Homemade Erector Set

History

• The first Erector construction toy set was designed by A.C. Gilbert in 1911 and patented in 1913. The A.C. Gilbert Company launched the first nationwide advertising campaign to sell Erector sets for Christmas. Erector sets were advertised as being mini construction sets that would encourage children to develop engineering and scientific skills by building their own projects and architectural designs. Items from home could be added to erector sets, and add-on sets and pieces could be purchased separately.

Purpose

• Erector sets were originally designed and intended as educational toys. Today, scientists, doctors, inventors, architects and engineers have also used erector sets for making miniature models and prototypes. Some inventors, scientists and engineers have even used the actual miniature parts that came in Erector sets as components in creating other devices, such as the artificial heart. Erector sets have also gained popularity in the antiques and collectibles market, along with individual Erector set pieces and parts that can be used to add to existing erector sets or to make individual erector sets from home.

Types

• There are a variety of types of Erector sets, including one of the most famous and sought-after -- the 12½-inch Erector set that came with miniature blueprints and parts and plans for making a miniature walking robot. Some Erector sets contained the components and instructions for making a Ferris wheel. The Ely Whitney Museum in Connecticut has a variety of different erector set types on display. Erector sets with electrical components, wiring parts and instructions were also popular. There are Erector set collector books and value guides that detail the individual types of Erector sets along with their components and parts.

Considerations

• When making a homemade erector set, consider the miniature design or model that is the ultimate outcome before purchasing individual erector set components and pieces. Some erector set parts and pieces are very rare and valuable. Making prototypes and miniature models for inventors and display can also be extremely costly, so making a homemade erector set might be more cost effective for creating an invention prototype or miniature working model to scale size.