BAYKO Fliers

Although undated, the fact that this Flier [below left] is restricted to sets #1 to #5 suggests it is from 1934 or early 1935…

…as the “De-Luxe” #6 set, with its 'Oak' and White colour scheme, was introduced in 1935.

Taking this argument a little further - put yourself in the mind of BAYKO's early marketeers…

…would you have printed this Flier without details of the Ornamental Addition sets, knowing they were about to be launched within a few weeks?

Well, they were available by February, 1935.

I think, that when you take all these facts together, they create an overwhelmingly, convincing argument.

I believe this Flier was printed for BAYKO's national launch, just in time for Christmas, 1934.

This Flier is printed in two colours on good quality, though thin paper.

The model illustrating this “interesting and fascinating” toy was clearly an aspirational one…

…and also surprisingly long lived, when you think that 1950s BAYKO literature and set boxes all still displayed an updated version of the same basic model, “Large Detached House and Garage”.

As can be clearly seen here, the habit of quoting prices in shillings, not pounds, started early.

It's also intriguing to note that set prices were clearly chosen with an awareness of the significance of key price points such as half a guinea and a guinea [what would now be £1.05].

The full script of the flier reads as follows : -

This document is shown courtesy of Ian Cole.

The front of the Flier [above left] shows the prices of the [then] newly completed range of standard BAYKO sets, though not the conversion sets, which are never-the-less mentioned on the rear [above right].

The inclusion of both the Ornamental Additions sets and “No. 6 Set De Luxe” clearly places this document in 1935, at the earliest.

The phrase “They introduce…” suggests that this document was actually part of the introduction programme, placing this leaflet firmly in 1935.

The model of the “Modern Golf House” on the rear is taken directly from the Sets # 1 - 6 manual and is the only image of a BAYKO 'Oak' model in BAYKO literature, that I'm aware of, outside the manuals.

This Flier is printed in black ink on beige coloured paper, setting a trend for the rest of the pre-war leaflets, at least for the ones that we know of.

The main script on the rear of the Flier reads as follows : -

I don't know if you spotted it, but the penultimate sentence begins “Ornamental Additional Sets…” rather than “Ornamental Additions”, which is how these sets were generally known…

…cock up or last minute change of mind?

Arguably this document is, at least in part, a Parts Price List, but I've also included it here as it fits so neatly with the contemporary Flier below.

There are set prices are at the top of the reverse side…

…with standard spare parts prices lower down.

To view a correctly orientated version of the front of this document, just click the image [above, left].

The script on this document is split over three areas, each of which is reprinted below : -

The above document was produced in late 1938 when both the 20s series sets [left] and the red brick version of sets #5A and #6 [right] had been introduced…

This is not the only document to mention the 20s series sets which excludes the conversion sets - do they exist?

The comparatively restricted script reads as follows : -

This is possibly my favourite BAYKO Flier. We are now officially into wartime - otherwise the reference to the 'Black Out' is somewhat misplaced - but this 'New Series' flier probably still only actually dates from late 1939, or early 1940 at the latest, as there are still a couple of BAYKO set price increases to come, and production ceased in 1941.

One small detail that caught my eye - almost one for Nerd's Corner - if you look at the use of Curved Bricks in the lower two models [above, left] you will see that they have used only white ones, rather than the more normal red, below the Curved Windows.

The main script, in common with wartime austerity values, is almost an exact copy of the 1935 version [above], presumably re-using the printing plates to do so. It now reads as follows : -

This undated flier is almost certainly from 1947, but could also be from a year earlier and / or later…

…1946 is a possibility because this is the only Flier, I know of, which includes the diamond pattern Flat Roofs, which were only made in 1946 and 1947…

…1948 is possible as set #3 is mentioned [not launched until 1948] but no Large Roofs are included in any of the models.

Significantly, no prices are quoted for the BAYKO sets - export?

The flier was deployed folded at the top with the set list on the back and the detached house on the front…

…and the other 2 models [right] inside with the grey-backed BAYKO logo, at the bottom, still visible when folded.

To see exactly how the flier folded, slide your mouse over the image [right] and leave it there for a few seconds.

This document format was re-used later, during the 1950s [below].

This is another example of just how easy it is to miss things.  I think I've probably been a bit blasé and assumed, whenever I saw a document like this one, that it was the one below, until a spell of convalescence gave me the time, and I spotted this document on eBay.

The document is date-coded, within the printer's code, April, 1949 and gives the would-be buyer of “The Most Up-To-Date Building Set In The World” a description of the product as well as the set prices.

