Jon, I DO own one Anchor Set (*#4) and have several original manuals with cut-out figures and scenery pages. I love how these simple sets (along w/Erector and Bilt EZ) could spark a kids imagination to "build" something. They also have significant historical significance with the times.
I haven't met a building toy that I didn't like. Anchor, or more correctly, Anker, with it's patent date of 1885, outdates most mass produced toys and continues to be manufactured today. It's zenith was pre WWl. The promotion and merchandising of Anker was revolutionary and ground breaking for it's time, much commonplace today. Over it's nearly 130-year history, 450-plus different sets have been produced employing over 1500 unique stone shapes. Larger sets enabled it's owner to build large and complex constructions, either with provided plans or structures of their own design.
Many sets included metal parts. In the interest of keeping this train orientated, here's an example that employs stone set #34 (I believe) and the all metal "Bridge Set of 1895." The metal, in this case, is a modern limited production set of it's antique counterpoint, the stones are antique.
