Welcome to the World's Biggest and Brightest
BAYKO Web Site - by “The BAYKO Man”

Hi, I'm Pete Bradley, A.K.A. “The BAYKO Man”. Welcome to my BAYKO web site - www.baykoman.com - the world's biggest and brightest BAYKO website! I hope you enjoy the comprehensive [what do you mean obsessive‽] yet lighthearted approach I've striven to achieve in this labour of love, which I hope you'll enjoy and revisit regularly!
As a mere mortal, and an amateur programmer, I really have struggled a little, in recent years, with the extremely frustrating inconsistencies which are endemic in mobile phone software, so, if that's your preferred medium…
…I thoroughly recommend that you view the site in LANDSCAPE Mode…
…it should help to give you a better experience.
This web site is dedicated to all things BAYKO.
BAYKO, the world's first [and finest!] plastic construction toy, was produced in Liverpool between 1933 and 1967 [exactly the middle third of the 20th century] though the first, and last three years were restricted. The earliest BAYKO sets were called “BAYKO Light Constructional Sets” - a harmless [shameless‽] pun on the BAKELITE from which most of the early parts were made.
Copy of a BAYKO 'with compliments' slip from the second half of the 1950s
I've tried to be as accurate as I can, hopefully without being pedantic, but I will always welcome any arguments, comments, criticisms, corrections, disagreements, or praise[‽] coupled with, of course, any new BAYKO-related information you may have to share - which I will display with full attribution, of course.
I plan to continue updating the site regularly so I believe it'll be well worth your making more than one visit, after all there are already : -
Picture of me as a child - including early evidence of my addiction to ice cream!
  ► well over…
500,000 words…
5
BAYKO
HIGH
FIVES!
 5
 ► on not far off…
500 pages…
 ► with around…
5,000 images…
 ► plus ALL…
59 BAYKO manuals - fully animated!
I hope that you will enjoy your visit to www.baykoman.com and that you return "many a time and oft" and also tell your friends [BAYKO-rich or, sadly, BAYKO-free!] about the site and, of course, about BAYKO.
The photo [left] shows me at the ripe old age of 2 - I think…
…my mother agreed and said it was taken in Morecambe in 1952…
…grand pair of legs eh‽
It's good to see such an early example of my incurable [who wants a cure‽] addiction to ice cream, which clearly pre-dates my [benign‽] addiction to BAYKO…
…my first BAYKO set didn't arrive until I'd reached the truly venerable age of 6!
Actually, there's a bit of story here. At the age of 4 whole years, I was hospitalised for several months, briefly in Blackburn, but mainly in Southport, and, apparently, spent quite a bit of the time finishing the jigsaws of an older lad in an adjacent bed. Thoughtful parental musings during the regular, lengthy round trips to hospital [60 bus miles, in the early 1950s] gravitated towards 'spatial awareness', which lead on to gifts of a MECCANO set [which didn't quite fit] and a BAYKO set #2 [which definitely did!] ably supported by a well received succession of adult jigsaws [no, not THAT sort, particularly nature-themed, circular ones - that's the jigsaws, not the nature!] Who says occupational therapy doesn't work‽
I'm a collector not a dealer [you'll find links to some excellent dealers elsewhere on the site - left hand panel, green section "Links"] so I'm always keen to acquire more BAYKO, particularly pre-war items rescued from your attic or cellar.
I can offer a good home to your BAYKO!
I'm more than happy to provide mutual links to sites run by other BAYKO collectors and, of course, there is already a link to the BAYKO Collectors Club website, which I thoroughly recommend.
Picture of me in<br>my BAYKO jumper.
I welcome mutual web links [clubs, individuals or museums] supporting any construction or related toys.
I'm happy to help with publicity for exhibitions in which BAYKO or other construction toys will be featured.
All you've got to do is let me know…
On a personal note I'd like to register my thanks, both in recognition, and in anticipation, of people who make direct contributions to the site.
Saint BAYKO Cathedral - with my sky-scraper model behind
I've a large collection of BAYKO models, sets, literature, even packaging, and enjoy attending both the BAYKO Collectors Club meetings and the occasional exhibitions…
…it gives me a chance to talk about my favourite subject!
Now KELLOGG's long since signed my release papers, [Hooray!!!] I'm free to attend exhibitions, around the country, more often, though, sadly, some physical constraints are holding me back - but I also give talks / lectures.
I've been able to identify a source of 1-metre and 2-metre long replica BAYKO rods of the correct gauge to help you build larger models - there's no excuse now for not having a go!!!
 
You can click on almost all the images on the site to show a larger, more detailed version. You can then choose either to close the larger images with the green button provided, or simply wait and let them self-close, which they will do after 2 minutes…
 
If you enjoy the site, why not add it to your list of favourites?
Click here to add BAYKO by THE BAYKO MAN to your favourites.
Alternatively, you can use the third button [from the left - below] at any time.
I wish you many happy returns!!!
 
I've tried to make navigation around the site quite simple and intuitive.
You can use the left hand panel at any time to move around the site.
Sliding over the list will increase the entry's font size for easier reading.
You can then use the table of related links at the foot of most pages
- below a panel like this, immediately above the buttons -
to find out more about any particular topic.
Or you may just like to check out the baykoman.com ‘ABOUT’ page.
Now it's up to you - I hope you enjoy both BAYKO and my web site!!!

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Latest update - December 29, 2023
The BAYKO name and Logo are the Registered Trade Mark of Transport of Delight.
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WEBMASTER - PETE BRADLEY.