Post-War BAYKO Set Structure

There were significant differences between the set structure of the pre-war and post-war periods - have you ever asked yourself why?

Early post-war literature actually suggested a post-war range of sets #0 to #5, one more than eventually materialised...

...have you ever wondered why this happened...

...this page attempts an explanation.

This new set is perhaps the easiest to explain. Set #0 provided a cheap, entry level set, based on the newly introduced Flat Roofs & Roof Ends, to target the stocking filler market and reintroduce kids to BAYKO, at a bargain price, in a period of austerity.

There is no magic or deep thought required here, the post-war set #1 is virtually identical to its pre-war counterpart.

Introduced a little later, but using the same logic, again the post-war set #2 is clearly based on the contents of its pre-war equivalent.

This is where the first 'controversy' arises.

The pre-war sets #3 and #4 both had the same range of roofs - 1 x Small, 1 x Medium and 1 Large - dropping the pre-war set #3 would mean that the first 4 post-war sets would be based on increasing roof sizes.

Post-war set #3 was therefore based on pre-war set #4.

Although there are slightly more differences than with the smaller sets, the size of post-war set #4 is still very similar in size to the pre-war set #5.

The nonexistent post-war set #5 would, logically, therefore have have been based on the pre-war set #6 and thus have been the flagship BAYKO set, in the same way that the "De-Luxe" set #6 was pre-war, but...

...at the time that the set #4 was launched, in 1952, it would be realistic to estimate that the price of a set #5 would, almost certainly, have been over £8 - more than the average weekly wage at the time!

I suggest that when Plimpton made their marketing decision, either late in 1952 or early the following year, not to launch set #5 they also made a second decision...

...recognising that set #4 was, de facto, the flagship BAYKO set...

...that they should add the Dome, Pinnacle Roof and Pinnacle Platform to further enhance the set #4 contents...

...and the post-war range of sets was complete.

Well, what do you think? Why not email me and let me know how you think it all happened?

Thanks to Bob Burgess for his contribution to the discussions behind this.