Vintage Erector Set Build

[@AtomicShrimp]

I love that you are making content on whatever topics interest you. Don't stop!

[@coryengel]

Fun fact. I recently obtained an old Mac SE/30 from a garage sale in Salem Oregon. The contents of the hard drive indicated it was originally used for business at the A. C. Gilbert House Children's Museum in Salem; A.C. Gilbert was the inventor of Erector.

[@Drew-Dastardly]

Erector set? In the UK we had MECCANO. I got the set No. 2 with the motor in the 1970's when it went metric with yellow and blue colour schemes. My grandad being an engineer and contrarian went out of his way to make me a massive set of additional MECCANO parts he made in his lunch breaks - all of them in Imperial and spray painted red and green like in his day. LOL. The bugger. He wanted to teach me a lesson that I didn't need. Oh, I absolutely invented perpetual motion machines when I was 7 years old too. They worked in my mind and I built them in MECCANO and no matter what I did they just wouldn't start... Good times!

[@TanjoGalbi]

Ben pulls out a LEGO Technic instruction sheet: "OH Look! That's weird, that doesn't really match the rest of the documentation." Me: "Well DUH!" 😂

[@0scr_]

I live in Russia and I had a kit like this when I was a kid, though I'm only 23 y.o. It was a bit simpler, but a lot sturdier, every metal part was almost 1 mm thicc. You can't bend it or it will bend you. They were produced in the USSR around the same time for the same reasons, and they still make them today, though quality may vary.

[@Slay1337pl]

In soviet russia, toys break children!

[@mattiemathis9549]

Neat information!!! The older ones made in the west were sturdier. Unfortunately, quality really went down in the 60’s….

[@ndookie]

Keep it up Ben! Can’t get enough of your videos, and we’re getting a lot these days too.

[@Cerberus1960]

In the UK we had a very similar product called Meccano. Not sure if it ever sold in the US. EDIT: It seems that Meccano bought the Erector brand in 2000.

[@DeLorean4]

Meccano was available in North America, but was nowhere near as popular as it was in the UK. I grew up in the 90s and did my elementary education in both the Canadian and British systems. Maybe one boy in my elementary school grade had a Meccano/Erector set in Canada, but at the British school, I was the only one without one.

[@Okurka.]

4:17 Surely you know what LEGO Technic is.

[@xotmatrix]

In nerdiest voice: Actually LEGO 948 from 1979 predates Technic and was called an "Expert Builder Set".

[@markhedquist9597]

Yup. The Go Cart set. I had that one, along with the Bulldozer, Forklift, Car Chassis, Tractor, etc... Loved them!

[@megan_alnico]

I had a plastic erector set. I got it probably in the '80s sometime when I was about 4. I remember it having `large` wheels at the time and all I wanted to build was a go-cart. I'm sure the wheels were not large, I was just REALLY small. The go-cart never worked out for me, but it did move my stuffed animals rather well.

[@jakenkid]

Good God! I tucking LOVE his random rants and movie reenactments! His interpretation of things is also fantastic, as it confirms most of my views! Thank you Benjamin HECKANATOR! KEEP UPTHE A-DAMN-AZING!

[@ToyKingWonder]

