BAYKO in the 'Armchair Antiques Magazine'
The 'Armchair Antiques Magazine' is a new publication, launched early in the second half of 2007, and I don't think it takes a genius or a mind reader to work out its objectives from the title. |
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The magazine sets an excellent tone by including the world's first and finest plastic construction toy in the very first edition
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…they also give the BAYKO Collectors Club a welcome mention. |
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Regular readers of this site may find the article familiar, as much of it was lifted directly from this website. The full article reads as follows : - |
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What is Bayko? |
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Bayko is an architectural toy and can be used to build a wide range of buildings from a simple garden shed to a New York skyscraper. The scale of what you can build is endless and is only limited by the child's imagination. Sadly it has to be admitted that the Danish Lego was and still is more versatile where the British Bayko is by far more realistic. |
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Who invented Bayko? |
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Charles Bird Plimpton was born in 1893 in Peckham, London who would forty years later invent Bayko. |
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His father, John Calvin Plimpton, an American citizen, later moved the family to Liverpool, where he established his Import/Export business. His mother was Caroline Augusta Plimpton. |
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Charles began to work on his designs for a new construction toy. There had been an earlier card/wood version, MOBACO, from Mobal in Holland - popular in the 1920s & 30s, it too survived into the 1960s. Charles' genius was to use the (then) latest technology - BAKELITE - the world's first commercial plastic. |
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What is BAKELITE? |
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BAKELITE is the trade name for plastics produced by BAKELITE Ltd. in England and BAKELITE Corp. in America. It still refers to these materials but is frequently used as a generic name for Phenol Formaldehyde (Phenolic). It can be easily coloured and was used decoratively for jewellery, radio cabinets and all kinds of ornaments. |
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When did Bayko go into production? |
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On November 20th, 1933 he applied for a patent for BAYKO, which was granted in January 1935. A limited scale production, packed in the kitchen at home, was prepared for Christmas 1933. Despite early teething problems with the full scale production, Plimpton Engineering successfully launched BAYKO Light Constructional sets in time for Christmas 1934. |
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Charles drove the company's innovation, keeping them abreast of developments in plastic technology until his death on December 29th, 1948, following the re-emergence of his TB. C.B. was actually granted a second patent for BAYKO less than 4 weeks before his untimely death. By this time Charles was well respected in the toy trade and his work was recognised in the February issue of the trade magazine, 'Games and Toys'… BAYKO's innovation stream now dried, only 3 new parts being produced during the 1950s. |
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Where can I find out more? |
The BAYKO Collectors Club is a group of people who enjoy the delights of construction and architectural toys in general, and of BAYKO in particular. The club meets 4 or 5 times a year in an informal, relaxed atmosphere with members encouraged to show off new acquisitions and new models to members and non-members alike - yes visitors are always welcome. Each meeting is heralded by the production of an edition of the club magazine… |
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Most meetings take place at Lane End Village Hall, not far from Junction 5 [Stokenchurch] on the M40, which the ornithologists amongst you will recognise as the release centre for the Red Kites - still a rarity east of Offa's Dike. |
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Meetings have also been held in Liverpool, Nottingham, Daresbury (Cheshire), Sandy (Bedfordshire) and Belbroughton (Worcestershire) - and we're always willing to try new venues to help us spread the word to a wider audience. Entry to all our meetings is a mere £3.50. The refreshments, which are available all day, are similarly very reasonably priced - and very good! But that's not all! - the modest annual membership includes a free magazine published just ahead of each meeting. |
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Membership is just £12 for the U.K. based members and £15 for overseas members who can use PayPal for a further £1 supplement. |
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To find out more log on and visit www.bayko.org.uk |
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I think that this article makes an excellent [re-]introduction to BAYKO and hope that it helps to swell interest in the BAYKO Collectors Club. |
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Just for the record, the membership figures quoted in the article are, of course, out of date. |
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If you would like to find out more about the BAYKO Collectors Club… |
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Below here are links to related info : - |
Click on any of the links below for related information.
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Latest update - August 11, 2022
The BAYKO name and Logo are the Registered Trade Mark of Transport of Delight.
© COPYRIGHT - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
WEBMASTER - PETE BRADLEY.