History
Bayko was created by C B Plimpton of The Plimpton Engineering Company in Liverpool, and first launched in 1934. There were five sets, numbered 1 to 5, with the various components being formed from bakelite. The sets included large brown bases, brown-maroon roofs and bricks of white and brown. Doors and window frames were dark green. The sets were described on the boxes as Bayko Light Construction Sets (Bayko Light ... Bakelite).
Additional sets, numbered 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a were introduced the following year, to convert the existing sets. Set 1a contained sufficient parts to convert Set 1 to Set 2, etc.
1935 also saw the introduction of Ornamental Sets A, B and C. These sets could not be used to build individual models, containing, as they did, additional parts for existing sets, such as arches and pillars.
Set 6 was introduced in 1936, although Set 5a, to convert Set 5 to Set 6 didn't follow until 1938.
By 1938, the boxes described the sets as Bayko Building Sets,and were numbered 20, 21, 22 and 23, with converting sets numbered 20a, 21a, and 22a.
The range was relaunched in 1939 as sets 1 to 6, with conversion sets numbered 1C to 5C. Production ceased in 1941, due to the outbreak of WWII in 1939.
Bayko was reintroduced in 1946, with sets being added over the next year or two, including the new smallest Set 0. Others were sets 1, 2 and 3, with converting sets 0X, 1X and 2X. The range continued to expand, with the addition of sets 4 and 3X, as well as additional parts such as ramp, garage door and television aerial.
1960 saw Plimpton Engineering being taken over by Meccano Limited, and the launch of new sets 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, with conversion sets 11X, 12X etc., although the full range wasn't available until 1962. Bayko continued until the demise of Meccano Limited in 1964.
Resources
There are various Bayko sites available, one of the most comprehensive being Pete Bradley's Bayko Man Site, and the Facebook Bayko Builders Group.
Sets
Pre war Bayko No 1 set |
Pre war Bayko Set B Ornamental Additions |
Pre war Bayko Set C Ornamental Additions |
Post war Plimpton Bayko Set No 1 |
Post war Meccano Bayko Set No 13 |
Instructions
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 1 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 2 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 3 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 4 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 5 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 6 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 7 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 8 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 9 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 10 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 11 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 12 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 13 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 14 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 15 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 16 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 17 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 18 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 19 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 20 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 21 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 22 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 23 |
Bayko Instructions, from the post 1960 Meccano era, Page 24 |
Dealer Cabinets
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's wooden spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's wooden spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
Bayko Dealer's wooden spare parts cabinet, post war, Plimpton era |
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