A (very) little information about me:
Here I am as a teenager - into the products of Meccano Ltd already.
I don't actually remember building this crane, or the Hornby trains, but it was a long time ago! Note that the goods vans do not have roofs! I did not have much pocket money in those days.After this I had, probably as a Christmas or birthday present, a No.3 Meccano Set in Red/green, about 1947 - one of the first sets released after toy manufacture was prohibited during WW2.
Then I had a Hornby No.501 LNER Passenger Train Set. How I loved that train!
It was cleaned and oiled and the coaches polished with wax polish. How I wish I still had it!Next was a Hornby Dublo 'Duchess of Athol' Set, and hours of fun building complicated layouts and running trains with my friends who also had Dublo. We organised the Hastings (New Zealand) Branch of the Hornby Railway Company, renting a room from the Catholic Church in which we set up a club layout.
Here is a self-portrait in my studio, photographing my Carette Stationary Steam Engine. My guess is it was made about 1919. (The Carette - not me!)
Currently I am a Member of the Hornby Railway Collectors Associations in New Zealand, Australia and the parent body in England. I also belong to the International Society of Meccanomen and the Auckland Meccano Club. I collect Meccano, Hornby Trains, Hornby Dublo 3-rail, Tinplate Trains, Tin Toys, steam engines, Dinky Toys and most anything that takes my fancy.
I'm assisting the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) with the restoration of the famous Meccano Differential Analyser, built in the 1930's as an analogue forerunner of the modern computer.
I buy some items on eBay internet auctions (www.ebay.com), and you are invited to view my feedback (ie credit) rating there on digbee2.
The brilliant artwork of Meccano Ltd has always thrilled me. Following are some posters which I have produced from this, and several other sources. They are for sale, and I hope they appeal to you: