Date   : Fri, 03 Feb 2006 22:30:53 -0000
From   : "Colin f" <colin@...>
Subject: Re: Making a 3.5" Beeb floppy drive

 
> > Coming in late on this one, the etimology of this term was 
> covered by 
> > Stephen Fry on the end of an episode of QI.

> Seems unlikely to me that QI's researchers would have found 
> documentary
> evidence of this that wasn't available to the OED's compilers 
> and given
> how long meccano has been around there can't be too many people left
> who remember the events. I think I'd be inclined to categorise this
> explanation as "tempting, but unproven".

If you google on 'Meccano "box deluxe"', you wont find a single reference to
this 'box deluxe' that isn't in the context of this supposed etymology.
If it did exist, why do no Meccano sites mention it ?
It has the ring of an urban legend to me...

Cheers,
Colin f