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Meccano Light Red/Green Outfits

First of all, I'd better point out that if you want to know everything about the light red/green period, you must read Melvyn's LRG website which you can find here. 

But, that's a large and complex website, and having been asked again and again, here's a short version of the history of the light red/green period. Of course as well as the usual sources, Melvyn's website has been referenced substantially in compiling this page.

The light red/green period is an interesting one. This colour change and the blue/gold one are the two changes in Meccano's history that I can find very little real reason for. Meccano wasn't obviously struggling in 1957 – the mid 1950s were some of its most profitable years, and yet a fairly substantial change to the colour schemes was decided upon. Perhaps it was simply an attempt to update and make the colour scheme more cheerful. Either way, the change was introduced on the quiet – there is little mention of the new colours when they first appear in dealer's leaflets and the Meccano Magazine, and certainly no fanfare. Very little changed, initially, apart from the paint colours.

Over the next few years, the packaging changed substantially from stringing cards to plastic moulded trays, and new box artwork appeared. Manuals were changed in 1962, and many parts were added or replaced by plastic ones during this period, but financially the company was in terminal decline during the entire period. In February 1964 Meccano Ltd, on the point of bankruptcy, was sold in its entirety to the Lines Group (owners of Tri-ang) and the Hornby empire died.

Pictures wanted!

If you have any pictures of missing outfits below, or another picture of an outfit that is better or not quite the same as one that's already here, please help us by sending a copy of it! It would be very much appreciated.  You can email it straight to us, or upload it to the Rust Bucket forum... The brief history of the changes made during this period is shown below.  Bear these in mind when viewing the pictures...

1958	In July 1958 the colour change to light red/green is shown in dealer literature. Outfits from August 1958 (at least) appear in the new colour scheme.
1959	Packaging (for outfits 0 to 6) changes from plain red boxes to colour printed box lids in red, white, and yellow with Meccano strips across and down. Parts are pinned into plastic vacuum-formed trays instead of being strung to cards. Outfits 00, 7 on, and accessory outfits remain unchanged
1960	Wheel flanges and conical discs change from light red to blue, and small parts tins change from gold to green.
1961	Road wheels change from blue/grey tinplate to blue/grey plastic. The precise date is unknown, but perhaps we can find out between us. The literature first showing the change is an old photograph retouched with the new wheels!
1962	Significant parts changes to all outfits, including several new parts in both metal and plastic. New M-series packaging (named after the large M on each box lid), and new exploded-view manuals. Outfits 7, 8, and accessory outfits now in plastic trays rather than stringing cards. Outfits 9 and 10 remain packed as before.
1963	Manuals go multi-lingual. Electrikit introduced.
1964	Meccano taken over by Lines Group in February. Colours change to silver/yellow/black in August.

Meccano Main Outfits

Outfit 00

As noted above, the packaging for outfits 00 and 7 upwards remained identical to the medium red/green period until 1962, and so this 1961 outfit 00 is almost completely unchanged from the medium red/green version, except for the later small parts box. This outfit is originally strung, and in perfect condition.

Outfit 1

This 1962 Outfit 1 shows the new "M-series" box packaging, with the parts pinned into the yellow plastic vacuum-formed tray. The new manual for outfits 0 and 1 contains exploded diagrams instead of descriptions and pictures.

Outfit 4

The final style of light red/green outfits is shown here, with the M-series packaging. This outfit dates from 1963.

Outfit 5

In 1959, outfits 0 to 6 appeared in this "strip" packaging, with a vacuum-formed plastic tray and new printed outer box. The manual is almost identical to the medium red/green version, but the small parts tin has changed to green (1960) and the roadwheels to plastic (1961), dating this outfit comfortably into 1961. Note that the plastic roadwheels don't fit properly into the spaces originally intended for tinplate parts. In the following year, the packaging of this outfit changed to the M-series lid with the newer manuals.

Outfit 6

Outfit 6 was always the first of the two-level outfits, and this example dates from 1962, with the new M-series outer box. Plastic roadwheels again show the outfit as being from 1961 or later.

