Frank Hornby

On advice he patented his invention in January 1901 as "Improvements in Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People" but not without first having to borrow five pounds from his employer David Elliot to cover the costs. In order to keep pace with demand a new factory was built in Binns Road Liverpool. 1927 – Clockwork lithographed tinplate O scale trains.

He also founded the British toy company Meccano Ltd in 1908. Frank Hornby (15 May 1863 – 21 September 1936) was an English inventor businessman and politician.