Meccano Auto Constructor Outfit
Liverpool, England, 1932-WWII
These models were probably inspired by the sporty cars produced in the 1920s and 1930s in the British Commonwealth. Some of these cars bear a resemblance to MG, Fraser-Nash, Jaguar and other popular models, which appeared later in the United States.
The three different Constructor outfits contained metal parts that could be used to build sporty cars in a variety of different body styles and color schemes. There were two different sizes; the smaller ones shown here are about 1/20 full size, and the larger ones are about 1/15 full size. The cars all had working steering and most of them had clockwork motors. Some models were also available assembled.
This page
last updated: April 12, 2007 
This humble-looking Standard Vacuum Sweeper is the reason this Museum exists. In the early 1970s, accountant Frank Livermore spotted this sweeper in the corner of a local junk shop and, intrigued by its mechanical workings, Frank bought it on the spot. From that day on, he became a collector, and soon his Menlo Park home was bulging at the seams with his eclectic collection of antique mechanical and electrical devices.
Frank's friends joked that he should start a Museum of his own and, when one gave him a sign saying, Smithsonian West, Frank began to take the idea seriously. Frank and attorney Perry Moerdyke began the process of forming a registered non-profit Museum. In 1985 the Museum of American Heritage was incorporated. Frank's collection formed the nucleus of the Museum. In 1990 the Museum of American Heritage opened at its first location on Alma Street in Palo Alto and in 1997 MOAH was awarded tenancy of the City of Palo Alto's historic Williams House.
The Frank Livermore Trust was established to provide ongoing financial support for the care and maintenance of the collection.
Frank passed away in 2000, yet his curiosity and reverence for the spirit of innovation lives on in this Museum.
Today the collection boasts over 6,000 mechanical and electrical artifacts largely dating from the 1850s to the 1950s, which are housed in an offsite warehouse. Our artifacts are displayed in rotating exhibits at the Museum and are often loaned to other Museums and institutions for exhibit purposes.
Original content: Copyright © 2000 - 2007 Museum of American Heritage
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This humble-looking Standard Vacuum Sweeper is the reason this Museum exists. In the early 1970s, accountant Frank Livermore spotted this sweeper in the corner of a local junk shop and, intrigued by its mechanical workings, Frank bought it on the spot. From that day on, he became a collector, and soon his Menlo Park home was bulging at the seams with his eclectic collection of antique mechanical and electrical devices.
Frank's friends joked that he should start a Museum of his own and, when one gave him a sign saying, Smithsonian West, Frank began to take the idea seriously. Frank and attorney Perry Moerdyke began the process of forming a registered non-profit Museum. In 1985 the Museum of American Heritage was incorporated. Frank's collection formed the nucleus of the Museum. In 1990 the Museum of American Heritage opened at its first location on Alma Street in Palo Alto and in 1997 MOAH was awarded tenancy of the City of Palo Alto's historic Williams House.
The Frank Livermore Trust was established to provide ongoing financial support for the care and maintenance of the collection.
Frank passed away in 2000, yet his curiosity and reverence for the spirit of innovation lives on in this Museum.
Today the collection boasts over 6,000 mechanical and electrical artifacts largely dating from the 1850s to the 1950s, which are housed in an offsite warehouse. Our artifacts are displayed in rotating exhibits at the Museum and are often loaned to other Museums and institutions for exhibit purposes.
Trademarks are the property of their owners
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Join today! Membership dues help sustain MOAH. For more information and to download a Membership Form
LEARN MORE HERE
For questions and comments
Contact Us.
Mailing Address
PO Box 1731, Palo Alto, CA 94302
Visit
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, California
p. 650.321.1004
e.
Contact Us for more info!
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, California
p. 650.321.1004
e.
Hours of Operation:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
from 11am to 4pm.