This is interesting, and with 200,000 having been printed [or at least ordered] just a month before it was modified to the second version [immediately below], something of an anomaly!  There is, however, the genuine possibility that all these fliers were distributed, the date of this document, with the one below, are right about the time when BAYKO began its assault on the British public, with, for example, adverts re-appearing in 'MECCANO Magazine' around the same time.

As the displayed set prices drop by between 8.5% and 13% in the next version, Purchase Tax may be the cause, but the inconsistencies suggest an opportunist adjustment by Plimpton as well - which basically is the potential counter argument to the paragraph above.

If you want to see where this fits in the general pricing for the period…

This size of document is typical of the standard Parts Price Lists of the 1940s and '50s, but here it is used for a more conventional flier. This same document format was also heavily used in export markets, certainly in the early 1950s…

It was also used again, with minor changes, for the U.K. market, as you can see immediately below, and also for export.

The printer's coding, showing May, 1949 is confirmed by the formal date of May 20th, at the top of the page [above left].

It's particularly interesting to read this in conjunction with the Flier immediately above, and absorb the good news that set prices have dropped between 8.5% and 13%.  The timing and suddenness of the change, strongly suggests a change in Purchase Tax, in the Budget for the new financial year, [which starts on April 6th in the U.K.]. Plimpton appear to have taken the opportunity to adjust the actual price of individual sets at the same time.

This format was used for more than two years in the U.K., and for a time beyond that in the Belgian based market - which included Holland, France and Luxembourg…

I also like the ongoing use of the slogan “The Most Up-To-Date Building Set In The World”.

As can be clearly seen, this document is almost identical to the one above, except for three features : -

Firstly, and predictably, the set prices had gone up since the previous year.

Secondly, address details for Plimpton have migrated from below the set price data to the bottom of the BAYKO description side, creating a space for the retailers to add their address details with a rubber stamp.

Thirdly - it's shrunk slightly!!!

As stated above, this template was also used for the Belgian export market, which also covered France and Holland. It is also quite possible that this design was used for other markets.

As can be clearly seen, this document, although not identical to the one immediately above, is very similar, except for five features of varying significance : -

Firstly, and most predictably, the set prices had gone up since the previous year.

Secondly, there is an additional line of text, in capitals, at the top of the set price page [above, left] which bears the legend : - “INTRODUCTORY LEAFLET”.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, conversion set #3X is mentioned for the first time, though set #4 is not.

Fourthly, and somewhat more trivially, the outline box, on both sides of the Flier, has become noticeably more intricate.

Lastly, this was the first post-war Flier to be printed on coloured paper - pale grey to be precise.

As stated above, this template was also used for the Belgian export market, which also covered France and Holland. It is also quite possible that this design was used for other markets, though I have no examples as yet.

The directly equivalent BAYKO Flier, printed for the Belgian market, which was actually date coded a month before this document, already included set #4. To me this is strongly indicative that, in response to government pressure, the export drive really was being given priority over the domestic market at that time…

This document carries the administrative ID Ref 1. There is a related Parts Price list, ID Ref 2, which carries exactly the same date code and has several style points in common, so this is a good reference point for comparing the two types of document…

This undated flier is typical of the 1950s even though it is an updated version of a 1940s format [above].

However, the only survival, in terms of content, is the station platform [right, upper model]…

…the others are upgraded reflecting the contents of set #4.

Move your mouse over the image [right] to see the flier fold.

A point of interest is that this flier has the same BAYKO logo as the earlier, 1940s version [above], but the slightly later version [below] has a slightly different version.

Of particular interest is the fact that the list of BAYKO sets [left] shows no prices, and was actually headlined as “Sizes of” rather than “Prices of” BAYKO sets, and left the BAYKO retailers free to write the prices in by hand.

There is also an explanation of the use of conversion sets to help grow your BAYKO collection.

I believe this example dates from 1952 or shortly afterwards - probably not long after the launch of the set #4, which places it as being the earliest of this second phase.

Interestingly, the grey strip at the top of the 1940s exterior has been dropped here, probably for space saving reasons.

The first point of interest here is that the BAYKO logo used is slightly different to the earlier version [above].

Based on the set prices quoted, this flier dates from between June, 1953 and January, 1955. There's some logic in suggesting the introduction of this flier came closer to the earlier date.

The flier was deployed folded horizontally, leaving the set prices on the back and the detached house model [left] at the front…

…and the other 2 models [right] inside with the grey-backed BAYKO logo, at the bottom, still visible when folded.

Moving your mouse over this image will show how the flier folded.

