Blog A Model Wife
Merry (Meccano) Christmas
Mary
According to Pit, one of Outerzone's regular contributors, there's nothing more British than the old Meccano Magazine. With this in mind, and Christmas fast approaching, he sent us several seasonal pages from issues first published in the 1920s and '30s.
There are puzzles, competitions, ads for an assortment of marvellous gifts, and - my favourite part - a whole section of "simple conjuring tricks for Christmas." I've put it all together into one bumper 16 page pdf document, Merry Meccano Christmas, which makes it easier to download and read - or print off, if you fancy doing the crossword.
If this whets your appetite for more Meccano matters, there's a great online archive of the complete (1916-1981) English Meccano Magazines collection at Meccano Magazine Online. You can download full issues, or just access individual pages, all for free.
Another Outerzone regular, Jim Hales, also got in touch this week. He sent us this lovely Christmas illustration from Flying Models magazine, c. 1957. English Christmases are very rarely snowy these days (climate change, anyone?!). The festive season is much more likely to be grey and drizzly, so I especially appreciate the image of an idyllic alternative that exists somewhere, even if it's just an old aeromodelling magazine!
Now, I must away to practice my magic skills, ready to "Puzzle Your Sharp-Eyed Friend", aka Steve ;)