Post-War BAYKO Set Structure
There were significant differences between the BAYKO set structure of the pre-war and post-war periods, that's fairly widely known, but have you ever asked yourself why? Before you are tempted to answer, I should put in a quick reminder that 'New Series' sets were produced, however briefly, immediately after the war, which certainly wouldn't have reduced the confusion level. |
Early post-war literature actually suggested a post-war range of sets #0 to #5, one more than eventually materialised… |
A slightly earlier piece of Canadian literature actually goes so far as to promise a post-war set #6 - if only… |
Have you ever stopped to consider why this happened… |
…well, this page attempts an explanation… |
…but remember, quite a bit of this is personal opinion! |
Post-War BAYKO Set Structure |
|
SET # |
SET DETAILS AND DESCRIPTION |
0 |
This new set is perhaps the easiest to explain. Set #0 provided a cheap, entry level set, based on the newly introduced Flat Roofs & Roof Ends, to target the stocking filler market and reintroduce kids to BAYKO, at a bargain price, in a period of austerity. |
1 |
There is no magic or deep thought required here, the post-war set #1 is virtually identical to its pre-war counterpart. It begins the rhythm of basing progressively larger sets on the addition of the next Roof size up - here the Small Roof. |
2 |
Introduced a little later, but using the same logic, again the post-war set #2 is clearly based on the contents of its pre-war equivalent. It maintains the rhythm of basing progressively larger sets on the addition of the next Roof size up - here the Medium Roof. |
3 |
This is where the first 'controversy' arises. |
| The pre-war sets #3 and #4 both had the same range of roofs [1 x Small, 1 x Medium and 1 Large] dropping the pre-war set #3 meant that the first four post-war sets could still be based on the inclusion of progressively increasing roof sizes - here the Large Roof. | |
| Post-war set #3 was therefore based on pre-war set #4. | |
4 |
Although there are slightly more differences than with the smaller sets, the size of post-war set #4 is still very similar in size to the pre-war set #5. There is also even 'lip service' to the increasing Roof size concept, with the addition of a second set Flat Roofs & Roof Ends, the Gable Roofs and, ultimately, the Dome and Pinnacle Roof and Pinnacle Platform. |
5 |
The nonexistent post-war set #5 would, initially, therefore have have probably been aligned with the pre-war set #5… |
| …however, after the set #6 was dropped [below], and taking into account the above decisions, it would probably have been based on the pre-war set #6 and thus have been the flagship BAYKO set, in the same way that the “De-Luxe” set #6 was pre-war, but… | |
| …the key issue here would have been price… | |
| …at the time that the set #4 was launched, in 1952, it would be realistic to estimate that the price of a set #6 would, almost certainly, have been around £8 - more than the average weekly wage, of a skill craftsman, at the time! | |
6 |
I'm not absolutely sure where the equally nonexistent post-war set #6 would have fit into the above logic, though presumably it would have been based on the pre-war set #6. However, the idea was dropped in 1946 or early 1947. |
4+ |
When Plimpton made their final marketing decision not to launch set #5, [late 1951 or early 1952?] they made another… |
| …recognising that set #4 had become, de facto, the flagship BAYKO set… | |
| …that they should introduce the Dome, Pinnacle Roof and Pinnacle Platform to further enhance the set #4 contents… | |
| …which were not included in the early [1951] conversion sets #3X remember… | |
| …and the post-war range of sets was complete… | |
| …and yet - they could have made room for the Turrets! | |
SET # |
SET DETAILS AND DESCRIPTION |
Well, what do you think? Why not email me and let me know how you think it all happened? |
After a bit of thought, I think the set #5 / set #6 chaos may have been another victim of C.B. Plimpton's sadly early demise, in late 1949. |
Thanks to Bob Burgess for his contribution to the discussions behind this. |
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
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