12	12	8	N°6	Part 60b until 1923
48c	Double angle strip, 4½''x½''	1921	-	4	4	4	N°8	Part 60d until 1923
48d	Double angle strip, 5½''x½''	1919	-	5	5	4	N°8	Part 60c until 1923

The parts

The first of these parts was known as the "Large Bent Strip", included in larger outfits from 1904 to 1906, then dropped and reintroduced in 1910. Well, that's what some listings show, but only on the basis of a single listing supposedly of 1906 which doesn't include it. On the other hand, there is a photograph of a box B in Love & Gamble (p36) with a rolled-edge large bent strip on top of a clearly 1907 outfit, and another picture later on with it easily visible in an outfit 4 of 1909. The large bent strip in rolled-edge tinplate is certainly a very rare part, however.

In 1912 the 2½''x½'' double angle strip was introduced as part number 60, and then in 1919 most of the other sizes were introduced; what is now part 47 was part 112 and the other double angle strips were numbered 60a/b/c. Part 46 was renamed from Large Bent Strip to Double Angle Strip 2½''x1'' at this time. In 1921 the final two versions were introduced, the strange 3''x1½'' as part 112a, and the 4½''x½'' (out of sequence) as part 60d.

The chaos of this numbering system was too much. Parts 47 and 48 in the main sequence were available (they had been used for a variety of spring balances and dynometers in the HSMD), and all of the double angle strips were renumbered into the sequence seen above.

The 2½''x½'' double angle strip is one of the most common of all parts, but is very often found bent and misshapen in Meccano collections. Really good examples of early ones are sometimes hard to find.

Chronological variations

The most important change from the point of view of the Meccano builder is in the overall length of the parts. Some (EMP included) document that all of the double-angle strips can be found with the principal measurement correct either externally or internally. That is, the 2½''x½'' double angle strip is 2½'' overall or 2½'' inside the faces. I haven't found this to be the case. In my experience, almost all nickel-plated ones are longer, sometimes substantially longer, than later painted varieties. This can be seen clearly in the photo to the right.

The examples shown aren't carefully selected parts -- they are randomly chosen. The first three show nickel-plated parts from 1916, 1919, and mid-1920's. The later ones are all identical in length, and cover a range of eras from early 30's to 70's.

Although the nickel ones aren't consistent in length, they are on average significantly longer than later versions by at least a couple of thicknesses of a strip. Early manual models rely on these lengths, and when rebuilding these models with later parts you need to be aware that your double angle strips are likely to be shorter. John Nuttall takes up the story:

The table at the bottom of the page assumes 1925 for the length change in all nickel double angle strips.

The zinc-plated 1½''x½'' double angle strip part 48 is found in both radiused and truncated end versions. It matches the change in part 5, the 2½'' strip, from which it was made. However, it's not quite as simple as that. Some double-angle strips are obviously made from the equivalent strip part like the 48b (made from a part 2a) and 48c (made from a part 2). Others like the 48a have truncated ends whereas you might have thought they were made from a part 3 with radiused ends.

Interestingly, examples of iridescent (1979) part 48's I've seen have radiused ends, which is the only example of part 48 where the ends don't match the ends of the contemporary part 5. Further research is needed...

Variations and oddities

This leads us to the French part 48a, 2½''x½'' double angle strip. UK versions have truncated ends, which is unexpected as the equivalent unbent strip doesn't. However, double angle strips can be found with radiused ends as seen in this picture, but they turn out to be French ones in the examples I have come across.

Dealer spare parts boxes

Individual part numbers

Part numbers for the parts on this page are as follows:    Unique part numbers
For identification, each variation has been given a suffix to the main Meccano part number. These suffixes consist of a two-character code for the colour, and if there are many variations, a further number and sometimes letter code to identify each variation. See the bottom of the 'Parts' page for further details.

You don't need to worry what the codes are, just click on any one for a photograph.

The button above turns on and off the display of DMS numbers (where they are known). The DMS (Development of the Meccano System, Hauton and Hindemarsh) published in 1972 and added to in 75 and 82, suggested part numbers for every variation of every Meccano part. These numbers aren't perfect, but they are recognised and also referenced in the EMP (Encyclopedia of Meccano Parts, Don Blakeborough).

