BAYKO in the Army & Navy Stores Catalogue

Note that the 1930s catalogues [above], were hardback publications, both of which spanned two years - these days most companies would have two major issues, usually 'Spring/Summer' and 'Autumn/Winter', and probably some limited seasonal specials as well, every year.

Dave Pittock tells me that the A&N always prided themselves on testing all the products they sold and also penned their own sales write-ups for their catalogues. I recommend that you take the trouble to read the common script [below] - which is very flattering!

I think, however, that we can be confident that the artwork was by Plimpton, as the image is identical to one shown on page 7 of the pre-war sets #1 to #5 manuals, and page 13 of the later, sets #1 to #6 version. I say this with some confidence as the model in all three instances is clearly mounted on a wooden block rather than a BAYKO Base.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the illustration and prices for the 1939 / 1940 catalogue are still for the earlier style of BAYKO, despite the fact that the 'New Series' style was launched in 1939.

As a final comment, enquiries have shown that the catalogue for 1935 / 1936, the volume immediately before the two shown here [above], unfortunately contains no mention of the world's first and finest plastic construction toy.

The last two sentences above], perhaps, suggest a printing process with a fairly long lead time.

Both catalogues contain an identical script, apart from the catalogue entry reference numbers : -

The catalogue entry reference numbers are : -

G.G. 662 - [left - 1937/1938]

GG 737 - [right - 1939/1940]

This Army and Navy Stores, Christmas general products catalogue dates from 1957 according to the eBay vendor, though the quoted BAYKO prices were valid between 1955 and 1959.

Again I have included the front cover of the catalogue [above, left] for no better reason than that I like it - I find it so evocative.

The BAYKO entry is lower left of page 54 of the catalogue [above, right] - click anywhere on the image to see a larger image of the BAYKO section.

The script is as follows - note the first sentence : -

The standard and conversion set prices are then listed : -

This Army and Navy Stores, Games and Toys catalogue dates from 1958 according to the eBay vendor, though the quoted BAYKO prices were, again, valid between 1955 and 1959.

I have included the front cover of the catalogue [above, left] for no better reason than that I like it - it's so typically 1950s.

The BAYKO entry is lower middle of page 9 of the catalogue [above, right] - click anywhere on the image to see a larger image of the BAYKO section.

The script is as follows - note the first sentence : -

The standard and conversion set prices are then listed : -

This Army and Navy Stores Christmas Catalogue dates from 1959, with the BAYKO entry, just left of centre, at the top of page 50 [above right].

As far as I've been able to find so far, there seem to be no further BAYKO adverts in the Army and Navy Stores Catalogues, after an association of over twenty two years.

If you know of, or have access to, a BAYKO entry in an Army and Navy Stores Catalogues, from the MECCANO era, or any date not shown here, I'd love to hear from you…

The BAYKO script [above] reads as follows : -