J.C. Plimpton, BAYKO's Inventor's Father

John Calvin Plimpton was the father of Charles Bird Plimpton, inventor of BAYKO, the world's first and finest plastic construction toy.

J.C. was an American citizen who moved to the U.K., probably in the 1880's, his wife's maiden name was Caroline Augusta Bird.

At one point they settled in Peckham, in London, which was where C.B. Plimpton first saw the light of day.

J.C. later moved his family to Liverpool where he established a thriving import and export business.

Thanks to Peter Gosnell, I can now confirm that the Liverpool premises they occupied are as follows : -

► 1894 - 1899 Jerome Buildings, 63/65 Victoria Street

► 1901 - 1924 Plimpton Buildings, 114/116 Old Hall Street

► 1926 - 1932 Plimpton Buildings, Gibraltar Row

The Old Hall Street premises were very close to, if not actually overlapping, the site of the J.M. Centre, headquarters of the Littlewoods organisation, where I worked in the mid 1970's.

The photo below, which is taken from a postcard, dates from 1917 or 1918 I believe. There is certainly a soldier in the uniform of that era shown in the foreground.

There is a sign on the building which reads "Department - Furniture, Sterling, Fancy Goods. Hardware Woodware Handles" and a further sign which reads "Rexhall United". Rexhall is an American company which now manufactures motorhomes.

It would appear from this, that J.C.'s business interests were fairly eclectic, and the size of the building suggests, to me, that it was reasonably prosperous.

In various directories from 1894 to 1901 J.C. Plimpton & Co. Ltd. are described as American merchants and factors. The business changed over the years, the one consistent thread being its diversity : -

► For many years they were significant importers of Lawnmowers.

► From 1926 -1930 they were sole representatives of the New Haven Clock Co.

► From 1931 - 1933 they were clock manufacturers in their own right.

The company's involvement with clocks and watches certainly pre-dates those above as Charles Bird Plimpton of J.C. Plimpton & Co. Ltd. was granted patent #190,951 on March 9th, 1923 for "Improvements in Clocks and Clock Movements"...

Well, that's it I'm afraid, I'll add more information as I come across it. If you know anything else about J.C. Plimpton or his business interests, then I'd love to hear from you...

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