Description	from	46	47	47a	48	48a	48b	48c	48d
Tinplate with rolled-over edges	04	.mm
Nickel plated	07?	.ni	.ni	.ni	.ni	.ni	.ni	.ni	.ni
Blackened steel †	15-16	.bk
Nickel plated, shorter (length is overall)	25	.ni1	.ni1	.ni1	.ni1	.ni1	.ni1	.ni1	.ni1
Dark green	27	.dg	.dg	.dg	.dg	.dg	.dg	.dg	.dg
Medium green (pre-war)	33	.mg1	.mg1	.mg1	.mg1	.mg1	.mg1	.mg1	.mg1
Gold	34	.go	.go	.go	.go	.go	.go	.go	.go
Olive green (Mechanised Army) †	39-41					.ma
Medium green (post-war)	45	.mg	.mg	.mg	.mg	.mg	.mg	.mg	.mg
Light green	58	.lg	.lg	.lg	.lg	.lg	.lg	.lg	.lg
Silver	64	.si	.si	.si	.si	.si	.si	.si	.si
Zinc	66	.zn	.zn	.zn	.zn	.zn	.zn	.zn	.zn
Zinc with truncated ends	73				.zn1
Olive green (Army Multikit) †	73					.am
Yellow (Highway Multikit) †	74				.ye	.ye
Dark blue	78	.db	.db	.db	.db	.db	.db	.db	.db
Matt brass	78				.mb	.mb	.mb
Dark yellow (Highway Multikit) †	78				.dy	.dy
White (Space) †	79				.wh	.wh
Iridescent	79				.ir	.ir
		ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL

Please send us pictures of missing parts! Hints and tips for pictures
Take a picture of the part in very good light, preferably on a plain yellow background, without a flash but with a tripod.
Ideally, trim the picture to about 150 pixels per inch of the Meccano part (unless the part is particularly big or small), save it as a reasonably good quality jpg file with a filename of exactly the part number, for example 19b.ni1.jpg, and email it to us by clicking on 'Contact us' at the top of the page. Thanks!

• A greyed-out box shows that no part exists for that colour combination.
• Part number codes with a green background have an attached picture of the part, just click once on the code to show a photograph of that part in a separate window.
• Parts marked "†" were temporary or economy parts, or existed only within specific themed outfits. The previous part continued throughout or afterwards.

Further information

Total number of messages on this page: 15.  This is page 2 of 3.     

Ronnie Corbett      (at 1:27pm, Fri 23rd Jul, 10)

Nickel plate was perhaps price sensitive at those difficult times. Spraying silver or yellow paint (often over earlier green paint!) probably made more financial sense. Then zinc plating came along and was probably seen as an effective and cheap dipping process. Unfortunately, as history told us, the preparation was often not good and the plating tarnished somewhat. It may also be the case that the nickel parts which you have were unusual, quasi-experimental pieces which were released for a short period and then dropped. Odd colours do tend to turn up from time to time, a fact to which the learned authors will doubtless attest!

Ronnie Corbett      (at 1:25pm, Fri 23rd Jul, 10)

Nickel plate was perhaps price sensitive at those difficult times. Spraying green or yellow paint (often over earlier green paint!) probably made more financial sense. Then zinc plating came along and was probably seen as an effective and cheap dipping process. Unfortunately, as history told us, the preparation was often not good and the plating tarnished somewhat. It may also be the case that the nickel parts which you have were unusual, quasi-experimental pieces which were released for a short period and then dropped. Odd colours do tend to turn up from time to time, a fact to which the learned authors will doubtless attest!

Stephen Brook      (at 1:16pm, Fri 23rd Jul, 10)

Thanks for the information, Ruban. If that is the case, in my humble opinion it is a pity they didn't go for nickel plate for all strips, girders etc in 1964 instead of silver paint or the poor zinc plate which followed it.

Ruban Abraham      (at 3:49pm, Fri 16th Jul, 10)

Steve, the part is probably from the light red and green or silver/yellow black era. As we know, 48a was seen in various colours at the start of the b/s/y period, including yellow. I hope this is helpful.

Stephen Brook      (at 1:16pm, Wed 14th Jul, 10)

I have a nickel plated 48a which is stamped "Meccano made in England" - so, presumably, post world war 2. Does anyone know anything about this part ?

Ernst Leuthold      (at 3:15pm, Fri 7th Aug, 09)

Part 47a exist also in white(with extra hole)mission universe 1997 regards Ernst

Your name:
Your message:
Security check:	(Please type in the text to prove you're a person!)