Outfit 8

In 1962, outfit 8 also changed from a strung outfit to new plastic trays. These large outfits are rare in this condition, not just because of their short life in a depressed Meccano market. The weight of all these parts in the thin plastic trays can easily break through the plastic. Note that we have the new 1962-on parts list here, including two of the 18½'' angle girders part 7a in outfit 8 for the first time.

Meccano Accessory Outfits

Outfit 00a

The guarantee slip shows this outfit as April 1959, with the 1958 Outfit 0 manual packed exactly as the previous medium red/green ones.

Outfit 2a

Accessory outfits remained strung right through to 1961, as shown by this 1960 outfit 2a. Note that the road wheel has changed to plastic this year, which Melvyn remembers as being very annoying to the owner of an existing outfit 2 containing a tinplate road wheel!

Outfit 4a

As with the outfit 2a above, this example is identical in layout to the medium red/green accessory outfits, except for the slight change to the small parts box. What's unusual here is that the cylinder is obviously of the "bright green" whereas the other parts are significantly duller. There are many different shades of light red/green, but it's unusual to find them both in the same box.

Outfit 7a

As with all accessory outfits, this 7a remains in identical packaging to the later medium red/green outfits. Note again that there are some colour discrepancies in this less common outfit, with the cylinder and channel bearing in a much brighter finish. The two small parts boxes are identical. Note that outfit 7a was supplied with the manual for outfits 7 and 8, in case it was bought by boys who had previously had an outfit 6a. The outfit 6a manual of the time only included models that could be built with outfit 7.

To the right, the later M-series outfit 7a is shown, dating from 1962 or 1963.

Manuals for these outfits

Click on the following files to jump to the appropriate manual for this era. After clicking, you will see the cover of the manual and underneath it a link to download the manual to your computer. Warning: some of these manuals are very large and will take several minutes to download. You have been warned!

Early light red/green (1958-1961, similar to mid red/green manuals)

1957 Outfit 00	1957 Outfit 1	1958 Outfit 2	1958 Outfit 3	1958 Outfit 4
1960 Outfit 6	1957 Outfit 7-8	1956 Outfit 9	1962 Outfit 10 leaflets	1959 Mechanisms

Late light red/green (1962-1963)

1964 Outfit 0-1	1964 Outfit 2-3	1966 Outfit 4-5-6	1966 Outfit 7-8	1962 Outfit 9
1962 Outfit 10 leaflets	1962 Electrikit	1962 Gears Outfit B

Further information

Total number of messages on this page: 15.  This is page 1 of 3.   

Henk Bakker      (at 12:31am, Wed 13th Mar, 19)

Mistake in my previous message. I have acquired a 7a M-series set, not an 8a that I already owned in 2013.

Henk Bakker      (at 12:28am, Wed 13th Mar, 19)

We are now nearly six years further since my previous comment. In the mean time I have also acquired a mint 8a M-Series set with very near excellent box and a good quality but unfortunately incomplete 9 M-Series set with very near excellent box. A (near) mint 9a M-series set is still at my wish list. If someody knows one for sale, offers are welcome at HLBakker@12move.NL I am willing to pay a good price. Thank you, Henk Bakker

David Turner      (at 11:32pm, Wed 12th Sep, 18)

Thanks, Richard, for your prompt response and your advice. I appreciate it.

Richard Payn      (at 1:08pm, Wed 12th Sep, 18)

David, Both are correct. Larger bossed parts tended to have set screws, although 1" pulleys did come fitted with them too. There is no hard and fast rule.

David Turner      (at 12:42pm, Wed 12th Sep, 18)

I have a secondhand Outfit 5 "M" set. Some parts to fit the axles are fitted with grub screws and some parts are fitted with set screws. Which is correct? Thank you

Nick Burriss      (at 1:31pm, Fri 22nd Jan, 16)

I'm very envious of Henk Bakker and his mint LRG 8a outfit. I'm trying to source one, and a 9a to complete my collection. If anyone knows how/where I might find either (or both) of these for sale, please let me know.

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