Frank Hornby (15 May 1863 – 21 September 1936) was an English inventor, businessman and politician. He was a visionary in toy development and manufacture, and although he had no formal engineering training, he was responsible for the invention and production of three of the most popular lines of toys based on engineering principles in the 20th century: Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys. He also founded the British toy company Meccano Ltd in 1908, and launched a monthly publication, Meccano Magazine in 1916.
Hornby's inventions and initiatives made him a millionaire in the 1930s. He entered politics in 1931 when he was elected as a Conservative MP for the Everton constituency. Hornby's legacy has persisted long after his death with enthusiasts all over the world still building Meccano models and collecting his toys. The 150th anniversary of Hornby's birth was celebrated in Liverpool and Brighton on 15 May 2013.
FrankHornby (15 May 1863 – 21 September 1936) was an English inventor, businessman and politician. He was a visionary in toy development and manufacture...
when founder FrankHornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its...
Meccano is a brand of model construction system created in 1898 by FrankHornby in Liverpool, England. The system consists of reusable metal strips, plates...
Ltd was a British toy manufacturing company, established in 1908 by FrankHornby in Liverpool, England, to manufacture and distribute Meccano and other...
under the "Dinky" name include cars, trucks, aircraft, military, ships. FrankHornby established Meccano Ltd. in 1908 to make metal construction sets. The...
1900 commercial production of the material as a children's toy began. FrankHornby was a visionary in toy development and manufacture and was responsible...
Southport Hugh Baird College Lord Street, Southport Maghull – Home of FrankHornby Marine A.F.C., Crosby Marshside RSPB reserve Meols Hall Pleasureland...
concerns. For example, both J. K. Rowling (the creator of Harry Potter) and FrankHornby (the inventor of Meccano) first had their ideas while on train journeys...
construction toy, in 1913 (preceded by the similar Meccano set conceived by FrankHornby in 1898 which he developed and patented as "Mechanics Made Easy" in 1901)...
rod lens endoscope Grace Murray Hopper (1906–1992), U.S. – compiler FrankHornby (1863–1936), UK – invented Meccano Jimmy Hotz (born 1953), U.S. – Hotz...
Musician and singer. Clive Hornby: Actor, played Jack Sugden in Emmerdale. FrankHornby: (1863-1936) businessman, founder of Hornby Railways, Meccano and Dinky...
anniversary of the birth of FrankHornby. The grant funded an expansion of the Museum's online coverage of Meccano, Hornby trains and Dinky Toys, a public...
hobby magazine aimed at "boys of all ages". The magazine was launched by FrankHornby, the inventor of Meccano, as a bi-monthly publication in 1916 in the...
Linoleum – Frederick Walton Chocolate bar – J. S. Fry & Sons Meccano – FrankHornby Crossword puzzle – Arthur Wynne Gas mask – (disputed) John Tyndall and...
– Arthur Schnitzler, Austrian author and playwright (d. 1931) 1863 – FrankHornby, English businessman and politician, invented Meccano (d. 1936) 1869...
the Conservatives at the 1931 general election. He lost his seat to FrankHornby, and finished bottom of the poll. At the same election, his elder brother...
James Horlick and William Horlick Hormel – George A. Hormel Hornby Railways – FrankHornby Hoshino Impul – Kazuyoshi Hoshino House of Fabergé – Gustav...
Harbutt (1844–1921). 1901: Model construction system Meccano invented by FrankHornby (1863–1936). 1902: First large-scale programme of international scholarships...
microphotography in 1839, which would lead to microform in the 1920s. FrankHornby from Liverpool invented Meccano in 1901, where Meccano Ltd would be based...
early 1800s, but it often lacked fun; Meccano Ltd sets, developed by FrankHornby, launching the international Meccano Guild network of children's mechanical...
collide on West Coast". Rail. No. 479. 29 October 2003. p. 11. "Hornby BR Class 86". Hornby. Retrieved 1 February 2020. "Heljan confirms Class 86 liveries...
creativity, and introducing children to engineering and construction ideas. FrankHornby of Lancashire, England designed the construction toy Meccano in 1899...
(1844–1889) Poet Manresa House, Roehampton Greater London Council (blue) FrankHornby (1863–1836) Toy manufacturer (Meccano Ltd) and MP. The Hollies, Station...
Grove, Maghull, for a short while, as a result of family issues. FrankHornby, of Hornby Railways, Dinky Toy and Meccano fame, lived in Maghull, first at...
Hasbro. The construction set was designed in 1914—six years after the FrankHornby's Meccano sets—by Charles H. Pajeau, who formed the Toy Tinker Company...
Later, he visits the Merseyside town of Maghull, home of FrankHornby, inventor of Meccano and Hornby Railways. Alighting at Abergele & Pensarn railway station...
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