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Parts 76/77: Triangular plates

76	Triangular plate, 2½''	1919	-	8	8	4	N°9
77	Triangular plate, 1''	1920	-	10	10	4	N°8

The parts

It's very unusual to get a 60 degree angle in a Meccano part, and because of this these parts can come in particularly useful for spacing holes at a quarter-inch spacing (half a hole).  Most of the large triangular plates also have three slotted holes, which can be used along with the edge holes to provide all sorts of spacings for unusual gear combinations.

The small triangular plate is extremely useful as a robust attachment point next to a strip, in addition to being able to have a hole at a quarter-inch spacing.  In the early outfits 7 and L, there were ten of these handy parts, but this was sadly reduced to four in the outfit 10 from 1937.

Chronological variations

The large triangular plate started off with holes only around the edge.  These are very rare as they date only from around 1919.  In 1920, the central hole was added, and in 1921 the three slotted holes were introduced.  This part didn't change in design after 1921, and the small triangular plate didn't change from its introduction.

One thing that part 77 is unusual for, is that it was supplied both in dark green and in dark red during the late 20's.  The dark red is by far the most common, though.

Variations and oddities

None known

Dealer spare parts boxes

The parts above are light green, dating from 1958-64, as identfied by the light green labels on yellow 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	76	77
Nickel plated, holes only around edge	19	.ni1	.ni1
Nickel plated, with central hole	20	.ni2
Nickel plated, slotted holes added	21	.ni
Early red (pea-red)	26	.re
Dark green	27		.dg
Dark red	27	.dr	.dr
Medium red (pre-war)	33	.mr1
Medium green	33	.mg1	.mg1
Gold	34	.go	.go
Medium green (post-war stamped)	48	.mg	.mg
Light green	58	.lg	.lg
Yellow	64	.ye
Nickel plated	64?		.ni
Zinc plated ¹	67?		.zn
Dark yellow	79	.dy	.dy
Dark blue	79		.db
		ALL	ALL

Note: ¹  The rarer zinc plated parts have varying introduction dates, sometimes considerably later than the start of zinc plating on the more common strips in 1966. 

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

Ernst Leuthold      (at 3:05pm, Fri 7th Aug, 09)

Part 76 exist also in matt black,part 77 in orange, mission universe sets 1997. regards ernst

Dick Watson      (at 3:21pm, Fri 28th Dec, 07)

We have not a digital camera, so that it may be a week or so before we use a film up or my son comes back with the mobile phone with a camera. Dick.

Dick Watson      (at 10:22am, Thu 27th Dec, 07)

I have a couple of pre-war 76s in medium red which came with other parts (including red braced girders) from, I think, a 1933 medium red & green 5a. Reply: Brilliant (and logical, too). Could you send me a photo of one please?

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