(2015) MiNo. 846 ** - Czech Republic - EUROPA - Toys - Merkur building sets

Merkur, the iconic Czech toy, has a rich history dating back to the 1920s. Its creator was Jaroslav Vancl, who founded the company Inventor in 1920 and launched a metal kit whose parts were originally connected by hooks. In 1925, however, a major breakthrough came - Vancl switched to a system of connecting parts with screws and nuts, resulting in the Merkur kit, which quickly gained popularity among children and adults alike.

Merkur became not only a toy, but also a tool for engineering experiments. For example, in the 1960s, Professor Otto Wichterle used the Merkur kit to build a prototype device for making contact lenses. This improvised device, powered by a bicycle dynamo, played a key role in the development of soft contact lenses, which are now used by millions of people around the world.

In Police nad Metují, where Mercury has its roots, there is the Mercury Building Kit Museum. One of the most important exhibits is the City of Steel, inspired by the novels of Jules Verne. This monumental structure, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, weighs almost a tonne and consists of tens of thousands of components.

Despite historical turbulence, including nationalisation in the 1950s and subsequent decline in the 1990s, production of the Merkur kit has been revived. As a result, children and adults alike can still enjoy creative fun and develop technical skills through this timeless toy.