BAYKO in GERMANY

It is worth noting that the German language documentation also helps facilitate access to Switzerland, where we know there was a BAYKO market, at least briefly.

Traditionally, companies also linked the Austrian market with Germany, though I have no direct evidence for BAYKO sales in Austria.

I should, perhaps, just add the reminder that we are, almost certainly, thinking only of West Germany here, providing further proof of the deprivation of the Ost Deutsche!!!

BAYKO used Belgium, with its dual French/Flemish culture, to spearhead the Benelux market [Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg] and France. It is theoretically possible that, given that approaching 10% of the Belgian population are German speaking, that Plimpton used the same route for Germany, though there is zero evidence to date.

I now have information on two BAYKO documents from the German language market…

The above document, was intended to supplement the English language manuals in BAYKO sets #0 to #3, explaining to the lucky young collector the basics about how to play!

I have no German information from the Plimpton era, but…

…a multi-lingual BAYKO sheet, in the Liverpool Maritime Museum archives, includes a German language script, which is clear evidence…

…at least Mr MECCANO gave it a go!!!

Although not strictly for the German market, in February, 1961, MECCANO advertised in 'British Toys', in a section concerning the Nuremberg Toy Fair. The advert, which included BAYKO, was written entirely in German…

There was a further item in the same issue which mentioned BAYKO…