Some notes. Your set is actually in very good condition.This is what is known as a "Type III" set. With some exceptions, they are the least collectible of the sets, but are still a blast. It is not from 1964. The Type III sets actually did start in 1962, and they were part of a complete redesign after the company was sold. The new owners revamped the sets. They brought back the large, wide girders. They ended the production of the plug in electric motor, which was a design that had been part of larger sets for decades, and replaced them with the blue motor. They created the winch. There were a variety of sets. For a number of years during the AC Gilbert days, special sets were created for departments stores, the largest being Sears. What you have is a Sears Powerline Set. Yes, they do not have Sears written anywhere. This is likely from 1972. The period of 1972-1974 had this color combination on the box. Prior to 1972, from 1969 through 1971, there were Sears Powerline sets but a different box style. There were three Powerline sets from this same period. The first was the Powerline set, which had the motor, winch and the battery box. (I have not been able to find out what you noticed, which was why the heck does the battery box have a mold of a intercom on it? I have not gotten an answer, yet). The chief difference between the Powerline set and the Senior Powerline set, was instead of the battery box, you got a transformer. Your set was the largest, the Master, which had both the battery box and transformer, the winch, but TWO Motors, the second being the DC-3 motor. For 1972's Christmas, I got the Senior Powerline set. My mom loved shopping at Sears, as they had superb return services (they replaced TWO of my Mattel Vertibirds with a smile). I still have that set and the "Little Learners" steel box available as an accessory. First, you are lucky to have that box. I used the cardboard box for awhile as I always liked to keep things "stock", even as a kid. That thing fell apart within a couple of months, even though I was old enough to be careful with it. They are not sturdy whatsoever, but the box art is great! After this period, they started packing the sets into heavy duty plastic and metal boxes with handles, that looked like big tackle boxes, and were better than even my metal Little Learners box. If you plan to use your Erector set and you are a collector, I would advise you to display the cardboard box but not use it to store, and get a vintage plastic box from eBay. These are ridiculously cheap to get your hands on. Now, you may question the dating because of the dating on the manuals. That is because they kept reusing the old manuals and including them in the sets. I have that same 1964 manual. That is because the pieces are the same from the old 1960s sets, and all the Powerlines had enough pieces to build all those models. You are missing the most important manual, which is the black and white manual that features the extra wide girder (the EX-12) prominently on the cover. You can likely find this online or available to purchase. It has all the advanced models to build with your Powerline set, including things like the the "Off Shore Tracking station" and the enormous "Gantry Crane". You will note that the EX-12 is not shown in the manual and folder that you do have, and that is because it was brought back in 1969, years after those other manuals came out for the older Type III sets. There is also a sheet in blue ink that shows all the parts and their numbers, and a black and white order form for more parts, if you wish to round out your documentation. I hope this helps with some information on the set. For $20 in my opinion, you have tremendous value, better than any Erector set made today by far. I have just started moving into collecting older sets, and my wonderful wife got me a massive 12 1/2 AC Gilbert set from the 1950s. I will eventually be profiling the Type III sets on my channel.

[@tc8533]

I had friends that had Erector Sets and we constantly built with them but I was never lucky enough to own my own set. It is one of the items on my bucket list. You are lucky to have found this set, even though it is not complete, I envy you!

[@mattiemathis9549]

I’m 50 yrs old. I just got a meccano set for Christmas. Go get one!!! I went from 50 yr old woman to 12 yr old boy as soon as I opened it!

[@Lion_McLionhead]

That brought back memories of the metallic smell. It had most of the same parts as the 1979 kit. A boomer was playing with that on a shag carpet while watching a moon landing, 1 day in July.

[@BadKarma714]

I am 46 I remember erector set those are so cool I never had one because my Mom cannot afford to get it for us because she was a single mother and we were living at my grandmothers house at that time but I’ve always wanted one.

[@mattiemathis9549]

I just got one! Go get a meccano set and indulge your inner engineer. My folks could never afford one either…. But maybe waiting 40 years has made it more enjoyable!! ❤

[@dave1135]

I had one in the 70s when i was a kid, I built a huge crane that would lift and swivel, loved the thing. Between this and my matel spirograph, it made my childhood

[@loganjorgensen]

Just shy of getting a hand-me-down of that generation heh but I heard it referenced often growing up. Cool stuff, can understand why people wanted them. :) The spirit of Erector is still around in toys but other than Meccano you don't see much metal anymore.

[@genghisbunny]

"Built on a Friday" - now there's an expression I haven't heard in years!

[@givezerofx]

The expression is probably even more true today. Nobody or at least far fewer people hold anything sacred including their work ethic . Remember when people did a good job and performed to the best of their ability because they felt it was the right thing to do.

