63 Mayo Composite Aircraft ( 1939-41)

I would like to add some information to the thread earlier today regarding the 63 Mayo Composite Box and the table by Keith Harvey.I have one of the boxes which appear last on Keith's list where he leaves the printing quantity as blank or unknown in his table. Please see photograph of the side of my box: As can be seen the printing quantity is 17,500.I hope this helps. Dave B

It is interesting that in there were 25,000 of these boxes ordered in January 1940 and another 17,500 April 1940. What on earth was Meccano doing planning over 40,000 at the height of the War. In Harvie's table is there is no production number on the box it would date the box prior to the numbering in this way to early 1938. (Note I corrected my first post was I see the thread was in the Document Archive)

The one I have shown here is 'Code A2251' and the base insert states 'Over 300 Varieties' so I believe it is a later box than the one shown. I did buy it from the States but it does not have a Hudson-Dobson label and it has a pencil price of 2/6 which implies it has travelled a bit.

Hi, my contribution in de Document Archive thread was more or less impressionistic. For more precise documentation I'll add the side data and the insert picture of the box demonstrated. Considering that Keith Harvie certainly must have missed some boxes the number of models produced must have exceeded 100,000 by far and, indeed, the Meccano optimism of selling so many models in these hard times is incredible. But apparently they got rid of them in the end (or they were molten down for war production). The model even featured in the 1941 USA catalogue, resisting many German submarines on their way to the American customers. Apparently a fixed price could not be guaranteed! Kind regards, Jan Werner

Mayo Composite 63. To bring some light in the 63 boxes, I have the following information coming from my own boxes, from another major collection in the Netherlands and some well known publications. There are four types of boxes. Code for the boxes is A 2251. Type 1, description on lid of box. Type 2, description on lid of box, word cruising speed added. Type 3, description and diagram of Mayo on lid of box. All these boxes have the standard seize for box and lid. The sides of the boxes have the chequered type of lining. Type 4, description and diagram of Mayo on lid of box. This box has a shallow type of lid. The lining on the boxes are just a line as can be seen on some very late 1940 boxes. Data codes and quantity on boxes. M is the symbol for 1000 in the Roman language. 1, BW 3992 20M 1-39, box type 1. 2, BW 3992 20M 3-39, box type 1. 3, BW 6597 20M 6-39, box type 2. 4, BW 3145 15M 9-39, box type 3. 5, BW 10529 25M 1-40, box type 3. 6, BW 17-5M 4-40, box type 3. 7, No BW, no date code, A 2251, box type 4. John Beugels.

Just adding some more pictures to this thread and in the process hopefully rekindling interest in this great little model. Unfortunately my example has suffered somewhat over the years. As can be seen with John's excellent post above, mine is a a #5.

The link to the Documents Archive: dtcawebsite.org/dinky-documents/58-boxes...mposite-aircraft-box

Thanks for that Jan - I already have been into that link ages ago. My intention as I wrote in my post was to rekindle interest in this model should members have something more to contribute. Prior to my post, it was tucked way back in the forum. At least your post with its link takes the hard work out of looking for it in the Dinky Archives. :laugh: