BAYKO Nerd's Corner

WELCOME!!
I don't know whether you accept the label of 'BAYKO Nerd', or if you were just attracted by the name - either way, you are welcome!
For the record, I cannot deny myself full 'BAYKO Nerd' status!
This page contains, in no particular order, both quirky and pure anorak items - I hope you enjoy them.
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We'll start with this simple one : -
The picture shows page 16 of the August 1951 set #4 manual on which there is an easily identifiable typesetting error - Side Window Red...
August 1951 set #4 manual typing error and printer's correction
...should, of course, have read
Side Brick Red.
The correction label, added either by Plimpton or by the printer, can clearly be seen in the bottom left corner.
It's quite endearing that Plimpton thought it necessary to insert the correction - shame about the error!
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Crazy Paving : -
Picture showing the 12 different Plimpton era Crazy Paving moulds
Crazy Paving was one of only three non structural part BAYKO ever produced - its function being entirely ornamental.
In a commendable search for realism, Plimpton actually produced no less than 12 separate mouldings for Crazy Paving [left] - yes, that's right, 12, I counted them!
I presume this means that the plastic moulding machinery was capable of producing 12 Crazy Paving pieces at the same time and that they each occur in the same amounts...
...I'll leave it to you to check!!!
At first I thought the change to twin nipple, pure grey Crazy Paving was down to MECCANO...
...but it was, in fact, Plimpton that increased the range of Crazy Paving mouldings to 16 [right] some time in the mid 1950's as this type appears in Retail Pack A - click here for the evidence.
I actually, somewhat carelessly, thought they had 17 mouldings, but, thanks to Bob Burgess's eagle eye, I now know better!!!
Image showing the 16 different later Plimpton era Crazy Paving moulds
The final 12 Crazy Paving variants
This one just gets deeper and deeper into nerd territory...
...oddly, MECCANO reverted to 12 variants at the death. The pieces concerned [left] are olive-beige [which hasn't shown well in the photo]. I've laid them out to match their earlier equivalents.
Why MECCANO should do this is beyond me...
...why go to the expense, no matter how small, of converting a 16-item moulding to a 12-item one?
Thanks to Bob Burgess for the eagle eyes and stamina needed to unearth this nerdiest of BAYKO facts.
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Now for a quick quiz : -
You could achieve a MECCANO era set #15 in 2 ways : -
Either by buying the set #15 out right...
...or by adding a set #14C to a set #14.
Did you know that the 2 different options actually produced different contents...
...can you say what the difference was?
Set #14 contains : -
2 size 'D' Roofs.
Set #14C contains : -
1 Dormer Roof set.
The size 'D' roofing parts included when a set # 14C is added to a set # 14 to make a set # 15
The size 'D' roofing parts included in set # 15
Set #15 contains : -
only 1 size 'D' Roof & 1 Dormer Roof set.
Obviously set #14 would need 2 Roof pieces or you wouldn't be able to make up a full roof would you!
This means that children who were lucky enough to be bought a set #15 would have to make their largest green roofed buildings with a Dormer Roof every time - looks to me like a piece of penny pinching by Mr. MECCANO.
Even stranger is the case of the missing Roof Ends : -
Set #14 contained all these Roof Ends -
The 8 Roof Ends in set #14
The 8 Roof Ends NOT in set #15!!!
- Set #15 didn't!!!
Although sets #15 and #14C included the new Boarded and Waney Edge Roof Ends, neither included the original Roof Ends - part #B152, B154, B156 & B158.
This means that children who were lucky enough to be bought a set #15 would be deprived of these 8 parts, making them 9 parts short in all - it's beginning to look more like grand larceny than penny pinching by Mr. MECCANO!!!
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And on a not entirely unrelated matter : -
When MECCANO first planned to introduce the Dormer Unit in sets #14C and #15 they intended to make the unit in black plastic, presumably to simulate tar or similar roofing materials which were in common usage at the time...
...but they changed their mind!
I don't know why they did this, but I would suggest their are 3 possible reasons : -
They couldn't produce a suitable black plastic for the unit.
They didn't think the black version looked very attractive.
They just changed their mind - the purchasers won't mind.
Pre-production set #15.
Set #15 literature.
Black and white photo of a pre-production set 15
Set 15 literature showing the Dormer Unit in black
Letter from MECCANO explaining the change
The real thing - the Dormer Unit as actually produced
Letter from MECCANO.
Dormer Unit [+ Dormer Window].
The photo [top left] shows a pre-production version of set #15, clearly showing a very dark version of the Dormer Unit in the centre.
The image [top right] shows the Dormer Unit in the set #15 literature.
The image [bottom left] shows the covering letter, signed by one G. E. Pierce, explaining the situation to the BAYKO retailers.
The photo [bottom right] shows the Dormer Unit as produced.
Personally I think MECCANO got this one right...
...Plimpton learnt the same lesson in the 1940's...
...that dull colours don't attract modern kids.
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Opening or Garage Doors : -
These were introduced from June 1st, 1959 - quite surprising given the state of the BAYKO business at the time and just how imminent the MECCANO take-over was.
Garage Doors were initially known as Opening Doors but the play value meant most people gravitated towards calling them Garage Doors.
One set of Garage Door was included in sets #2 and #3...
...and 2 in set #4.
Logically, therefore, one set of Garage Doors would also have to be included in two of the conversion sets - #1X and #3X.
However the card (right), dated April 8th, 1959, intended as a wholesale price list for retailers, states that : -
"This part will be contained in Standard Sets No's 2-3-4 [and] Converting Sets 1X-2X-3X"...
...WRONG - conversion set #2X shouldn't contain any...
...except that it does - as confirmed by the letter sent to BAYKO retailers at the time - work that one out!
There's more information on exactly how Plimpton went about introducing the new Garage Doors to their retailers.
Wholesale price list dated April 8th 1959 which shows details of Garage or Opening Doors inclusion in BAYKO sets at the bottom
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Where did the post-war #5 set go? : -
1946 leaflet showing the intent to produce post-war sets # 5 and #4X
You'll remember that before the war BAYKO was produced in sets #1 to #6.
Early post-war literature also promised a range of 6 sets - this time numbered from set #0 through to set #5...
...but, as you probably know, Plimpton only produced up to set #4, post-war - and that only arrived in 1952.
Did the proposed extra set fit between a set #3 and #4...
...or would it have been bigger than set #4?
Another one where I suspect the answer has been lost, however...
This leaflet [left], dating from 1946, was included with the earliest post-war BAYKO sets and, on the side shown here, you can clearly read the reference to sets # 5 and #4X.
143 mm x 224 mm = 5.65 x 8.8 inches
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Whatever happened to the post-war Red Steps? : -
Early post-war literature - specifically a postcard parts list franked in 1946 - specifies that the colour of the Steps will be red...
....but, as far as I can tell, Plimpton only produced grey Steps post-war.
It also refers to white windows and green roofs!
The 1946 BAYKO parts post card with the Red Steps mentioned bottom left - click here for a larger image.
I'll leave you to decide whether this was a printing error, an 'un-thought-out' transcription from a pre-war parts list, or just a change of mind.
Probably the leaflet was made with a pre-war mind set, before product decisions were taken.
I like it when there's no answer - don't you?
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Left-handed End Bricks : -
For several years Plimpton produced 2 different versions of the BAYKO End Bricks...
...they produced both a 'left-handed' and a 'right-handed' version.
The brick pattern is identical, but the front edges are of opposite hands
This let modellers ensure that the brick pattern could continue correctly round corners.
A detailed look at 'official' models shows Plimpton were quite particular on this detail.
Part way through the 1950's this differentiation was dropped - and most modellers never noticed!

...and on a not entirely unrelated subject...

Are you an "Upper" or a "Downer"? : -
The Upper's perspective - double full brick pattern at the top.
So - you've decided you want to take advantage of the left-handed End Bricks...
...or just want to be build with all the bricks the same way up...
...but which way up?
Are you an "Upper"...
...or...
...are you a "Downer"?
Me? - I used to be an "Upper", but now I'm a "Couldn't-Give-a-Tosser"!!!
The Downers perspective - double full brick pattern at the bottom.
An "Upper's" perspective!
The top row with 2 full bricks!
A"Downer's" perspective!
The bottom row with 2 full bricks!
Thanks to Gary Birch for this particularly excellent suggestion for Nerd's Corner!!!

...and on another not entirely unrelated subject...

Full Corner Bricks - the Brick Layer's Perspective : -
Sorry about the fuzzy image, I can't afford a posh camera, but you can see the brickwork.
When starting building, a bricklayer will always start with a full brick at each corner on the front of the building.
The brick pattern is clearly identical, but you can just see that the front edges are of opposite hands
The right hand image shows you can do this with an End Brick and a Brick...
...but the pre-war Full Corner Brick [left hand image] shows the moulding error - both faces start with full bricks...
...wrong!!!
I'm grateful to Bob Burgess for this insight.
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Early small Bases : -
The 'New Series' sets saw the launch of the smaller [Type 1 B] Base.
This size base lasted until the death of the product, but not unchanged...
...you can identify the earlier bases by the number 1 which is reversed on the older Bases.
The main reason for the retooling was to strengthen the moulding of the corners of the Bases, which, just like their earlier, larger predecessors, had proved to be a little fragile.
Early version of the small base with unreinforced corners and the reverse '1'
Later version of the small base with the reinforced corners and the correct '1'
Early example - a post-war base.
Later example - a MECCANO era base.
This difference is only really significant to distinguish between grey Bases from the 1940's and the 1960's and between the green Bases from the 1940's and those from the 1950's - though, in this case, I don't know the exact timing of the change.
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Curved Bricks : -
I'm afraid that I don't know the date of this small slip.
Slips like this were often used by Plimpton to pass information to their young market.
In this case children must have been experiencing problems in using, and probably damaging, Curved Bricks and Curved Windows.
Logically, therefore, I assume this slip dates either from around the launch of these parts just before the war, c1939...
...or from their relaunch after the war...
...I'll leave you to decide.
A small slip included with BAYKO sets containing the earlier Curved Bricks and Curved Windows
It just goes to show that I'm not the only one who dives in without "wasting time" reading the instructions!
76 mm x 51 mm = 3 x 2 inches
The two images below are shown courtesy of Angus Jones.
Curved Brick and Window Instruction Slip
In the same vein, this example is more traceable...
...it refers to "the diagrams on page 4" which links it to two possible manuals : -
1946 Leaflet
Standard Set #0 to #3 manual

I favour the earlier Leaflet which has several diagrams on page 4...

...the manual has only one diagram on page 4.
Is this the bricks fighting back?!
Just look at the image right and you can clearly see that this Curved Brick is missing its holes.
Were the Curved Bricks fed up of children forcing Rods through their holes?
More seriously, this convinces me that the holes were drilled rather than being created as part of the moulding process - or not as in this example!
White Curved Brick without Rod Holes
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Christmas Club : -
Can you really get more nerdish than this???
BAYKO, like many other children's toys, made much of its profit through repeat purchases of extras of one sort or another.
MECCANO recognised this and, as was pretty common for much of the last century in the U.K., instigated a "Toy Club" to encourage kids to squirrel away their pocket money with their favourite toy shop in order to save up for that special something.
MECCANO TOY CLUB Card - outside
MECCANO TOY CLUB Card - inside
MECCANO TOY CLUB Card - outside
MECCANO TOY CLUB Card - inside
Were people really so daft that they never thought of opening a small savings account?
For the record, the card was designed to be folded in half to make a booklet.
152 mm x 114 mm = 6 x 4.5 inches
I feel a little self conscious doing so, but I feel that I can now answer the question I posed above...
...yes I can get more nerdish...
...so here goes!!!
1960s MECCANO Stationery Order Form - click here for a larger image
This typed and stencil-copied document [left] was used by MECCANO sales reps as part of their regular routine to help their retailers keep up to date with their stationery requirements.
There are two references to the Toy Club card above : -
Reference #92011 - "Not overprinted" - of which retailers could have upto 100 "Free of Charge".
Reference #92001 - "Overprinted" - with their business name and address - of which retailers could have a minimum of 100 "for 5/6 " [27½ pence] or "1/6 for each additional 100" [ 7½ pence].
For completeness, there is also a reference [#92020] to a "Bayko Folder" , which I can't specifically identify, which cost 2/6 [12½ pence] per 100 and which the retailer was supposed to charge -/1 for!!!
204 mm x 254 mm = 8 x 10 inches
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The Mystery of the MECCANO Era Roof Sizes!
To me, this one is just strange...
...every other BAYKO part measurement I know of is quoted either in terms of the number of holes they include or, in the case of Rods or Pillars, in terms of their height / length measured in Bricks...
...so why the sudden switch on these 2 price lists?
1962 MECCANO Era Price List
1963 MECCANO Era Price List
MECCANO Era Price List - November, 1962
MECCANO Era Price List - August, 1963
Just for the record : -
B142
Roof A
4½" x 1¾" x 7/ 32"
114 x 44 x 5.6 mm
B144
Roof B
5¼" x 2⅛" x 7/ 32"
133 x 54 x 5.6 mm
B146
Roof C
6" x 2⅝" x 7/ 32"
152 x 67 x 5.6 mm
B148
Roof D
9" x 3½" x 7/ 32"
229 x 80 x 5.6 mm
I'm sure you feel better for knowing that - I know I do!!!
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Errors in Conversion Set Contents in Pre-war Manuals - 1935 to 1938 : -
I can't explain exactly what caused this repeated mental aberration on the part of Plimpton, so I simply list the errors for your information and enjoyment...
...I've excluded those related to changes in set contents.
Conversion Set #
Part Description
Earlier Manual Contents
Correct Contents
Later Manual Contents
1A
Red Bricks
14
11
14
3A
Half Bricks
12
11
12
4A
Red Bricks
26
25
26
Half Bricks
5
4
5
Turret Floor
2
1
1
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Type-Setting Error in the Earlier Version of the Pre-war 'New Series' Manuals - 1939 to 1940 : -
I don't usually get over excited by typing errors...
...but I couldn't resist.
In the parts list for one of the pair of models, the "HOUSE and VERANDAH", shown on page 18, apparently "8 Green Wnidows" are required!
Page 18 of the earliest version of the 'New Series' manual
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Set 15 Leaflets Date Coding : -
This could be my most nerdish entry yet!!!
When MECCANO launched set #15 in August 1962 they produced a set of 6, double sided leaflets featuring models which showed off the new range of BAYKO parts...
...but they were a little clumsy on the artwork.
The leaflets also carry printing codes and corporate information at the bottom, within the green strip...
...they state "C Meccano Ltd., Binns Road, liverpool 12, England" on one side...
...and "Printed in England" and "(13/4/62/30)" on the other side.
Model 1 with- Corporate information
Model 2 with printers codes
Model 1 with corporate details.
Model 2 with printer's codes.
You might logically expect that each leaflet would have a front and a back...
...and that this would be done consistently on all 6 leaflets...
...so that the even numbered models would all have one type of information...
...and odd numbered models would show the other one...
...but no!!!
The corporate details appear on : -
Models - 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12.
The printer's codes appear on : -
Models - 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11.
Well, I did warn you that this was the most nerdish yet!!!
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MECCANO Era BAYKO Set Reference Codes : -
Apart from the familiar numbering of sets #11 to #15 etc., MECCANO also used different 5-digit codes within their administration systems...
...including codes for Plimpton era leftovers!
You also get the MECCANO era BAYKO retail pack codes free, gratis and for nothing!!!
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BAYKO - "bricks in half lengths" : -
No, I've not gone mad...
...nor am I offering extra adverts for Brian Salter's new parts, good as they are...
...but 'Games & Toys' announced "bricks in half lengths" in June, 1939...
...just 65 years before Brian fulfilled the pledge!!!
For the record, I presume the reference was to Long Bricks which are 1½ bricks long!
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"Confused Trade Brochure" : -
Page 22 of the 1960 MECCANO brochure / catalogue
The first mention, that I'm aware of, of BAYKO in MECCANO literature, is a somewhat confused affair and could have been included here, but is detailed elsewhere.
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"Confused Flier" : -
The first, somewhat confused leaflet produced by MECCANO in 1960, not long after the takeover, could also very easily have been included in this section, but is detailed elsewhere.
Picture of the 'confused' flier dated September, 1960 - click here for a larger image.
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Plimpton's Very First Typo!!!
BAYKO's first Typo - click here for a larger image
A I said above, I don't normally bother about typing errors, but this one did appear in the first ever BAYKO manual and, in deed, lead to its being reprinted correctly.
Page 27 of the manual, printed in late 1933 or 1934, bears the legend : -
"LARGE BUNALOW WITH GARAGE"
This typo was first noticed by Brian Tunstill.
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Premature Use of White Windows.
This anomaly appears on page 8 of the very first BAYKO manual, the same one as the typo above, but, in this case, it was retained in its later two versions and, in the new style which replaced it, on page 14.
If you look closely at the Windows which form the sides of the porch, you will see that they are white not green...
...these white Windows didn't appear until the set #6 was launched later in 1935.
Page 8 of the first BAYKO manual showing the incorrect white windows
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This Will Definitely Give You the Pip!
Two polystyrene BAYKO Windows from the 1950's showing the different style of pips
Sorry about the heading...
...but at least it's not misleading!
This is something that has only recently been discovered - thanks to Andy Harris for the photo of Gary Birch's parts.
Look at the pips in the corners of the windows in the picture - they are very clearly different sizes.
The pips were introduced in the mid 1950's to hold the newly introduced glazing.
The smaller pips [left] must have been introduced comparatively late in 1959 and are the same size that MECCANO used after the takeover.
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MECCANO - 'Make Do and Mend' - Window Moulds
If you view the image to the left, taking into account the item above, I hope you'll see what I'm driving at...
...and agree with my conclusion.
I'm sure the MECCANO engineers remodelled the Plimpton moulds for their Large Windows.
The pips for the MECCANO era standard Windows are exactly as the example [above, left], so I'm sure they too were 'Make Do and Mend' re-use of the Plimpton era moulding.
Thanks to Gary Birch for the photo.
Plimptom era polystyrene and MECCANO era Large Widows with identical pips
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A New Look at Bases.
The two versions of the Bakelite BAYKO Base from the MECCANO era, with the slightly later mould type on the right - click here for a larger image
Initially I put this information into the page on Bases, but have decided that Nerd's Corner should also be informed.
The image [right] shows two MECCANO era Bakelite BAYKO Bases, but [thanks to Bob Burgess for the research] could just as easily have been Plimpton era Bases from the 1950's.
The style on the left, with the thinner reinforcement, probably emerged slightly earlier than the thicker reinforcement style on the right [which also has a strange ribbing along just one edge - see image]. The latter probably coming from a second mould which was needed after sales volumes increased.
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'MECCANO Magazine' Caught Cheating!
A strange one this...
...if you look at this image, you will see that there are several flaws in the photo, which is taken directly from the 'Architect' article in the February, 1962 issue of the 'MECCANO Magazine'.
As you can see, it contains several flaws, such as non-standard windows; brick patterned Arch and Curved Bricks; strange tile markings on the roof; and a lower Brick course which shows 5 runs of engraved bricks rather than the correct 4!!!