[@Albertkallal]

Beautiful - remember that red Gear box well. Beyond a wonderful toy - clean, easy to build things with. The addition of the gear box? I can still remember engagement of the gears - neutral and reverse. Looks like some parts are missing - I believe a larger red base plate. And I don't recall two drive motors - only one. So this might be assortment of parts from more than one set. However an intact box? Priceless. I remember this toy well - 1964 is spot on. Brings back memories of Christmas as a child. What a great toy that was - and endless hours of good fun - and teaches great spacial learning. I couldn't read at that time, but with pictures then one was off to the races.

[@Liofa73]

In the UK we had Meccano, which is a similar system designed by Hornby in the late 1800's and with a name less likely to make schoolboys giggle.

[@rich1051414]

7:05 That was a damn good impression. Thought I was watching a different channel for a sec :) Edit: Steve1989 if you don't know.

[@phoneuser617]

Yes. It just didn't have the nice hiss.

[@alexsnow8894]

NICE!

[@Liofa73]

Richard Smith -- From his quotes, Ben watches pretty much everything I watch. Now, I'm not sure if that means the KZbin algorithms are actually working or that we hunt out the same old nostalgic crap.

[@hunterbeachcowkk7hqy786]

Nice hiss

[@mr.squishy5024]

I think everyone watches Steve. No matter where I go on the internet, no matter how different the people are, they all espouse their love for Steve's channel.

[@Uncreative1]

For anyone wondering the Lego instructions @4:16 belong to the LEGO 854 GoKart set from 1978.

[@Stjaernljus]

I remember getting a giant set of "construction set" that was imported from Czech Republic by a large swedish retailer, someone had sat down sharpied over all mentions of "meccano" and "erector set" on the box and in the thick manual as those were brand names they had no right to use. It was obviously done by hand and that set was not a low volume item.

[@oswaldjh]

Fond memories of my Meccano set are flooding back as I watch.

[@mlmskates]

I used to play with "Ephrem's Olde Time Bottle Cutting Kit" when I was little. Nothing spells "Fun" like open flames and broken glass.

[@Kenjic]

if anyone walked in and heard all the references he makes by himself, people would probably think he's crazy. but here, he's well known for his comedic references.

[@bradiporitmico]

here in Europe there was a similar thing called Meccano, I had one but without electrics, only pulleys and gears. It's incredible how my hands have still 4 fingers each... oh wait :)

[@TheTsunamijuan]

Erector set... 100% responsible part of my love of building stuff. Of course having a father that is a mechanical engineer only adds to that obsession. I remember my father grabbing a couple of the large like Duplo building blocks. Taking them out to the garage and drilling a hole in them. Riveting two pieces of flat aluminum strap to them. So we could make a excavator. That definitely lit the fire of thinking outside the box.. Nothing was safe at after that.

[@carlb5451]

I got the powerline erector set for Christmas about 1969. It was the best. I had the most fun with the hoist and pulleys building cranes. Would love to have one now.

[@AtomicShrimp]

I'd love to see you build something into the empty shell of one of those vintage Ray O Vac cells - like carefully remove the outer metal casing and use it as a project box with 3D printed endcaps or something

[@RedMageGaming]

I had a bunch of erector sets as a kid. They need more of these kinds of toys now and days. And not just the robot kits that are more expensive than people want to pay, but good kits like this for 30 bucks or so, with a coupple motors and all the bits and bobs to make interesting things.

[@Cosper79]

One of your best videos. Never stop making them.

[@Farm_fab]

Back in the 80's I picked one of these up at the curb, and I worked near an early computer company that was competing against IBM. They threw out so much stuff from their repairs. I gathered motors with gearheads and all sorts of neat add ons and had the best erector set. I could no longer fit everything in the plastic box they came in.

