BAYKO Logos

Don't be too worried about the alien logos [below - both registered trade marks], I haven't forgotten that I'm supposed to be talking about BAYKO's logos! However, I need them as a contrast, to help fulfil my key objective, which is to point out just how far 'off message', and how frequently, BAYKO's marketeers managed to wander!

I seem to recall that there was quite a fuss, in the early 1990s, when ICI spent several million pounds [£90 million, or so, I believe] on updating its well-known roundel logo [right].

Also, as I've stated elsewhere, I used to work for KELLOGGS, and I know, from conversations and personal observation over several thousand years, [oh all right then, twenty eight!] exactly how protective the company is, of its instantly, internationally recognisable logo [left].

That's not to say it has never changed, or can never change again in the future, but rather that any such modifications are generally both modest and subtle and, above all, are thoroughly managed at the highest level - i.e. by the main company board in Battle Creek, Michigan.

BAYKO, in contrast to ICI, KELLOGG'S and so many others, appears to have had an almost continuous identity crisis!!!

BAYKO wasn't alone in the speed of its development as plastic technology forged ahead over its thirty year life…

…but BAYKO is surely unique in the frequency of change of, indeed its life-long, totally cavalier attitude to, its logo.

For example, logos on set boxes differed from those on the front cover and / or the page headers of manuals for many years, there's even a 1960 MECCANO era catalogue with no less than three - yes three - different BAYKO logos on the same page…

…click here to see this MECCANO brochure.

You'll probably already have noticed the banner for the site, which illustrates something of what I am talking about.

I must mention one particularly eccentric logo variation, among the small labels on the side of pre-war standard set lids…

…for some reason the side label for odd numbered sets [#1, #3 and #5] had a red logo against a white background…

…whereas even numbered sets [#2, #4 and 'New Series' #6] had a green logo, also against a white background!!!

Click here to see what I mean.

Today's marketeers would snap their red braces [can't think of a girl's equivalent!] at this flouting of the 'rule' - a consistent brand identity. Taking into account the second world war trading gap, it's significantly faster than one every six months!

If you can suggest any reason [logical or otherwise!] as to why both Plimpton and MECCANO should have been so cavalier with their BAYKO logo, or if you know of any variant(s) that I've missed, them I'd love to hear from you…

…please click here to enlighten me on why this was,
or if you've info. on other BAYKO logos.

The table [below] shows you just what I'm talking about…

…can you think of any other company that had at least fifty eight variations of its logo in less than 30 years?

For the record, I've included all colour variants for the logo where either it, or it's integral background, have been changed, including colour variants where the entire document, including the logo, is printed in a single colour.

I've used a pale green background [below] to highlight and maximise visibility of all the colours used. All are displayed with a transparent 'internal' background, unless the logo sits within a specific block of colour intended for that purpose.

Though the general drift of the table is date order, I've over-ruled pure chronology to group logos by type or usage, in order to emphasise, and help make sense of, the nature and range of variations.

An important point - all the logo images [below] are scaled to the same height [80 pixels], while preserving their overall proportions. Therefore the apparent differences in width, accurately reflect the real differences in the shapes of the logos, exactly as they occurred over the life of the product.

Generally the lettering dictates the height aspect, unless there is a specifically designed, coloured 'box' effect [or comparable shape] as a background to the Logo. In which case I have used this 'box' height itself as the height measurement, and similarly the width.

When comparing logo variations, particularly from the 1950s, the top curve and the bottom gap width and the length of the 'tail' of the 'B' together with the the shape of the 'O' are the usual culprits.

Examples of BAYKO Logos

	Pre-War Set #4 Box of Rods
	Pre-War Retail Box of Bricks
	Pre-War Retail Box of Corner Bricks

Pre-War Ornamental Additions Set + Pre-War Standard Set
Pre-War 'New Series' Set + 20s Series Set
Pre-War Literature
Pre-War BAYKO Manual

	First BAYKO Manual Page Header
	20s Series Sets Manual Page Header
	Second BAYKO Manual Page Header + 'New Series' BAYKO Manual Page Header

1930s Set Lid Side Label Odd numbered sets!!!
1930s Set Lid Side Label Even numbered sets!!!
Late 1940s Set Lid Side Label
Late 1940s Set Lid Side Label
1950s Set Lid Side Label
1950s Set Lid Side Label
1956 Set Lid Side Label

	Earlier Post-War Converting Set Label
	Post-War BAYKO Sets Leaflet Page Header
	Post-War BAYKO Set Rod Box
	Post-War Floor Envelopes Wholesale
	1948 Sets and Spare Parts Price List

1948 Retail Cabinet Announcement

Set Box Label Early Post-War

Later Post-War Converting Set Label

	1951 B.I.F. BAYKO Catalogue - Front Cover
	1951 B.I.F. BAYKO Catalogue - Centrefold 'A'
	1951 B.I.F. BAYKO Catalogue - Centrefold 'B'

Early 1950s Literature and Packaging
Early 1950s Literature and Packaging
Early 1950s Literature
Set Rods Box Early 1950s
Floor Envelope Green 1950s
Christmas Tree Sign + Early 1950s Literature
Accessory Pack Label Late 1950s
1959 Set Price Display Card

	1947 BAYKO Flier
	1955 Top-Fold Flier
	Standard 1950s Set and Manual
	1955 Canadian Flier

Manual Page Header 1950s
1952 to 1953 Price List
1953 to 1959 Price List
February 1st, 1955 Set Price List

	Misleading 1960 MECCANO Catalogue Front Cover
	Misleading 1960 MECCANO Catalogue Set Drawing - page 22
	Misleading 1960 MECCANO Catalogue page 22

MECCANO Era 1961 Flier
MECCANO BAYKO Manual Cover
MECCANO Era Sets Box Top
MECCANO Standard Sets Side Label
MECCANO Conversion Sets Side Label - up to August 1962
MECCANO Conversion Sets Side Label - from August 1962
MECCANO Era literature
MECCANO Era BAYKO Showcard
MECCANO era 1960s Window Display Sticker
1963 Trade Leaflet

MECCANO Era
wooden Dealers Cabinet 'headboard'

If you've any more info. on BAYKO Logos, I'd love to hear from you…

…please click here to email me with your information.

Should anybody be interested, I've actually put together a PowerPoint presentation on this subject…

…click here to email me about this presentation.

Below here are links to related info : -

Click on any of the links below for related information.
	BAYKO Company Navigator
BAYKO's Inventor, C.B. Plimpton	C.B. Plimpton Obituary	C.B. Plimpton Patent “Improvements in Clocks and Clock Movements”
	C.B. Plimpton and EGGHEADS
J.C. Plimpton Personal	J.C. Plimpton Commercial	J.C. Plimpton 80th Birthday Article
	Berwick's Toy Company Limited
BAYKO Diary Dates	Question the True Start Date	BAYKO The Company
MECCANO Take-Over		The Battle of BRITAINS
Plimpton Era	MECCANO Era	BAYKO Modelling Shop
BAYKO Factories	BAYKO's Export Business	BAYKO Patents
	BAYKO Van
BAYKO's Post Mortem	Lines Brothers Takeover	MECCANO Chairman Resigns - 1964
	Contemporary Newspaper Report of MECCANO's Demise
	BAYKO Health and Safety
Click here to e-mail me.

▲ Return to Page Top ▲

◄ BACK to Prior Page ►

⊕ Add to Favourites ⊕

¿ ABOUT baykoman.com ?