Had an Erector Set in the early 80's and would make trams withit and then take yarn and run it over the wall of my neighbor since we has a small hill in the back yard and down into my yard. Then I would put toy soldiers in it and try and hit it wilth rocks as it went down the yarn. Had lots of fun all summer long doing this and would love ot find an Erector Set no days and do the same thing again but from a tree in my apartment complex insted.

There was a plastic version of the Erector Set where the plastic bolts would stretch and thin out to fit through the holes. Was the plastic one called an Erector Set too?

Dawn - You are thinking of a set called Riviton

@Dean there was another set like this. They had long (IMO at that age) pieces, maybe 1.5-2.5 ft long) that were the long sections, b/w nuts/bolts. All plastic. Compared to the Riviton that I see online pics of, my set was thicker and sturdier...Any ideas?

Erector Sets first were sold in 1915, created by the A.C. Gilbert Company. The line of Erector Sets, along with the line of products which taught kids about science (chemistry, biology, etc.), remained in the Gilbert family until 1966 (estate taxes forced them to sell out to Gabriel Toys). Ideal Toys acquired the Gilbert lines around 1971. Now, a Saturday morning cartoon history lesson! A.C. Gilbert, along with Quaker Oats and Mars Candy, were the three high bidders to buy sponsorships for season one of the "Beatles" cartoon show. Episode one (9/25/65) had a Gilbert Erector Set and Chemistry set in back to back TV commercials. Found it hard to imagine, this company outbidding major toy companies for ad time on this breakthrough cartoon program on ABC-TV. Big Bucks!

From the Saturday morning cartoon vault, a TV commercial block for Gilbert. First, an Erector set with parts for building amusement-park rides. Second, for American Flyer train sets. This aired on the "Beatles" cartoon show over ABC (12/11/65). When Gabriel Toys acquired Gilbert in 1966, some belt-tightening was done, and the company bowed out from sponsoring the second season of the "Beatles" show, which was #1 on Saturdays, as it cost a fortune, and no great increase in sales of Gilbert products (scientific as well as Erectors) happened over those few months. Kenner became a new "Beatles" sponsor during 1966.

Just a few factual corrections: Erector sets were first sold in 1913 by A.C. Gilbert's company, MYSTO. In 1916 the company was reorganized as the A.C. Gilbert Company. When A.C. died in 1961, his son A.C. Gilbert, Jr. lost interest in running the company and sold all of the family's stock to Jack Wrather. A.C. Junior took the ceremonial position of Chairman of the Board, but died in 1964, of a brain tumor. The Wrather Corporation took over in 1962 and due to inexperience and mismanagement the A.C. Gilbert company was liquidated. The Erector Sets were sold to Gabriel Industries and are being manufactured by Meccano. More information on web sites: Wikipedia The Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop The Play and Playground Encyclopedia