[@jakenkid]

I never considered subscribing to his 'other' work, but for real, *THIS* I CAN GET BEHIND! For days! Or weeks or whatever... 😁 Thankenator Mr. Heckatron! You're the best! Around! Only KZbin's algorithm can keep you down!

[@scharkalvin]

I had both the "Automatic Radar Scope" and "Ferris Wheel" erector sets as a kid. Both came with motors, the first with a small DC PM motor, and the second with an AC powered geared motor. I had a lot of fun with those, and I still might have some of the screws and metal bits lying about somewhere. IIRC, they both came in metal boxes with hinged latched lids. The kit you showed on the video is much newer that the two I had, a much different design of parts (not as good as the older ones IMHO).

[@caseykoons]

Child of the 90's, I made a DEADLY plane with my Erector step. It's a miracle I (and my brother) still have all our fingers.

[@saeklin]

Now find about two or three hundred more sets and you can recreate the contraptions from The Sandlot.

[@toyotaboyhatman]

the elevator safety inspector is going to have a field day with this one

[@ianedwards834]

I had a Meccano construction growing up. Spent hours playing with that thing. Great find BTW..

[@arcadesunday4592]

Thanks (again) for recording and uploading your thoughts to KZbin!

[@jeffreynelson8083]

In the 70s I had the Erector Set that came in a big blue case, with a big beefy blue motor that made an awesome noise and that gearbox.

[@mccobsta]

This video is mostly Ben singing and talking about random movies it's great

[@CNC-Time-Lapse]

I remember playing with an Erector Set I inherited from an uncle in the early 80's. I loved it!

[@AquaAF]

I came because I wanted to know if an Erector Set was what I thought it was but actually stayed for his take on story creation. I gotta say I love the content

[@bradnoyes7955]

11:15 "Could've been worse", Yea, I have brand new Rayovac batteries that are leaking worse than that.

[@n.h.s.a.d.m.]

The unmatching instruction set looks like it's for a Lego kit. Also I think in Last Jedi they did the metal dagger thing because they wanted a "that's cool" secret moment like in Goonies when Sean Astin used the doubloon to locate the entrance to One-Eyed Willy's cave.

[@SimplyDudeFace]

The blue motor block is from much later in Erector Set History. I had one in the last set I was given in my late 20’s circa 1993.

[@ObiTrev]

Came here for Erector, stayed for Story. Ben you rock! I learned more about story, character, and film theory in under an hour than I did in two years of Film School.

[@barrynevio4440]

7:00 caught that little @Steve1989 quote

[@DuckGWR]

Found that exact Powerline Erector set at a Goodwill Outlet store earlier this year! Very nice World War 2 is like the only thing they teach in school, and they taught it every year over and over

[@StarlancerAstro]

Anyone remember Capsela toys? I had those when I was a kid and loved them, had all kind of cool engineering parts! - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsela

[@jst25]

I had Erector and Capsela and preferred Capsela myself

[@agenericaccount3935]

Came for the Erector set, stayed for the thesis on Obstacle Characters. Never change.

[@Sharklops]

43 years old and loved my Erector Set. Never did have the one with a motor though so I'm jealous. Also Lincoln Logs

[@FalbertForester]

Lincoln Logs sets are still being produced!

[@2ndShiftSupremeOverlord546]

The nod to the MRE guy made me really happy

[@jonasthemovie]

Yeah that was a nice hiss.

[@rod.h8064]

One of the theories of Padmes' post-childbirth death going around is Obi-Wan screwed up by going to a non-human specialist medical station and they missed things that a human doctor or midwife don't usually miss.

[@tomgeorge3726]

Sorry Ben, MECCANNO for ever.... You have to admit you had fun didn't you?

