While we're ticking through the Tente stuff, it would seem to be a good time to look at the construction corner of the library, one of the weaker wings as it happens, and while I believe there is a good book on the Spanish Tente and Exin Castillos, both owned by Exin Lines at one point, I don't have it yet, so mine are mostly the on the Kiddycraft thief from Bilund, Denmark!
This was the big boxed set by
Dorling Kingdersley, published about fifteen years ago, but available remaindered for a fraction of the original cost for several years after, both volumes have been updated and enlarged in the last few years, with whatever
WHSmith are now calling themselves (it's like watching a Diplodocus slowly dieing) currently selling the new, expanded figure-book for a tenner, while the history was republished a few years ago.
More personal books, about private projects or themes, two by Warren Elsmore, who has several more titles under his belt, the other also on architectural themes, Lego are now producing kits on the subject of these urban 'town house' types, a case of life imitating art!
Classic Sets, rebuilt!
Predating the boxed set, and also a
DK tome, it too glosses over the theft of the design in the first place, but reveals a tractor model, so similar to the famous
Airfix 'Fergie', you wonder who was copying who (the famous
Aurora Spitfire controversy, and the
Bergan-Beton mounted line), but realise the big-guys were all pretty ruthless and lacking in a level of morality, or ethics, which probably sent the smaller guys to the wall.
Latest member of the construction toy section, this is a more interesting work on the relationship/s, actual or imagined (by the authors) between construction toys, and their place in the 20th Century, as compared to the actions of the architects themselves, and has chapters on lesser makes, such as
Minibrix,
Lincoln Logs,
Bayko, or
Triang's Arkitex, and the wackier examples like
PlayPlax.
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