BAYKO General Documentation

There are a couple of points of interest here...

Firstly, the note itself, which is dated January 3rd, 1940, and is very much less flamboyant than the mid 1940s equivalent [below, right]. The Delivery Note is completed throughout in pencil, which many organisations frowned upon, indeed they still do, because of the potential for the fraudulent use of a rubber.

Secondly, the contents of the note, which refer to the delivery of a "Box of wires etc for No 3 set, no charge, to replace one returned faulty". Given the date, it looks like the "faulty" "box of wires" was part of a Christmas present.

The Delivery Note came with a 'New Series' set #3, which also included the "box of wires" shown [above, right]. Whether this comparatively down market box was the same as whatever was originally included in the set, or was merely a postal convenience, I'm afraid we can only guess. However, having seen other such boxes which were red, the latter is possible, though wartime austerity may already have kicked in, and I have seen similar boxes in later sets - so, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

I think these 3 documents, which all relate to processing the same order in October, 1945, are of interest, they seem to be typical of their time...

...perhaps the most significant factor is the "on the receipt of the above sum" approach - how times have changed!

Perhaps not surprisingly, the letter is the only one which carries a strong BAYKO branding.

The wartime 'make do and mend' spirit continues in the use of pre-war Invoice stationary which still bears the legend "BAYKO" Light Constructional Sets, very much a slogan of the mid 1930s.

The hand written Delivery Note is very much in contrast to today's computerised documentation.

One point of interest is that the Straight Steps listed are clearly specified as being red.

This delivery note is, apart from the paler colour, identical to the one above.

The delivery notes were both torn from a pad thanks to the perforations along the left hand edge.

The contents of both these delivery notes are interesting...

...both make reference to Pinnacles (Roofs and Platforms), Domes and Turrets...

...the earlier note states that the red Pinnacle Roofs and Domes were out of stock, but here they were clearly back in free supply.

This makes it slightly uncertain as to when these parts became fully available after the war, but the Turrets were dispatched with both orders.

Things have move on a little in the ten years, or so, since the above transaction, not least in its colour...

...though this particular document is clearly aimed directly at the retailer...

...it is possible that the above style of Delivery Note was still used for spare parts.

This is a preprinted Delivery Note, which doubtless simplified the paperwork...

...certainly reading it anyway...

...though I miss the hand-written effect.

The Delivery Note has provision for literature and display items as well as the standard range of BAYKO sets.

It's nice to see a little more BAYKO branding in the header.

The Delivery Note is dated January, 1957.

This is shown courtesy of Robin Throp.

No contents this time...

...but a glimpse of the day-to-day correspondence Plimpton indulged in.

It's not immediately obvious, but if you click on the envelope image, the larger image makes it easier to see...

...the corporate BAYKO franking.

This is shown courtesy of Chris Reeve.

These papers, dated 15/4/1950 [I was 10 days old!] relate to posting the 2 documents shown below.

The top 2 images show the envelop, with BAYKO franking and business label, and 'with compliments slip' which was included along with...

...the "no charge delivery note" to the left.

The several interesting points, are easier to see on the larger image [click the image] : -

Rods up to 12-Brick are available.

The Bay Window Cover is, uniquely as far as I'm aware, called the "Bay Window Roof".

Colours are ignored for Domes, Pinnacle Platforms and Roofs and, oddly, Side Bricks.

There are also references to "Showcard", "Spare Part Showcard" and "No. .... Model on Loan".

This letter, dated November, 1956, was sent to BAYKO retailers, along with "a new type of BAYKO Window Poster", reminding them to stock up for the pre and post Christmas rushes.

I find the reference to "a good demand for Converting Sets and Parts immediately after Christmas" particularly interesting...

...obviously I wasn't alone in rushing round to the pram shop, with my Christmas pennies burning a hole in my pocket!

For completeness, the envelope also contained order forms for both Sets and Parts.

I also find the comment "...this year as a result of considerable increased production at our new factory..." to be interesting, Plimpton having moved to new premises on Tabley Street, Liverpool 1, some time in 1955.

This invoice, for an unspecified quantity of BAYKO spare parts, is interesting for the fact that it is dated December 2nd, 1959...

...which is a couple of months or so after the MECCANO takeover...

...and yet the Plimpton Engineering Company Limited [BAYKO's original manufacturer] paperwork is still being used.

The paper used for this invoice is so thin it is sufficiently transparent to read any document you put underneath it!

If you are wondering, the logo located at the top right hand corner of the invoice is that of the trade association, the British Toy Manufacturers Association Ltd., Plimpton having been a member for at least a decade.

Click on the invoice image opposite to see a slightly larger image.

This invoice is interesting for two reasons : -

Firstly, the invoice, dated July 8th, 1959 incorporates a correction - clearly visible in the centre of the document.

This was simply done by sticking a thin strip of paper over the pre-printed text and typing on it as necessary.

Secondly, there is the actual changes made - the prices of all the BAYKO sets which were ordered.

The two groups of prices are as follows : -

Set #	Pre-printed Price	Overprint Price
0	11/8	12/6
1	17/6	18/9
3	43/9	46/9
1X	8/9	10/3

For the record, the set prices have risen by 7% and the conversion set by 17%!

The rises mirror those heralded in 'MECCANO Magazine' ['MM'] in February, 1959, which were rescinded in March, 1959! Prices then rose, by half this amount, in April, 1959 [source - a retailer information card] or July, 1959 [source - 'MM'].

The net effect of this was a slight drop in the retailer's margins.

Another point of interest is that the December, 1959 equivalent only has pre-printed prices for the Accessory Packs.

This is the sort of envelope that Plimpton included with their correspondence, where some sort of reply was required...

...they may also have been issued to BAYKO retailers for them to send in their orders between visits of the sales rep...

...either way, Plimpton weren't sufficiently generous to put a stamp on it!

Dating this envelope exactly isn't possible I'm afraid, but the BAYKO logo design suggests it is 1949 or later...

...and the address means it is no later than 1954.

This document [left] was typed as a stencil then reproduced for use by MECCANO's sales reps to make sure their retailers stationery stocks were up to date.

There is one reference to BAYKO on the document in the form of #92020 "Bayko Folder (Not overprinted-retailing at 1d)" which were available for the princely sum of "2/6 per 100" [12½ pence].

I'm afraid I can't definitely identify the document concerned...

...however, I only know of one folded BAYKO related leaflet from the MECCANO era, so I assume that is the one referred to...

There are also references to the "Toy Club Cards" which are covered elsewhere...