Erector Set
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Erector Set is the trade name of a construction toy that was wildly popular in the United States during much of the 20th century. It is similar to Meccano, a slightly older British toy, and Märklin, a later, sturdier German version. All consist of collections of small metal beams with regular holes for nuts, bolts, screws, and other connectors that can be assembled into a variety of devices using pulleys, gears, and even small motors. The Erector beams differ from those in Meccano sets in that they have flanges, which make them more sturdy.
The Erector Set was invented by A.C. Gilbert of Connecticut in 1913. It is said to have been the subject of the first national advertising campaign in America for a toy. Its great success made it part of American folk culture, although its popularity has faded in recent decades in the face of competition from such things as molded plastic construction toys and electronics.
Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of different Erector Set kits have been made over the decades, most famously the "No. 12 1/2" deluxe kit that came with blueprints for the "Mysterious Walking Giant" robot.