BAYKO Sets #0 to #3 Instruction Manual -
February, 1951 - 5th Issue

This Instruction Manual was produced by Plimpton for their basic range of BAYKO sets - sets #0 to #3, and was the bread and butter of BAYKO's heydays, with a total of 20 issues being printed.

It is print coded February, 1951 and, as such, is the first of the later versions, which can be easily identified by the lack of a red border to the picture on the front cover. This manual pre-dates the introduction of sets #3X and #4 in 1951 and 1952 respectively, but, in this case, many of the changes necessary for the introduction are introduced in this issue. The print code also tells us that 50,000 copies of this edition were printed.

The first BAYKO set #3X manual, printed in April 1951, overlaps with this manual.

This manual was printed by J.H. Leeman Ltd., Leighton Printing Works, Neston, Wirral. It has a full colour cover, the rest of the 40 pages are printed in red, green and black on white, gloss paper.

It is print coded February, 1951 and, as such, is the first of the later style without the red border to the picture on the front cover. As such this manual anticipates the introduction of sets #3X and #4 later in 1951 and 1952 respectively. The print code also tells us that 50,000 copies of this edition were printed.
A second small detail is that the label “FOR SETS 0 TO 3” has been added to the front cover, below the price slot, presumably to help the retailers distinguish it from the imminent set #3X manual.

The inside of the front cover has been changed, from the previous issue, to include mention of sets #3X and #4 in both the script and the list of available sets, even though the two sets didn't actually emerge until much later in 1951 and early 1952, respectively.

Page 34 [below] includes the Turret labelling error, carried over from the previous edition, with the Square Turret labelled as a Long Turret, and vice versa.

There is evidence of a potential debate as to exactly what should go on the back page. The final choice of model was for the seaside pier, sadly the label never quite caught up, but bore the legend - “An illustration of House and Extension built from No. 4 outfit”. Thanks to eagle eyed David Finan for spotting this one. The error was corrected in the next edition.

As well as being included in sets #0 to #3, this manual was sold separately for 1/6 [7½p].

Size - 250mm x 185mm = 9.8 x 7.3 inches.
This is the 5th Issue.
Number of this version that were printed - 50,000.

If you would like to see the manual hot off the press, as it were…