BAYKO - The Product

BAYKO was invented by Charles Bird Plimpton and produced in Liverpool between 1934 and 1964 - though it was still mentioned in the January, 1967 MECCANO products price list.

Plimpton Engineering, the original manufacturer of BAYKO, was eventually taken over by MECCANO in 1959.

The initial success of BAYKO is probably due to its being the first [and finest!] mass produced plastic construction toy.

The earliest sets were made in BAKELITE and bore the label : -

"BAYKO Light Constructional Sets".

I have a little information on BAKELITE and its inventor - click here for more information.

The second world war saw major advances in plastic technology and, after some post-war experimentation, perhaps driven by post-war shortages of materials, Plimpton settled on the familiar plastic for most parts.

The mid 1950's saw a gradual change to polystyrene for part of the range.

MECCANO started with almost all parts in polystyrene before a retooling, moving the product back to plastic, [c1963] was halted by the final death of BAYKO.

Unfortunately BAYKO has never had quite the range of parts which LEGO enthusiasts have enjoyed, though far more than other equivalent construction toys.

To solve particular needs, some BAYKO modellers have taken matters into their own hands - or at least they have taken a hacksaw into their own hands!

Some people get hot under the collar at the very thought of treating BAYKO parts in this way, but we all have a number of broken parts, so my view is, "Why not?"

Surprisingly enough, in the last few years, no less than 3 new ranges of additional BAYKO parts have emerged as enthusiasts have begun to manufacture a substantial range of new parts for sale to their fellow BAYKO collectors : -

► Leo Janssen, from Mortsel in Belgium, began by producing a number of self-coloured replica BAYKO parts in resin.

This was initially to resource his own building needs - just look at the modest little BAYKO model to the left!

Leo now has a large range of new parts and a particularly helpful range of colour variants of standard parts.

Many modellers find these parts excellent, particularly for creating more contemporary models.

It's getting more difficult for you to find excuses not to start modelling isn't it?

► Brian Salter is a more recent arrival on the scene and now owns the rights to the BAYKO Trademark.

He produces an increasing range of parts moulded both in neutral plastic and in white metal.

Brian's range includes a number of excellent mouldings of Windows, Doors, etc., in different architectural styles.

He also fills in glaring gaps in the BAYKO range which should have been produced in the first place.

Brian too is a regular BAYKO modeller and I particularly like his imaginative use of broken BAYKO parts in the model on the left.

► Gary Birch and Robin Throp have developed the most recent recent offering...

...by taking the "hacksaw approach", mentioned above, into the 21st century!

They have taken broken and surplus Plimpton era roofs and cut them, to an accuracy of better than one millimetre, to produce an exciting new range of roof extensions.

Robin's fantasy [left] gives you a fair idea of how versatile the new parts are.

I think this is an excellent development and can only hope that Robin and Gary will soon turn their minds to the gable and other possibilities of MECCANO era roofing.

Thanks to Leo, Brian, Gary and Robin, today's modellers now have the opportunity to really stretch their architectural skills with the largest range of BAYKO parts ever available - why not join them!

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