BAYKO Adverts in 'TV COMIC'

Clearly, BAYKO was advertised widely in various parts of the UK press in the 1950s and early 1960s. Some, like those here in the 'TV COMIC', generated what we now call 'pester power', others were aimed head on at parents.
'TV COMIC' was launched in the early 1950s and survived through to the mid 1980s and was comprised, predominantly, of cartoon strip stories, mostly based on T.V. characters. Bearing all that in mind and that it was clearly my era, I'm surprised that I have absolutely no recollection of it at all!
Advertising here is another good example of BAYKO being targeted reasonably evenhandedly to both sexes…
…The 'TV COMIC' was aimed at both sexes.
 
Rather sadly, given the life span of the comic, I currently only have five adverts to display, two MECCANO general adverts and three BAYKO adverts, from 1960 and 1961. Four of these were copied from bound copies held at the British Libraries Newspaper Section, at Colindale, North London. This accounts for the distortions in the images.

July 2nd, 1960
As is probably self-evident from the image [right] this is a general MECCANO products advert, not a BAYKO one, however, the world's first and finest plastic construction toy is mentioned - twice.
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In the top left hand corner, under the “MECCANO Ltd Funfair” emblem, appears the following brief script : -
 
“Dinky Toys, Meccano, Bayko, Hornby and Hornby-Dublo News”.
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In the bottom left hand corner there is a 'MECCANO MAGAZINE' advert, which reads as follows : -
 
“READ MECCANO MAGAZINE”
 
“Here's news every month of the latest developments in science, engineering and transport. Plus exciting features of interest to all who own Meccano, Hornby-Dublo, Dinky, Hornby Clockwork Trains and Bayko.”
 
“MECCANO MAGAZINE 1/3”
 
“The best value in boys' monthly magazines.”
 
“ORDER MECCANO MAGAZINE FROM”
 
“YOUR NEWSAGENT OR DEALER NOW,”
MECCANO era advert from page 14 of the July 2nd, 1960 issue of TV COMIC

July 16th, 1960
MECCANO era advert from page 4 of the July 16th, 1960 issue of TV COMIC
I'm afraid that BAYKO was only just clinging on by its fingertips in this one…
…but it's still there!
 
The single mention is again associated with the “MECCANO Ltd Funfair” emblem in the top left hand corner. The modest script is as follows : -
“Here's news of Hornby-Dublo, Meccano, Dinky Toys, Bayko and now -”
 
Whoever wrote the advertising copy for the 'MECCANO MAGAZINE' advert, in the bottom left hand corner, forgot to include BAYKO this time. Still, we have to remember that the takeover was only ten months or so earlier, and the revamped product was not yet actually on the market.

November 19th, 1960
This is the first exclusively BAYKO advert which appeared in the 'TV COMIC' pages, and was presumably timed, somewhat ambitiously as it turned out, to coincide with the relaunch of MECCANO's retooled product.
It has quite a substantial script : -
“Open a box of Bayko parts. There's everything there a builder needs. Bricks of many sizes, complete windows, doors (the double ones open!), roofs, arches, even a TV aerial - everything plastic-moulded in full colour and perfect detail. Then you're off! Working like a professional, from the clear and simple Bayko plans, to make houses, railway stations, airports - anything you like. It's remarkable how good Bayko buildings look with your other models, Hornby-Dublo trains, Dinky Toy cars, etc. Remember Bayko, when Christmas ideas are wanted. It's the toy that never tires - because it's always ready when you are to build something new!”
“You'll build it better with BAYKO.”
“Bayko sets cost from 9/11 to 39/6. Accessory outfits, which enable main sets to be converted to the next size up, are available from 7/6.”
November 19th, 1960 BAYKO advert in TV Comic
There is also a lengthy caption under the large image at the top : -
“Look how it rises. You work from foundations to roof, laying your bricks and fitting your windows and doors in the framework of metal rods you've built up. Everything fits smoothly and accurately into place to become a sturdy, life-like building in miniature.”
The peppering of the script with italics is entirely down to Mr. MECCANO.
There is now [at long, long last!] printed evidence pointing to the fact that this specific advert formed part of a 'three prong' published support of Mr MECCANO's T.V. advertising campaign in support of the relaunch of BAYKO in its “new improved form”…
…alas, I do not have the 'third prong' advert from 'SWIFT' Comic.

November 26th, 1960
MECCANO era advert from page 10 of the November 26th, 1960 issue of TV COMIC
This half page BAYKO advert has several small differences from the one above, which dates from just a week earlier.
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The slogan “You go to work like a real builder!” has been reset and has a new ending.
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The 'flying hand' is different.
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The models and captions have been moved about a little.
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Print justification has been removed for some reason!
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The “etc” has gone from the penultimate sentence.
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“See them at Meccano dealers' now.” - at last!
This is again a substantial script : -
“Open a box of Bayko parts. There's everything there a builder needs. Bricks of many sizes, complete windows, doors (the double ones open!), roofs, arches, even a TV aerial - everything plastic-moulded in full colour and perfect detail. Then you're off! Working like a professional, from the clear and simple Bayko plans, to make houses, railway stations, airports - anything you like. It's remarkable how good Bayko buildings look with your other models, Hornby-Dublo trains, Dinky Toy cars. Remember Bayko, when Christmas ideas are wanted. It's the toy that never tires - because it's always ready when you are to build something new”
“You'll build it better with BAYKO.”
“Bayko sets cost from 9/11 to 39/6. Accessory outfits, which enable main sets to be converted to the next size up, are available from 7/6. See them at Meccano dealers' now.”
There is also a lengthy caption under the large image at the top : -
“Look how it rises. You work from foundations to roof, laying your bricks and fitting your windows and doors in the framework of metal rods you've built up. Everything fits smoothly and accurately into place to become a sturdy, life-like building in miniature.”
The peppering of the script with italics is again down to Mr. MECCANO.
We now know that this advert was intended as support for Mr MECCANO's 1960 T.V. advertising schedule…

July 8th, 1961
This advert is identical to the one above, despite the eight month gap, and the questionable relevance of the allusion to “Christmas ideas”!
This has the same, substantial script : -
“Open a box of Bayko parts. There's everything there a builder needs. Bricks of many sizes, complete windows, doors (the double ones open!), roofs, arches, even a TV aerial - everything plastic-moulded in full colour and perfect detail. Then you're off! Working like a professional, from the clear and simple Bayko plans, to make houses, railway stations, airports - anything you like. It's remarkable how good Bayko buildings look with your other models, Hornby-Dublo trains, Dinky Toy cars. Remember Bayko, when Christmas ideas are wanted. Whether you are a boy or a girl, it's the toy that never tires - because it's always ready when you are to build something new!”
“You'll build it better with BAYKO.”
“Bayko sets cost from 9/11 to 39/6. Accessory outfits, which enable main sets to be converted to the next size up, are available from 7/6. See them at Meccano dealers' now.”
MECCANO era advert from page 14 of the July 8th, 1961 issue of TV COMIC
There is also a lengthy caption under the large image at the top : -
“Look how it rises. You work from foundations to roof, laying your bricks and fitting your windows and doors in the framework of metal rods you've built up. Everything fits smoothly and accurately into place to become a sturdy, life-like building in miniature”.
The peppering of the script with italics is entirely down to Mr. MECCANO.

If you've any copies of 'TV COMIC' with BAYKO adverts, or MECCANO general products advert which mentions BAYKO, which I could scan for inclusion here, then I'd love to hear from you.
 
Below here are links to related info : -
 
Click on any of the links below for related information.
 
 
 
 
   
 
   

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