There are several changes to the script on the flier…

…which is definitely set out in a more rakish manner.

There is a Canadian Flier, almost identical to this…

Based on the set prices quoted, this example dates from between 1955 and 1959 - a relatively long period of price stability - it's nice to see that the prices had come down!

However, the flier [below], an updated version of the same flier, is clearly dated as May, 1956, hence my dating of this flier as being 1955.

The flier was deployed folded at the top with the price list on the back and the large detached house on the front…

…and the other 2 models [right] inside with the grey-backed BAYKO logo, at the bottom, still visible when folded.

If you move your mouse over the image [right] you can see the way the flier folded.

There are several changes to the script on the flier…

…which is definitely set out in a more rakish manner.

There is a Canadian Flier, almost identical to this…

There is also a near identical version of this Flier which was printed for use in the Canadian market, suggesting that there may also have been versions of this in more than one export market…

At last - this is the first of these top-folded fliers to carry any form of printer's code…

…which tells us that 250,000 of these - yes, that's right, a quarter of a million - were printed, in May, 1956.

The choice of models, and the script are identical to the flier above, saving Plimpton money in terms of the printer's plates…

…however, there is a modest change in the artwork…

…the grey strip, remnant of the 1940s version, has been dropped again in this version [left, top of flier].

As an aside, the green colour of the Bases, etc., has been brightened - a much more attractive colour.

To see how the folding works, slide your mouse over the image [right] and leave it there for several seconds.

Thanks to Chris Boutal for this one.

Alas, this BAYKO Flier doesn't contain a printer's code.

This document was sent, as an enclosure, along with a letter to Bepin Behary Das and Grandson, Kolkata [Calcutta], an Indian Wholesale business.

The similarities with the versions above are self evident, there being just two differences, one of which is duplicated…

…both the BAYKO logos are filled out in green…

…the grey 'brickwork strip', has returned to this version.

There is a very similar document to this one, which was in use in Canada, but including Canadian Dollar prices, so either a 'General Export', or a local currency version may well have been being suggested to B.B.D.&G.

I'm moving to the 'General Export' theory, not least because the B.B.D.&G. letter dates in between the different issues of the above version - there needs to be a reason for this apparent lack of consistency with domestic versions.

Slide your mouse over the image [right] to see how the Flier folds.

I don't know why the Plimpton's powers that be issued this flier without any BAYKO set prices.

It may be that it dates from a period around a BAYKO set price change…

…or it may be a 'General Export' version.

It certainly pre-dates the new parts [e.g. the Ramp] introduction in 1958, which are mentioned in two later versions.

The flier had a vertical fold down the centre.

This flier presumably replaced the one above.

The prices shown on the rear of this flier held good between February, 1955 and December, 1958. After that things became slightly confused, but, according to 'MECCANO Magazine' they also prevailed up to June, 1959, though not in February!

The flier had a vertical fold down the centre.

There is possibly one or even two fliers missing in the sequence, basically like this one, but before it was overprinted…

…with the July, 1959 price increases added through undergoing a second print run - the overprint masking the original prices and adding the new ones alongside.

The flier had a vertical fold down the centre.

I'm still not certain, but I've labelled this Flier as an Export version because of the absence of set prices in the panel to the rear [left, left], though Plimpton's last few chaotic months my have contributed.

This flier almost certainly lasted beyond the MECCANO takeover, into 1960.

The flier had a vertical fold down the centre.

This flier is identical, in terms of factual content, to the one above…

…however, the overprint has now been dispensed with, and the correct prices fully integrated.

This flier too almost certainly lasted beyond the MECCANO takeover, into 1960. Perhaps the change of background colour is even linked to this.

The flier had a vertical fold down the centre.

The day after this BAYKO set price card took effect, I'd have been married for -25 years - what's the negative equivalent of silver?

The suspicion that any newly issued, dated price card such as this heralds a price change are confirmed with reference to 'MECCANO Magazine' where the advertised BAYKO set prices were perfectly synchronised, being changed on the same date.

The cynical among you will have suspected a price increase, but, in fact, the prices of sets #2, #3 and #4 and conversions sets #1X and #3X actually came down!!!

Just as an aside, notice that the prices are all still in shillings not pounds.

Unusually for a piece of 1950s printing, this card has no printer's details.

The date of this small price card makes it interesting as it falls right in the middle of a period of price chaos as far as BAYKO is concerned.

For the record, according to 'MECCANO Magazine' these prices appeared in July, 1959.

Unusually for a piece of 1950s printing, this card has no printer's details - perhaps another sign of the confusion prevailing in Plimpton at the time - but in line with its twin.

