MECCANO FOR GROWN-UPS

Mt Benger Mail, 10 September 1941, Page 1

MECCANO FOR GROWN-UPS

Twelve Men Can BniUd This Bridge in Six Hours

■ A bridge oi' sixty feet span can now be built by twelve men in six hours as a result of the application in a novel design o- ! standardised bridge units by British constructional engineers. The basis of the construction consists of live standardised steel • parts—a standard girder, a cir- ' cular bobbin or drum to which all cross girders can be lixed, a i U-shaped hanger plate, a cross girder Uor roadway and heavy j hndgesl, and standardised floor ’Bates, 10 feet long and 2L feel wide. In spite of the fact that spans ISO feet long can be built for heavy loads - , all these parts arc comparatively light. The components have been designed without ' projections and large numbers can thus be stacked and packed in small warehouse or -ship space.

The aim has been to provide a series of simple standard components ail interchangeable, from which every type of bridge can be built. In war, when bridges may have to ho replaced with all speed the advantages of such equipment arc evident. Equally important is the ease with which permanent bridges can now be built in difficult ‘'‘ujp-country” territory where transport may be limited to native carriers using quite primitive appliances. Girders can be assembled with case. Ihe different parts can be immediately identified. Even thi nuts and bolts which grip the structure are of a standard size throughout.