BAYKO Product Details - 1935 to 1939?
Ornamental Additions Sets

Throughout this production period, which, chronologically, overlaps with several others, BAYKO parts were made throughout from BAKELITE…

From early 1935 until the war, 3 BAYKO Ornamental Additions Sets [A, B & C] were available.

Production of these three sets ran in parallel with all the main stream production periods of the 1930s, as far as I know, right up to the war, though there is no mention of them in any BAYKO literature printed after 1938, so the idea that they were actually replaced by the special sets #20 to #23, may have some validity.

There is, however, strong evidence that they did indeed overlap [in toyshops if not in actual production] with the 'New Series' sets, which were launched in 1939.

The proof is the Ornamental Additions Set C [right] which comprises mainly 'New Series' parts, compare the appearance with the earlier Set C [below, left].

► 3-Brick Pillars.

► Wall Cappings - 3 Hole.

► Wall Cappings - 6 Hole.

► Wall Cappings - 9 Hole.

The red 3-Brick Pillars [including early brown versions] and green [dark or light] and white Arches are 'highly collectable' colour variants which were also introduced in these sets…

…the latter being unique to them.

The 'Oak' Arches, Bricks and Full Corner Bricks and the mottled green Large and Small Roofs were, similarly, first introduced in these sets, just pre-dating the #6 set.

No models could be built just using these sets - not least because they didn't contain any Bases or Rods!

The Ornamental Additions sets, as the name suggests, were intended to supplement the mainstream sets, increasing the variety of possible models.

Plimpton must have regarded these sets as a success because when, in 1938, they introduced a new range of parts, they did so via a new range of special addition sets - #20 to #23 - mirroring the Ornamental Additions Sets in many ways.

An obvious qualifier with all three Ornamental Additions sets [or “Boxes” as the labels actually say - a clue there!] there are no Bases in them, so they could only be used “in conjunction with standard sets”.

The actual colours of the contents varied considerably over the life of these sets, reflecting plastic development and the resultant changes as they occurred in the mainstream sets.

There is evidence that, at least in the earlier sets, the individual pieces were sewn onto cards which improved their presentation, but was a lot of work, which must have been a significant cost issue throughout the life of these sets.

The boxes containing these sets were unique in being neither blue nor red, nor even matt brown, but were a lighter brown, with a strange vaguely mottled pattern, created by outlining small areas in darkish grey. [right]

A quick glance at the Ornamental Additions Set A to the left shows that it has comparatively few parts compared with its big brothers…

…however, the fact that the box would hold very few parts meant that it was of little use to children for storing their BAYKO and so few of these have survived.

Uniquely, the Ornamental Additions Sets did not include an instruction manual - yes, I know, conversion sets usually didn't either…

They were, however, first mentioned in the second style of BAYKO manual…