Hawera Meccano Museum NZ

10/09/2026

The museum has recently acquired a high voltage electric Meccano motor No.2 and the box for the controller that ran it, thanks Campbell. We already have the French version in room 2. This is regarded as the most dangerous item Meccano produced, and understandably only available for a short time in the 1930’s. The motor is rated 100/250 volts and the idea was the controller plugged into a light socket in the house and bulb dropped the voltage, but also making the exposed motor terminals live! The box and motor are in remarkable condition. The question is does anyone have a motor controller board please so I can see the timber and style of the switch and lamp holder – and i will make a replica. I know the size as it would just fit in the box. Thanks in advance, Daryl Anderson, curator. Enjoy – Educate – Preserve

09/09/2026

The next photo in the main train cabinet shows more NZR, the Bugatti 2 car clockwork set in PLM livery, M series station set etc. Also the only other country livery the museum has, SAR on the top shelf. When the new 0 gauge layout is running this cabinet will have a reshuffle.
Enjoy – Educate – Preserve

07/09/2026

Buildo was a Meccano like construction system, made in the USA by The Buildo Company, Minneapolis in the late 1940s. It can be divided into two eras - Buildo - With mainly steel parts in around 1945. Buildo - With mainly alloy parts in around 1946. This model 400 set is unused and the manual is dated 1946. On display in room 1. Enjoy – Educate – Preserve

04/09/2026

Here is the site of the museum from a Whites Aviation photo from the mid 1960’s, around 60 years ago. The yellow box is as close to the size and location as can estimate. Back then the site was a paddock with the building that houses the museum erected in 1971. From memory the 2 story building next door was the nurses home with maternity next to that leading to the main hospital in the foreground. This is all gone, replaced with the new hospital but think a few smaller buildings in the foreground remain. The major intersection at the top left is State Highway 3 and 45 connection. An interesting bit of Hawera Meccano Museum history.
Enjoy – Educate – Preserve

01/09/2026

In the 18 months this page has been going there has been very little posted about the French sets produced after Binns Road closed in 1979. So here are all 6 in the ‘Crazy Inventors’ series marketed from 2001 – 06. These were quirky steam-punk inspired with different parts including made from timber, now highly sought after. Hard to think this was 25 years ago as it seems like yesterday!

The sets are from the left
5650 Rattle Trap
6651 The Bat
7650 Helicopter
7651 Time machine
8650 Steam Boat
8651 Airship

Bottom right is the helicopter made up kindly donated by Peter Winter.
Enjoy – Educate - Preserve

31/08/2026

More track has been laid at the Binns Road Model Railway so time for another video, the first real train on the layout. Still with a temporary controller. As the ACE celebration NZR passes by you can see features previously shown and bits of track for the inner parts planning. I guess the main line is ¾ laid, the next part is the duck-under bridge where 6 tracks split into different heights. Enjoy – Educate - Preserve

31/08/2026

30/08/2026

The New Federation of Meccano Modellers Magazines are now online back to 1994. See the attached link. If you click on the magazine cover will take you to the magazine

27/08/2026

Work is progressing on the Binns Road Model Railway with another section nearly complete. Here in front of Opunake Beach is the Meccano cable car recently made for this area. The cable car needs a name so open to suggestions. I’m getting these outside areas done before the triple track mainline is installed in front. Enjoy – Educate - Preserve

25/08/2026

Build-o-matic was a 275 piece set precision cut construction toy made of Masonite, a type of hardboard. This is on display in room 9 in the museum. Made by CM Squires of Chicago immediate post WW11, c1945. Like Meccano sets of the period there is no way the model pictured on the manual cover could be made with the pieces contained in the box! The box specifically boasts “NO NUTS OR BOLTS REQUIRED” looks almost like a selling point aimed at the same children who might otherwise have been given a Meccano or Erector set. Enjoy – Educate - Preserve