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Part 19/h/s/g: Crank handles

The idea of a crank handle, specifically to wind in cord and operate a crane hook, was one of Frank Hornby's 'visions' for all Meccano outfits, and was a feature of every single outfit made (except for the tiny 000 outfit of 1930-35, and the 70's 'Pocket Meccano' outfit). Many complaints were made about the difficulty of firmly attaching a piece of cord to a crank handle, and for a time cranks were made with tiny holes to thread the cord through. The real solution had to wait until 1931, when the 'anchoring spring for cord', part 176, was finally made, although even that wasn't included in outfits until 1934.

19	Crank handle, 5½'', without grip	1901	1937	3	3	n/a	n/a	Replaced by 19h
19h	Crank handle, 5½'' (initially with grip)	1938	-	n/a	n/a	1	N°6	Without grip from '67
19s	Crank handle (small), 3½'', without grip	1928	-	0	1	0	N°-
19g	Crank handle (grip), 3½'', with grip	1938	1966	n/a	n/a	2	N°2	Replaced in outfits by 19s from '65

The parts

There is a confusing range of numbering for the cranks. Initially, there was only one grooved crank, which had no number. Part number 19 was added in 1905 but had varying lengths. Various lengths were supplied with holes about 1½'' from the end, through which one could tie off the cord. This idea was eventually dropped, and the length settled on 5''. In around 1927, this part was joined by a new shorter crank of 3½'', named 19s (for 'short').

In 1937, with the introduction of the numbered outfits 0-10, a new short 3½'' crank with a grip was added, part 19g (for 'grip'). The 19s remained in production without the grip, for the smallest outfits 00,0, and 1. Part 19 was dropped altogether, but a new 5½'' crank handle with a grip became new part number 19h. We will have to assume that the 'h' is merely the next letter in the alphabet after 19g, unless someone knows better. So we have two short cranks, 19(s)hort and 19(g)rip, and the long one with grip 19h.

Although the grips were very useful, costcutting in 1965 led to the outfits losing all the crank handles with grips. Part 19g was dropped altogether and 19s was substituted in the larger outfits. Part 19h lost its grip, but kept its number because it was the only long crank handle in the system at that time.

Chronological variations

The picture shows the contents of the largest outfit for the key dates. In the 30's (the outfit 7 and later outfit L), three long and one short crank were supplied. No crank handles had grips at this time. Immediately post-war, a 10-outfit had three crank handles (one long and two short), with nice brass grips. By 1960 (in the light red/green era) red plastic grips had replaced the brass. By 1970, all grips had gone from both lengths.

1920's crank handles are often stamped "Meccano Fabrique en Angleterre" (MFEA), and the early rounded-end ones with "Meccano". The 19g.re example shown in the table below has "Meccano" stamped in the late-30's style font next to the Erinoid grip. The ones in the photo to the left have MFEA (left) and two different "Meccano" stampings.

Variations and oddities

None known

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	19 5½'' w/out	19h 5½'' with	19s 3½'' w/out	19g 3½'' with	Grip
Grooved crank handle (unnumbered)	01	.mm				none
Plain crank, length varied 3-5''	05	.ga1				none
As above, hole near end for cord	??	.ga1a				none
4'' shaft, with pinhole	??	.ga1b				none
5'' shaft, with pinhole	??	.ga1c				none
plain shaft, cut ends, no pinhole	27	.ga2		.ga1		none
Without grip, rounded ends	30's?	.ga		.ga		none
With red Erinoid grip	38		.re		.re	Erinoid
With brass grip	46?		.br		.br	Brass
With red plastic grip	46		.mr		.mr	Red
With black plastic grip	63		.bk		.bk	Black
All cranks without grip	65		.ga	(see above)		None
		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: 10.  This is page 2 of 2.   

RobertG      (at 1:29pm, Tue 13th Jun, 17)

Could the black plastic grip handles be '51 / '52 (Korea) period? Just got the remnants of a '51 Outfit 4 with black pulley, spanner and short black screwdriver all correct. It had the crank with a black plastic handle. The outfit looked otherwise unmodified - i.e. bits missing but nothing that should not have been there. Ergo; should the .bk also here be '51, made to match the other blackness?

Anthony Norton      (at 3:22pm, Sat 19th Sep, 15)

In a job lot I found a crank handle with a right hand bend. Picture available I now have 2. total length about 5.250 and the rod part about 4.500 I wondered is this a Meccano part.

Carlos Giani      (at 10:25pm, Mon 2nd Aug, 10)

My Meccano sets (N°3, 3a, 7, 7a, 8a) were all bought in Venezuela in the early sixties (light red-green), and they only contained crank handles N° 19 and 19s, although in the instructions they were clearly shown with grip. Maybe "colonial" supply? Actually, all my sets contained at least one malformed/defect part (e.g. a N°24 disc wheel without thread, bended N°20 flanged wheel, bended N°62 cranks, bended rods, no 154b corner bracket and so on).

Antoni Gual      (at 7:01pm, Thu 28th Jan, 10)

I got a 19g crank with a wooden grip with my Meccano (made in Spain) back in 1962. I still have it but the grip cracked and disappeared long ago so i can't send pictures.

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