BAYKO Van

The image [below] is, I suspect, cut down from a larger original, with the people in the centre. It is possible that the lady with the child is Mrs Hodgson [née Ledsham]. The fact that the image's file name contains that information, tells us that, and suggests that Mrs Hodgson was, or had been, an employee of Plimpton, though I can't prove this - so why is it shown here?

It's not immediately obvious, but if you slide your mouse over the image, you'll reveal a lighter version of the image, where the BAYKO van is clearly visible in the background.

I'm not clever enough to identify the van's make and model, but there is no doubt that the 1950s logo / trademark and support art work are clearly visible behind Mrs Hodgson's head.

Sadly a black and white image doesn't really deliver the information we'd all prefer, but, given that the van is a fairly dark colour, Black, Red or even BAYKO-set-Blue are possibilities.

The size of the van suggests it was probably used as a general runabout, in support of local business needs rather than its being part of a national or even a regional delivery system.

If you can help with further information about Mrs Hodgson, other employees, or BAYKO vans, then I'd love to hear from you…

I am indebted to Gary Birch for providing me with this image.

Until I found the image [below] I thought that would be the end of it as regards the van stakes!

However, the image was shown on eBay, and I copied it directly from there. Elsewhere I've undertaken to supply any of the images on the site, printed and framed, but I will not risk copyright infringement in this case.

The van “a big Bedford” is fairly typical of the 1950s, and with its bright livery should have been hard to miss, except in the pea-est of soupers!

If you can add any more information about this, or similar BAYKO / MECCANO related vehicles, I'd love to hear from you…