Mit freundlicher Unterstützung von  with special thanks to
Chris Graebe   1937 + catalogue explanation

 

Explanation of how Meccano Ltd handled their catalogues

Designs were prepared in a large number of designs over the course of the years, and pre-printed often in full colour. Each year, certainly during the 1930s, each dealer was offered their own choice of cover from a range of up to 6 - some of these covers being in use for several years. The cover they chose was then overprinted with the shop's name and address, on the blank panels on the cover. Export catalogues generally used the same range of cover designs, but where
necessary with the titles printed in different languages.The number of permutations and combinations was, therefore, enormous. One company - Halford's, which had a very large number of branches - was important enough to have a special catalogue cover printed for them by Meccano Ltd each year. One large London store - Hamley's - had their own cover too in the late 1930s. No other exceptions are yet known.

Meccano Ltd issued catalogues in the standard covers for use by themselves, printed with the Meccano Ltd Liverpool address (or in some cases the London
branch) rather than a shop's.

The best way to judge the date is from the printers' code inside. If the date is given as e.g. 1935-36, then that is a catalogue printed in 1935 for the 1935-36 season. If a single year is given, such as 1937, that is usually for the (in this case) 1936-37 season.