Erector set was invented by A.C. Gilbert in 1911 and was manufactured by the A.C. Gilbert Company. In 1913, at the Toy Fair held in New York City, A.C. Gilbert first introduced the ERECTOR® brand and sets to the toy world.

The first sets were called by A.C. Gilbert “The Erector / Structural Steel & Electro-Mechanical Builder”. Accessory sets were also available to allow children to upgrade basic sets.

During the 1990s, MECCANO bought the ERECTOR® brand. Outside of the USA, Erector sets are sold under the MECCANO® brand. A new generic construction system with plastic parts for children 5 years old and up was marketed.

In addition to bringing back to life the traditional system that made it famous and is today an international paragon, ERECTOR continually moves toward innovation with imaginative assembling systems it devises using the latest materials, for modern creations.

ERECTOR has always been able to keep up with and anticipate what children want in a toy by counting on innovation and integrating new technologies in its toys.
This was particularly demonstrated in 2008 when it launched a line of robotic products called SPYKEE.

It is the first build-it-yourself robot controlled by computer via WIFI or from anywhere in the world via the Internet. SPYKEE has a webcam, a microphone, a speaker and two engines. It can move, see, hear, speak, take pictures, record videos, etc. It can detect intruders, and can play digital music. When its battery gets low, SPYKEE returns to its recharging base all by itself.

With the brand ERECTOR® for the US market, and MECCANO® for the rest of the world, the group has a presence in over 50 countries.