BAYKO Sets #1 to #6 Instruction Manual
'New Series' - Post-War - 1945

This style of Instruction Manual was produced by Plimpton for their 'New Series' BAYKO sets, which, given that it was produced post-war, unlike the majority, means that we are in very different territory.

There is no printers code to confirm the dates, but the product in the set concerned was clearly post-war, so I can only put this as being the very first post-war production, probably driven by a, 'Just get something out there and sell it.', approach, before the post-war range of sets was devised.

In further support, the set box, had its 'New Series' labels glued onto very much a post-war austerity style blue box.

Thanks to Chris Boutal for the images and for unearthing the set in the first place!

The manual was printed by Robert Johnson & Co. Ltd. of Southport, Lancashire. It comprises 34 black and white pages, including photos of models, all on glossy, white paper, with a two colour cover, printed in red and green on thicker, white paper.

Before the war, in addition to the manual, larger sets also included a number of Model Cards which provided detailed diagrams of models which were not printed on the main manual pages…

…however, as the set here is a set #1, I have no suspicion that this still applied.

Confirmation that Plimpton's early post-war plans included offering the full range from set #0 [the new entry level set] to set #6, can be seen in a Canadian document…

…a further pointer to the post-war chaos if nothing else!

There is one printed clue as to when the first post-war sets, and thus the manuals, were produced. It can be found on a Parts Price List, in postcard form, which was franked on July 2nd, 1945, and includes the legend, “Complete sets available Shortly”…

This page re-uses the printer's block, probably from pre-war version three of the 'New Series' manual, but this time with the bottom two lines 'redacted' by overprinting with black ink. These originally said : -

Sadly, everybody's favourite BAYKO colour scheme never made it back to the market after the war!

The parts list specifies that the Base Link Screws are 5BA.

The “Pinnacle Half Platform”, as it was called when launched in the 20s series in mid 1938, is called a “Bay Window Cover” in the former, and a “Bay Window Roof” in the latter. This was never corrected during the 'New Series' period.

This pair of pages [1 and 2] is actually supplied loose in this manual, the original having been either neatly cut out post printing, or not included in the first place, which is my preferred option. Either way, there appears to be some residual adhesive on the page, suggesting it was originally glued in place.

There are to changes on page [2]. Trivially, the top line of the sets list has been offset slightly to the left. More seriously the ubiquitous 'cut-to-order' offer - “Any length of rod can be supplied to order.” - has been omitted. Unsurprisingly, given the prevailing post-war material shortages, the inflated parts prices, from the early war months, have been maintained.

As far as I can tell, the other 32 pages remain unchanged from their pre-war counterparts.

Size - 220mm x 141mm = 8.7 x 5.6 inches.

If you would like to see the manual hot off the press, as it were…