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Parts 66/67: Lead weights

66	Weight, 50 gram	1916	1940	5	0
67	Weight, 25 gram	1916	1940	5	0

The parts

Lead weights are one of the many sought-after 'obsolete parts' in the Meccano system. Introduced in 1916, they were supplied only in the Outfit 7 starting in 1922, lasting until 1929.  They were dropped from outfits in 1930, along with a number of other interesting parts as the outfits were substantially overhauled.

Almost entirely useless, these are not used in any of the outfit 7 models!  Only Supermodel 16, the original Meccano Loom, calls for four of the 25g weights part number 67 (although it shows only two of part 66 instead in the illustration).  This model was not at all satisfactory and was soon replaced by Supermodel 16a, the 'improved' Loom, which doesn't require the weights at all.

Several people have attempted to make reproductions of these rare and expensive parts with varying degrees of success.  Bill Inglis made them in the 70's, and describes his method in this page here  . 

They can also be found cast in white metal (which are obviously not the correct weight, but are ok to look at).  Wear and patina is generally the best guide to identifying genuine ones, but you should be very wary of buying these parts on their own unless you are pretty sure of the seller's knowledge and reputation.

The only reason to have or buy these parts nowadays is to complete an outfit 7 of between 1922 and 1929.  A "full set" of lead weights is the number in this outfit – five of each, as shown in the picture to the left.

Chronological variations

As well as plain cast lead (by far the most common variety), these weights can also be found nickel-plated, and painted gold.  According to DMS/EMP, gold painted weights were the standard from 1934 onwards (although of course they were only available as spare parts in this colour).  I'm not aware of when the nickel-plated versions were produced, but they seem to be earlier than the 'plain lead' versions if the stamping is anything to go by.

Variations and oddities

The most common variation of these parts are the ones made in the French factory during the 1920's.  These are some of the only parts I know of that have their Meccano part numbers printed on them – you can see the words "Piece No.66" and "Piece No.67" on the parts shown to the right.

Note that in these examples the wording is stamped into the mould, and is therefore proud of the surface of the weight.  In the English-made examples, the parts appear to have been moulded first and then stamped Meccano, and thus the stamping is recessed into the part. 

The picture to the left shows a blue painted version of the same thing, also French.  Roelf tells us that this looks like a genuine part (and indeed it is in the correct pre-war French blue).

I now have a stack of photographs from Clive Weston showing all sorts of variations in the stamping, and how some weights have tarnished badly.  I'll put some of these up here very soon...

Dealer spare parts boxes

I will be extremely impressed if anyone manages to find a boxed set of these.  On the other hand, since the parts were almost never called for in a model, perhaps there are a lot of these around that were never sold?

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	66	67
Cast lead	16	.xx	.xx
Nickel plated	??	.ni	.ni
Gold painted	34	.go	.go
		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: 7.  This is page 2 of 2.   

ray randall      (at 9:10am, Mon 9th Jan, 12)

One of these 25grm weights was also used on the Baltic Tank super model No.15 as a counterweight on the driving wheel.

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