[@PowerPandaMods]

I am one of the people that loved The Last Jedi, and I partly loved it BECAUSE it subverted expectations. Holdo WASN'T the obstacle character; Poe was. We've never really seen a main character have to go through that redemption before. His payment at the end was being "chosen" by Leia to lead. Now, miltary tactics aside (taking down a dreadnaught that is about to destroy you is a good idea), JUST looking at the plot, Poe went through a powerful arc in that movie, where he realized that being a plucky, likeable guy wasn't good enough. That set him up for being the leader that people need, which Episode IX failed to pay off on because it was a terrible movie.

[@eformance]

I would have guessed a 60's design manufactured in 1972, because of the *72* inside the stamp on the back of the box.

[@aidanblackmusic]

Hey Ben, what happened to the Ben Heck Show on Element14? I used to watch so many of your videos there! Just wondering why you've made your own channel and no longer are with element14? Cheers and love from Australia.

[@Commander_ZiN]

he retired from the show

[@SkuldChan42]

Neat stuff! There used to a museum nearby me in Salem Oregon for its inventor Alfred Gilbert.

[@remyslosberg7313]

Does your goodwill still have it's display cases in use? all the ones near me stopped using the display cases because of covid-19

[@_f355]

I came here for a vintage constructor set and stayed for the screenplay analysis.

[@bryanspocketchange]

Good morning Ben, it's seems like as I hear you over the years we grew up in the same ways. I am assuming same age or close. I also live in the Madison area and didn't meet you in Menards but pick and save or Copps at the time Maple Grove area. I was star struck lol. Any way the Erector set was something I grew up on but mine had a plastic red box. I found one in a house I purchased that was in a metal box. So as I continue to listen we have many things in common. Good luck on the newer channel I continue to listen and learn from you.. Thanks Bryan

[@JessHull]

I loved my erector set when I was young. I was always building crans. every new set I got went to just making taller and bigger cranes.

[@AndreSjoberg]

Kind of shocked you don’t recognize a classic Lego Technics instruction manual - but then again, Lego was HUGE in Europe, but maybe not in the US at the time - The Lego Technics large car with working pistons and gear shift was every builder kids dream kit, and insanely expensive

[@waterfallhunter634]

We had that exact same kit when we were kids in the 60s. I think my dad still has it in his basement somewhere.

[@mccoypaully]

I got my set in the 80's also at a goodwill store haha. Cool find man!

[@illustriouschin]

I had a modern set with tanks that shot IR beams at each other. the quality was much better than the stuff my Dad had. The parts were pretty good for building useful stuff.

[@cynix1913]

And then he burst into random Ghostbusters 2 OST, I had that tape too.

[@Beastman44]

This was a good video, lots of reminiscing going on.

[@tharobiiceii]

I had an Erector set growing up. I gotta be honest though, my Lego and Kinex got more usage. A lot easier to work with.

[@TheBananaPlug]

That's a Fahnstock clip at 11:22, very popular ( and still available) connector for making vintage radios crystal sets etc.

[@dominicklittle9828]

every time he makes a stevemre reference i get the biggest smile on my face! NICE!

[@rivards1]

Great video Ben. The building is secondary. I really enjoy your ruminations about movies and culture, especially the shallow 'splosion movies of today. Abrams and ilk need to be drummed out of the business, and whoever is left needs to watch "It's a Wonderful Life", "Citizen Kane", and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" at least 50 times until they learn something.

[@GreenAppelPie]

I’ve never owned an Erector set but I have built with them, bolt and nutting everyone together was a pain in the butt compared to LEGOs.

[@mrfilipelaureanoaguiar]

I has a set similar but from the 90s, mecano set that you could build a fire truck or something else. With motors and straps from old cassette tapes i was able to do things with 9V batteries.

[@deathmetalmachine]

I think they should bring back erector sets for our generation and I remember when I had my first erector set

[@larrythecomputerguy]

I had one of those in a red metal carrying case...WITH the AC electric motor! Awesome toy! So WHAT DID you pay for it?

[@ThomasGorgolione]

Came for the Erector set, stayed for the dissertation on good cinematic writing.

