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[crashryan]

That's an interesting observation, krac. The whole magazine has a distinct pre-war feel. If this issue really hit the stands in March 1940, it was probably edited and assembled in January or thereabouts. The blackout began on 1 September 1939 and Germany first bombed Britain in October of that year. However during much of 1940 the greater part of Britain's war action was still overseas. The Blitz brought it all home in September 1940. I've read how Britons strove mightily to maintain everyday life. Maybe Meccano Magazine was just Keeping Calm and Carrying On. Anyone know how the magazine--and the toys--fared in 1941?

Link to the book: Meccano Magazine v25 03

[Kracalactaka]

good points Crash. I guess the full grim reality of the war had not set in yet, Dunkirk was still about 3 mos away.

Another interesting thing, on p25 there is a photo of the Chamber of Commerce bldg. in Williamson, WV which is made of coal. Unfortunately the grainy B&W photo used in the magazine does not do it justice, so here is more recent photo:

[MarkWarner]

We were taught that at the beginning of the war not much happened on the home front and it was called the "Phoney War". By that I mean not much action, but Britain used the time gearing up. I think that austerity slowly crept in as the situation became worse

[MarkWarner]

BTW Meccano was by far my favourite childhood toy. I still have some around that I use to fix things. When I used to build my own computers it came in especially handy