Either the original New Zealand subscriber, or the 'MECCANO Magazine', clearly cheated...
MECCANO Magazine 'Architect' article photo showing several 'cheating' features - click here to see the full article
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Straight Turrets (Long) - Moulding Variations
Two examples of the Straight Turret (Long) with the part number 23 differently orientated on each
I don't think much needs to be said on this one...
...but that's never stopped me before!
Please just look at the two Straight Turrets (Long) in the photo [left]...
...you can see that the centrally located, moulded part number "23" reads exactly the same on both pieces, despite the fact that they are the opposite way round.
Clearly these are two distinct mouldings.
If you are having difficulty reading the numbers, just click on the image and it will launch a larger version which should make things crystal clear.
I haven't checked the other three turret styles, but I'm sure you can do that in your own collection.
Thanks to Robin Throp for loaning the two pieces for the photograph.
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Square Turrets - Moulding Variations
This is getting to be a theme.
It's a little difficult to see on the small image [right], but click on it to reveal a larger version...
...and you should be able to see that it actually shows 4 different mouldings.
If you look at the part number - "22" - you will notice that they all read exactly the same way, despite the fact that the four moulds are all aligned in different directions.
Clearly these are four distinct mouldings.
Four examples of the Square Turret with the part number 22 differently orientated on each
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Straight Turrets (Short) - Moulding Variations
Two examples of the Straight Turret (Short) with B in the the part number 23B different on each
Here the differences are much more subtle : -
The only visible difference is that the letter "B" in the part number "23B" moulding is slightly lower on the part at the right hand side of the image.
It is possible, though pure speculation, that the complete mould held 2 Long and 2 Short Straight Turrets...
...this would produce a mould of comparable size, though a little smaller, to that required for the 4 Square Turrets above.
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Curved Turrets - Moulding Variations

This little section is for completeness...

...I'm afraid I can find no such variability in the mouldings for Curved Turrets...
...sorry!
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Wall Capping - Drill or Moulding Pin?
For a number of BAYKO parts there is a doubt as to whether the holes in them were produced by incorporating pins into the mould, or by drilling.
Thanks to Andy Harris, we now have evidence that, for Wall capping at least, the answer appears to be drilling.
The image to the right clearly shows damage, almost certainly caused by a bungled attempt at drilling holes through the part. Unfortunately from a quality control perspective, thankfully from our perspective, the anomaly has survived to point us in the right direction.
Wall Capping from Andy Harris clearly showing the extra drill marks
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Post-War Manual - Corner Ties Anomaly
Post-war manual set contents showing Corner Ties anomaly
Looking at this image, you see that the contents list clearly says that set #2 contains 5 Corner Ties [not the normal 8] - indeed Andy Harris, who owns it, confirms that the set did contain 5.
This correlation could, of course, be the result of somebody making up the contents to there "correct" level - we'll never know - but there's still a problem explaining this...
...there are two other versions of this manual, neither of which has the error...
...set #2 was launched after the sets #0 and #1, so how did this error spontaneously appear in a later print run?
I am drawn to the conclusion that this must have been the very first version of the 20 page, post-war manual, which was very soon corrected.
This probably means that the 16-page manual was restricted mainly to export and smaller sets and that this version was closely linked to the set #2 launch - what do you think...
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Ornamental Additions Sets - Manual Error
The Ornamental Additions Sets were introduced in early 1935 to provide a range of innovative coloured parts, to enhance the appearance of models made from the standard sets.
They didn't get mentioned in the earliest BAYKO manuals, but had to wait until the following year before the second style of manual included any reference to them.
The Ornamental Additions Sets were allocated two pages, unfortunately the script on the second page [page 69] contains an error. Interestingly, this error wasn't picked up at the time, and was perpetuated in the later edition of the same style manual.
The script refers to "Red and Oak Arches"...
...instead of "Green and Oak Arches".