Stabil Construction Set No. 51 Stabil Construction Set No. 51

The Stabil construction set that came out in 1914 was intended to help boys acquire basic knowledge and discover the joy of working with technology. The manufacturer Walther & Co. from Berlin-Kreuzberg advertised the set as a "construction game for little engineers, machine builders, and mechanics." With the help of an instruction booklet, they could use the perforated metal strips, nuts, bolts and other components to build models of technologies such as windmills, railroads, and circular saws. Tools such as flathead screwdrivers and wrenches were included. Builders could enter their creations in competitions held by the manufacturer. The best designs were awarded prize money. The most famous user of Stabil construction kits is most likely the computer pioneer Konrad Zuse. In his youth, he used the sets to build cranes. Later he developed the first computer, his Z1, from metal parts he had designed himself.