Dinky Toy main display cabinet update

This odd coach (a Maudslay "deck-and-a-half" observation coach)
is a visitors' favourite

We're putting the finishing touches to a reworking of our main Dinky Toys display, as part of our Frank Hornby 150th Anniversary project.

Everything in the cabinet has been re-researched and re-checked, and there's now an informative label by each piece, so that now you can find out what your favourite car actually is ... we're just waiting for some nice colour period colour advertising to be added behind the shelves.

Dinky's range captured a range of classic British automotive designs

The research was carried out by volunteers Nick Gibson and Francisco Dominguez, with Nick doing the labelling.

The re-lit and relabelled cabinet, just waiting for some new background inserts

Meccano Mechanisms

The museum has recently built two more new cabinets to help commemorate Frank Hornby's 150th anniversary.

Meccano has been inspiring mechanics, engineers and inventors of all ages to construct imaginative creations ever since its invention in 1901, and our new displays showcase some of the mechanical marvels that can be achieved with this ingeniously simple toy. Inspired by characters in the 1925 story book, "Adventures in Meccanoland", these cabinets are populated with Meccano people known as "Meccanitians", who need help finishing their tasks. Come along and help Bill and Fred finish sawing their log, or see Andy's wonderful windmill!

A wood-sawing team, and a line of jumping chirping chickens

Andy needs to adjust the windmill's tower so that it points into the wind.

The pieces are interactive, and are operated by handles on the cabinet sides.