Merkur (toy)

Last updated
Merkur
Merkur toy logo.png
Other namesConstructo, Build-O, Tecc
Type Construction set
Inventor(s)Jaroslav Vancl
CompanyMERKUR TOYS s.r.o.
Country Czech Republic
Availability1920;103 years ago (1920)–present
Materials Steel
Official website
An Airplane built with the Merkur construction set Tecc (Merkur) toy airplane 1.jpg
An Airplane built with the Merkur construction set

Merkur refers to a metal construction set built in Czechoslovakia (later the Czech Republic). It was also referred to as Constructo or Build-O in English-speaking countries and Tecc in the Netherlands.

Unlike Erector/Meccano, which was based on Imperial/customary measurements, Merkur used metric. There is 1x1 cm raster of connection holes on building parts, connected by M3.5 screws.

The brand was launched in 1920 and ran until 1940 when World War II put a halt to production. It was resumed in 1947. The private company was closed down and its assets nationalised by the Communist Czechoslovak state in 1953. The Merkur toys were made throughout the communist period and were exported all over Europe. The company was privatized by some of the former employees after 1989, but went into insolvency in 1993. Later on, Jaromír Kříž bought out the company and during three years he got back the production and saved this renowned Czech toy. [1]

In 1961, Otto Wichterle used Merkur based apparatus for experimental production of the first soft contact lenses [ citation needed ].

The factory and Merkur museum are located in Police nad Metují, Czech Republic.

Merkur also produces a wide range of toys, including metal 0 scale model trains and steam engines.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bead</span> Small decorative object with central hole

A bead is a small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes of a material such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood, or pearl and with a small hole for threading or stringing. Beads range in size from under 1 millimetre (0.039 in) to over 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of the Czech Republic</span> National economy of the Czech Republic

The economy of the Czech Republic is a developed export-oriented social market economy based in services, manufacturing, and innovation that maintains a high-income welfare state and the European social model. The Czech Republic participates in the European Single Market as a member of the European Union, and is therefore a part of the economy of the European Union. It uses its own currency, the Czech koruna, instead of the euro. It is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Czech Republic ranks 16th in inequality-adjusted human development and 24th in World Bank Human Capital Index, ahead of countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom or France. It was described by The Guardian as "one of Europe's most flourishing economies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Revolution</span> Democratization process in Czechoslovakia in 1989

The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia included students and older dissidents. The result was the end of 41 years of one-party rule in Czechoslovakia, and the subsequent dismantling of the command economy and conversion to a parliamentary republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scale model</span> Physical representation of an object

A scale model is a physical model which is geometrically similar to an object. Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be larger than small prototypes such as anatomical structures or subatomic particles. Models built to the same scale as the prototype are called mockups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erector Set</span> Brand of metal toy construction set

Erector Set was a brand of metal toy construction sets which were originally patented by Alfred Carlton Gilbert and first sold by his company, the Mysto Manufacturing Company of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1913. In 1916, the company was reorganized as the A.C. Gilbert Company. The brand continued its independent existence under various corporate ownerships until 2000, when Meccano bought the Erector brand and consolidated its worldwide marketing with its own brand. The coverage here focuses on the historical legacy of the classic Erector Set; for current developments under the "Erector by Meccano" brand name, see the Meccano article.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otto Wichterle</span> Czech chemist and inventor (1913–1998)

Otto Wichterle was a Czech chemist, best known for his invention of modern soft contact lenses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Die-cast toy</span> Type of toy

A die-cast toy is a toy or a collectible model produced by using the die-casting method of putting molten lead, zinc alloy or plastic in a mold to produce a particular shape. Such toys are made of metal, with plastic, rubber, glass, or other machined metal parts. Wholly plastic toys are made by a similar process of injection molding, but the two methods are distinct because of the properties of the materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Czechoslovak Socialist Republic</span> Republic in Central Europe (1948–1989)

The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, known from 1948 to 1960 as the Czechoslovak Republic or Fourth Czechoslovak Republic, was the Czechoslovak state from 1948 until 1989, when the country was under communist rule, and was regarded as a satellite state in the Soviet sphere of interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zlin Aircraft</span> Czech light aircraft company

Zlin Aircraft a.s. is a Czech light aircraft company. It is located at the Zlín Airfield on the outskirts of Otrokovice. It is known for the line of Z-26 Trener and other small aircraft like crop-dusting Z-37 and aerobatics special Z-50.

The yuan is the base unit of a number of former and present-day currencies in Chinese.

Merkur is an automobile brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooden toy train</span> Childrens toy

Wooden toy trains are toy trains that run on a wooden track system with grooves to guide the wheels of the rolling stock. While the trains, tracks and scenery accessories are made mainly of wood, the engines and cars connect to each other using metal hooks or small magnets, and some use plastic wheels mounted on metal axles. Some trains are made to resemble anthropomorphical, fictional, and prototypical railroad equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H. Cegielski – Poznań</span> Manufacturing firm based in Poznań, Poland

H. Cegielski – Poznań S.A. is a Polish manufacturing company from the city of Poznań. The company is locally known as Ceglorz, and since 1923 has also used the HCP symbol. After the fall of communism, Cegielski became a joint stock company. Currently it has several international certificates. In 1994 it received a Golden Medal during the Poznań International Fair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth</span> Company in Czechia

Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth a.s. is a Czech manufacturing company of stationery products, based in České Budějovice. Having been established in 1790, it is one of the oldest stationery companies in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikro'67</span>

Mikro'67 is a Bulgarian manufacturing company based in Razgrad, that produces and commercialises basketball backboards, outdoor recreation goods, toys, and scale model vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaden models</span>

Kaden Nachod is the somewhat anglicized name for the Kovodružstvo Náchod toy factory in the town of Nový Hrádek in the Czech Republic. The factory, however, started making toys about 1950 when the country was still communist united Czechoslovakia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Rakušan</span>

Bob Rakušan is a Czech contemporary artist, who creates large-fired enamel works on black steel plate, scrap and salvaged objects, such as stove tops and ovens. The foundation layers of the enamel are often built on screen techniques inspired by the printing process. His work is rooted in drawings, studies and graphic prints. Besides landscapes and abstract and figurative composition, there is a recurring ocean theme in his works, inspired by his longtime occupation as a captain of sailing ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collective farming</span> Type of agricultural organization

Collective farming and communal farming are various types of "agricultural production in which multiple farmers run their holdings as a joint enterprise". There are two broad types of communal farms: agricultural cooperatives, in which member-owners jointly engage in farming activities as a collective, and state farms, which are owned and directly run by a centralized government. The process by which farmland is aggregated is called collectivization. In some countries, there have been both state-run and cooperative-run variants. For example, the Soviet Union had both kolkhozy and sovkhozy.

References

  1. MERKUR Toys homepage Archived 2012-01-26 at the Wayback Machine , brief history of the company.