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Part 11: Double bracket

Initially this part was ¾'' wide, a most unusual Meccano part measurement.  After only three years it was shrunk down to the more familiar half inch width.  In the sixties a 'longer' versions with 1'' arms was introduced into the system.

11	Double bracket	1914	-	12	12	12	N°3
11a	Double bracket 1''x½''	1962	-	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

The parts

Chronological variations

You can see from the photo to the right how the earlier 'wide' double brackets (¾'' wide) compare with the later ½'' versions of the same part.

I haven't read of any good reason why this was the case, but looking at the contemporary bolts it appears to be fairly obvious.

The bolts at the time were much longer, around 5/16'' (9mm) plus the head.  If you put one of these in each side of the double bracket (holding one strip each), and then want to put another bolt through the central hole, you need the bracket to be exactly ¾'' wide.  The picture below shows this clearly.

What is surprising, though, is that the part reduced to a half-inch width in 1917, and yet the bolts remained longer until about 1921/22.  Something doesn't add up here, I don't think.  Or is my theory completely wrong?  It might have been decided that the double bracket being half an inch wide was more important than being able to bolt them from the outside.  You can still fit bolts from the inside out with the smaller bracket, but it's more difficult.

Variations and oddities

Dealer spare parts boxes

Above, a pack of double brackets, and to the right a pack of the longer double brackets.  The style of these boxes dates them after 1954, but of course the long double brackets part 11a must be after 1962, the date of their introduction.

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	11	11a
¾'' x ½'' x ½'' double bracket, nickelled	14	.ni1
½'' x ½'' x ½'' double bracket, nickelled	17	.ni
Double bracket, black †	51-52	.bs
Double bracket, 1'' arms nickel plated	62		.ni
Double bracket, zinc plated	66	.zn	.zn
Double bracket, yellow (eg Highway) †	73	.ye
Double bracket, olive (eg Combat) †	76	.am
Double bracket, matt brass (rounded ends)	78		.mb
Double bracket, matt brass (truncated ends)	78	.mb1	.mb1
Double bracket, dark yellow (eg Highway) †	78	.dy
Double bracket, iridescent	78	.ir
		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

Michel LHOMME      (at 6:07am, Tue 21st Feb, 23)

Hi, I have a 3/4"x1/2"x1/2" double bracket in blackened steel (German MECCANO 1918 N°1A Outfit)

Michael Walker      (at 4:42pm, Mon 8th Nov, 21)

If all else fails you can buy a Meccano Part 811 for 50p (+ shipping) from Meccanosparesdotcom (replace 'dot' with a full stop). When on this site input a search for "Narrow Double Bracket".

bob t      (at 10:42am, Mon 8th Nov, 21)

Try contacting meccanodotcom say that this part is missing, it looks like a part A811 (0811) from set no. 16304. It's not the double bracket you mention that's over 100 years old. This is a narrow version. Replace dot with fullstop.

Rich Harrison      (at 8:22pm, Sun 7th Nov, 21)

Grandson has been putting together Meccano Meccasaur purchased by his Aunt in Denver. Construction stymied by missing part. The "double bracket" shown above next to "Chronological variations" is the part he is looking for (the one on top). I would love to know how to get one, please!

Nick Smith      (at 4:13am, Thu 27th Feb, 14)

Double bracket, olive (eg Combat) † is shown as from '76. Its low 4xx part No 404 reflects its first use in Army Multikit rather than Combat, therefore from '72 or '73 depending which of those years you believe

Staffan Kjellin      (at 12:12pm, Tue 30th Dec, 08)

Hi, I have the 11a.zn both in rounded and truncated ends.

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