Construction Toys - Hub and Rod (connector and strut)
Hub (connector) and Rod (strut)Created in 1914, Tinkertoy is the original and canonical hub-and-rod construction toy. Tinkertoy is based on triangles, namely "one-one-square-root-of-two-right" triangles. This format turns out to be a very powerful one that allows for a wide range of constructions - enabling and facilitating spontaneous construction.
Both Ferris wheels and bridges are popular constructions for a tinkertoy type system (TTS). Currently there are two modern re-interpretations of a TTS:
- K'Nex
- Xox.
- K'nex uses a snap-together connection with the female connectors on the hubs and a ball on each end of the rods.
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Xox uses a genderless connector on both, which allows for such things as:
- all hub constructions; and,
- rods to be strung together to any needed length.