[@ThomasGorgolione]

BTW you need to make a channel on that kind of thing :) Super interesting stuff.

[@GlennHamblin]

Awesome I loved my erector set! Probably the same vintage.😎

[@christianhorton1141]

Thank you SOOO much for that completely random Steve1989MREinfo reference Ben. WOW! You blew my mind by knowing who he is. Ive never seen a mention of him from friends or family or other channels until just now. Man.. brought a friggin tear to my eye. You're the best Ben. You and 8 Bit Guy REALLY need to do a collab. Any thoughts or plans on that?

[@foulchild]

love you ben. All the best

[@andrewfaull9404]

Didn't Robert Picardo (The doctor in ST:Voyager) play that mid-level boss in Gremlins 2)?

[@spidermcgavenport8767]

My favorite building toy would be Fisher-Price Construx.

[@spidermcgavenport8767]

sir are you watching steve1989mreinfo?

[@jst25]

I agree 100%, loved Construx as a child, more than lego and erector

[@Twenty_Six_Hundred]

Next an electronic science lab and you can only use what's on the board (diodes, resistors, caps ect). Your mission is to build a computer of somesorts, good luck soldier! In all seriousness cool video Ben

[@robozstarrr8930]

what are these worth?, i have 2 sets in original boxes ( one metal, one cardboard ). . . loved Gilbert back them.... also had chemistry and microscope set ( but only those boxes now )... what fun they were. Cheers

[@mattiemathis9549]

If the sets are mostly complete they can be worth $50-200. I have heard multiple times that the boxes can be sold to collectors all by themselves.

[@strangersound]

7:40 - The googler said about 1979 for .39 cent bread. The set is older, but the bag looks about right for store brand bread from then. :)

[@DecentFarts]

Do you have a reading list somewhere? I'd like to see what books you enjoy.

[@FRESHx913x]

Wouldn't switching the Pulley to one of the other 2 shafts on the motor/gear box give different speed/torque to change elevator speed?

[@delecti]

The difference is that Poe's arc is humility and learning to make difficult decisions for the cause. Holdo isn't an obstacle character, she's Poe's mentor; he started cocky and needed to learn humility, *he's* the obstacle character.

[@jondough76]

I really miss Kwik Trip. It's been quite a few years since I have been in Wisconsin.

[@tseckwr3783]

what would happen if all those parts in the elevator jumped up just as it hit the bottom?

[@r.a.monigold9789]

1964 - my last year of school. And Ben, you are a Heck of a guy. Worst segway since that scooter. Suddenly I'm feeling like an Erector Set that's missing it's string. Pick just ONE of my comments to read, otherwise none of it will make any sense. BTW - My father's sister was named Tagonist - yes, we called her Auntie.

[@DJlegionuk]

Will we see LGR style thrifting videos in the future ?

[@lepayen]

My step dad has old meccanno, there's probably most of an erector set in there,not to mention my meccanno which got mixed in.

[@JoshuaPritt]

Came for erector set build, stayed for movie character/plot device lesson.

[@ShrektheHulk]

someone in these comments might be able to help me. I didn't have an erector set growing up, but I did have this sci-fi set with acryllic domes and triangles to build space bases with. I remember there being a lot of highlighter orange and blue pieces, but can't for the life of me ever remember what those sets were called. does that ring a bell to anyone?

[@josephroblesjr.8944]

I like how this turned into movie theory!

[@225Perfect]

I kid you not, I just watched a steve1989 video before this one. Not a Google algorithm suggestion either, I'm subscribed to both. Also, cool to hear about the cigars, I'm curious as to what you were smoking/normally smoke.

[@johnsparozich6839]

Thanks for sharing your insights. I had one of those erector sets. Good stuff...

[@josephlalock8378]

i've got a 1920s set. lots of missing parts, the box disentegrated. to look at the motor you think "skeleton. and the retainers that hold groups of unused parts together are steel and pointed and can easily draw blood. hilarious.