Comment Re: Lego part numbers (Score 1) 202
Ah, I see now, from the LDraw FAQ:
The numbers I'm familiar with are the old, small, mould ID numbers....the consistent part number business is too newfangled for me. (Call my Lego interest "Classic", I guess.)
Now, here's the difference between Lego and Meccano -- with Lego, the part number is learned by inference, if at all. One cannot place an order with a Lego distributor for "100 pcs of #3754 in blue, please".
With Meccano, the company has been using pretty much the same part numbering scheme since the dawn of time (i.e. sometime in 1901). Indeed, for a full century, part #1 has always referred to a metal strip, 12.5" long, with 25 holes. And yes, one can order "100 pcs. of #1 in zincplate finish, please" from a spare parts supplier (if one can be found, that is -- there remain only a few per continent these days).
~a
For modern parts, these numbers are often moulded in a discreet place on the part. These are typically four digit numbers in the range 2001-9999, five-digit numbers in the ranges 3nnnn, 7nnnn, 8nnnn or seven digit numbers like 4109nnn. Don't be confused by a number of the form n-nn (eg. 4-01), or even single numbers or letters on older parts - these are probably something to do with identifying individual moulds, they are not the part number.
The numbers I'm familiar with are the old, small, mould ID numbers....the consistent part number business is too newfangled for me. (Call my Lego interest "Classic", I guess.)
Now, here's the difference between Lego and Meccano -- with Lego, the part number is learned by inference, if at all. One cannot place an order with a Lego distributor for "100 pcs of #3754 in blue, please".
With Meccano, the company has been using pretty much the same part numbering scheme since the dawn of time (i.e. sometime in 1901). Indeed, for a full century, part #1 has always referred to a metal strip, 12.5" long, with 25 holes. And yes, one can order "100 pcs. of #1 in zincplate finish, please" from a spare parts supplier (if one can be found, that is -- there remain only a few per continent these days).
~a