I can't be absolutely certain, but this is probably the last flier from the Plimpton era BAYKO as the MECCANO takeover was only 5 months away.

It is interesting to view this Flier in conjunction with a separate 'wholesale' card which was issued to retailers on the same date.

The 'wholesale' card gives you an insight into the retailers profit margin and also the application of purchase tax at the time…

Just as an aside, notice that the prices are all still in shillings not pounds.

This document, [right], date coded September, 1960, is MECCANO's first foray into the BAYKO market place and they managed to make quite a few mistakes with it!!!

There are actually such a significant number of them that I discuss the errors on a separate page…

This is a single-sided document, unlike its successors [below].

Above the set prices on this flier [left hand side], is the legend “New Reduced Prices”. Given that the prices remained unchanged, this can only be a retrospective comparison to the Plimpton era, where, indeed, the prices were much higher.

This retrospection continues, at the bottom of the same section, with “New Bayko parts fit perfectly with 1959 Bayko parts”, clearly to allay compatibility concerns.

The boy and girl pictures, coupled with the twice-used script, “for Girls and Boys”, emphasise the unisex appeal of BAYKO, even though the word unisex hadn't actually been coined at that stage.

Almost as an afterthought, I think this, with the two later versions [below], was the last time BAYKO set prices were set out in shillings and pence [ss/dd], from here on, where appropriate, of course, the pounds, shillings and pence format [£/ss/dd] became the norm.

This double-sided version, date coded October, 1960, is MECCANO's second foray into the BAYKO market place - but it still contains quite a few mistakes, just like the earlier version [above]!!!

This 'second edition' is almost unchanged on the front [above, left], but with the addition of “How to build a BAYKO Model”, on the back [above, right].

This is a bit odd, given that the would-be builder would, possibly, never have seen any of the components before, and that these instructions, with identical illustrations, are repeated in the BAYKO set manual should he or she be lucky enough to acquire the world's first and finest plastic construction toy.

The modest changes to the front are simple, though usually overlooked : -

The previous reference to “New Reduced Prices” has been removed.

The phrase “New Bayko parts fit perfectly with 1959 Bayko parts” has been rewritten as “Parts in the new Outfits fit perfectly with parts in pre-1960 Outfits.”

In the last line of the main script, [centre right] the word “build” has been replaced by “erect”.

The boy and girl pictures and the script continue to emphasise the unisex appeal of BAYKO.

This Flier was more popular with MECCANO than most of us realise…

…so far I've found three different print runs - identical apart from the printer's code.

This is the last time BAYKO set prices were set out in shillings and pence, from here on, where appropriate, the pounds, shillings and pence format became the norm.

It's difficult to get excited about this document, which is identical to the one above…

…except for the date code which shows it is just a month after the previous Flier.

The code is on the front of the document [above left] in the top right hand corner.

The only interesting detail is that, although there were 50,000 copies of the earlier flier, MECCANO now printed a further 80,000.  Given that Plimpton produced documents in print runs of 100,000 or more, perhaps MECCANO should have spoken to one of the earlier management team - and got it 'right first time!'

The above document, printer's coded July, 1961, is far and away the most fervent advocate of the play value of completed BAYKO models - echoing the 'MECCANO Magazine' 'Toy Man' articles…

BAYKO is clearly close enough to the right scale to fit very well with DINKY, and this is supported in the script right at the top, above the DINKY images : -

There are actually two artwork errors on this flier, involving the two bungalow models shown…

You may be interested to know that MECCANO produced an almost identical flier for the Australian market.

I think this is the first time BAYKO set prices were set out in pounds, shillings and pence, as the new standard, previously the shillings and pence format had prevailed.

You could put together a case that this is a Spare Parts Price List, however, the general contents are so much broader than that, much more typical of a BAYKO Flier.

The above document, printer's coded April, 1962, is interesting in that it refers to the “new” set #15 yet was obviously too early to actually include a picture of one…

…the launch date for set #15 being August, 1962.

Right at the very end, MECCANO changed BAYKO's pricing format, switching to £/s/d from the previously standard shillings and pence.

Yes, I know, this isn't a Flier, but it's direct targeting of the potentially BAYKO buying public is clearly self evident, so I don't feel too guilty!

A nice little document this, and not just for BAYKO collectors…

…the booklet, produced in 1963, also includes all MECCANO's product range.

This booklet was widely copied for MECCANO's export markets with the simple expedient of changing the country identifier on the front cover [bottom right hand corner] and inserting an appropriate local currency price list, and even, rarely, a script in foreign!!!