BAYKO Builder
The Model Building and Construction Toys Specialist
Rediscover BAYKO and enhance your model building experience with premium building and construction toys from BAYKOSHOP. We have over 40 years of model building experience, providing a wide selection of BAYKO spare parts and complete building sets that have been meticulously checked for quality and completeness. Enjoy the nostalgia and build model houses piece by piece using the plans and designs provided in the instruction manuals. Then develop your own ideas and design your very own models.
Wide Range of BAYKO Building Accessories
Do you want to build bigger, taller and better models? At BAYKOSHOP we can supply the BAYKO spare parts you need. Discover an array of extra building components such as bricks, windows, doors, roofs, bases, rods of varying lengths and other assorted BAYKO parts to bring your creations to life. Whether you are constructing a complex structure or adding intricate detail, we have everything you need to fuel your creativity.
Pre-War and early Post-War Sets and Collectibles
Explore our collection of pre and post-war BAYKO sets and parts. Pre-war sets are particularly sought after as valuable collectibles among enthusiasts. Unlock a world of possibilities with the timeless appeal and versatility of BAYKO building and construction toys.
The Legacy of BAYKO: A Brief History
BAYKO stands as a timeless example of a construction toy, featuring a blend of plastic and metal components that allow for the creation of houses, churches, castles, and railway buildings, making it ideal for train layout enthusiasts and for model villages. Initially conceived as a child's plaything, it has garnered a global following among adult enthusiasts who appreciate its enduring appeal and versatility.
The Innovative Vision of Charles Plimpton
The brainchild of Charles Plimpton, BAYKO was revolutionary in using Bakelite plastic for modeling structures. Plimpton's innovative system relied on strategically placing plastic bricks, windows, and doors between metal rods, which had been positioned within rows of holes on a plastic base structure.
Moreover, by including floors made from paper/phenolic resin bonded industrial laminate material and finishing off with plastic roofs and chimneys, the model builder created an attractive, realistic looking BAYKO building with good structural integrity.
Moreover, by including floors made from paper/phenolic resin bonded industrial laminate material and finishing off with plastic roofs and chimneys, the model builder created an attractive, realistic looking BAYKO building with good structural integrity.
Evolving Aesthetics and Inspirations
The original pre-war BAYKO sets featured parts for brick sections that had been moulded in brown and creamy white colours, together with windows and doors moulded in various shades of dark green, which sometimes were a greenish khaki colour. Because of Bakelite's colour constraints it was necessary for Plimpton to develop his product working in conjunction with the manufcturers of thermosetting moulding compounds and utilising aminoplastic materials. The original BAYKO sets had large dark brown bases and the roofs were also brown but occasionally were moulded in various shades of dark maroon. As resin technology progressed, materials were introduced with paler colours, such as red, white, orange, and lighter green, broadening the creative possibilities for BAYKO enthusiasts.
Influences and Inspirations
Plimpton drew inspiration from various sources, including the Dutch Mobaco system, which involved cardboard parts slotted between wooden vertical posts with a cardboard base. Additionally, the French Batiss system, characterized by wooden parts supported by metal rods inserted into a compacted resin-bonded paper composite base, likely contributed to the evolution of the BAYKO concept.
Remarkably, the similarities in the spacings between the rows of holes in Batiss bases and BAYKO bases and the Batiss use of metal rods suggests a possible input into the origins and development of BAYKO's designs.
It is also possible that Plimpton was aware of Briklo which had been invented and patented by Roland Hall in 1932 and was based on artificial stone blocks and wooden rods, which were described as "Scaffolding Poles". Briklo was produced in Newcastle-on-Tyne and included windows, doors roofs and chimneys. Building plans, described as "Blue Prints" were included in the boxed sets of Briklo.
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History of BAYKO Building and Construction Toys
In 1933, Plimpton patented BAYKO, and by Christmas of 1934, he introduced the first BAYKO LIGHT CONSTRUCTIONAL SETS. The name "BAYKO LIGHT" was a play on the word "Bakelite," which had been coined by Dr. Leo Hendrick Baekeland, the inventor of Bakelite, in 1907.
Original Series and Innovations
The original BAYKO sets ranged from Set 1 to Set 5, with additional converting sets 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. In 1935, Set 6 was launched, initially featuring mottled "oak" brown bricks and white windows and doors, later transitioning to red and white bricks and green windows and doors. A series of "Ornamental Additions Sets" A, B, and C was also introduced in 1935.
Sets 20 to 23, introduced in 1936, showcased orange and curved parts. Pre-war sets replaced the brown bricks with red ones and saw the introduction of Set 5A.
Sets 20 to 23, introduced in 1936, showcased orange and curved parts. Pre-war sets replaced the brown bricks with red ones and saw the introduction of Set 5A.
Transition to New Series and Post-War Era
In 1939, right before World War II, Plimpton replaced the original series with the "New Series" containing Sets 1 to 6 and Converting Sets 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C, and 5C, incorporating modified parts and smaller bases. Production halted during the war (1942) and resumed in 1946 with the postwar sets, including Set 0 to Set 3 and Converting Sets 0X, 1X and 2X. New parts were introduced in 1949 and 1950, together with Set 3X and Set 4, offering more design possibilities and also the construction of much larger models.
This series of sets is referred to as "post-war Plimpton BAYKO" to distinguish it from the subsequently marketed "Meccano BAYKO."
This series of sets is referred to as "post-war Plimpton BAYKO" to distinguish it from the subsequently marketed "Meccano BAYKO."
Meccano Acquisition and Competition
Charles Plimpton passed away in 1948, and in 1960, Meccano acquired the Plimpton Engineering Co. business. Changes ensued, including the complete replacement of thermoset plastic parts with polystyrene. However, these changes led to a shortage of BAYKO availability in the shops and coincided with the rise of LEGO's popularity. Meccano attempted to modernise the design of the model buildings, but due to limited marketing and advertising support, BAYKO faced stiff competition from LEGO and AIRFIX building sets.
Meccano BAYKO and Decline
Meccano BAYKO Sets 11, 12, 13, and 14 with their Converting Sets 11C, 12C and 13C were launched in December 1960. Set 15 followed in 1962 with Converting Set 14C, but competition from LEGO and AIRFIX intensified. Meccano's focus shifted to developing Cliki, a more complicated alternative to LEGO. However, after 1963 the marketing and advertising of BAYKO declined and production of BAYKO eventually ceased in 1967. The Company discontinued the Cliki system and also its successor Cliki Plus. These systems failed to compete with Lego and had also been given only limited advertising support. Cliki and Cliki Plus were only been marketed for a short period of time and their boxed sets are hard to find.
BAYKO 75
In May 2009, there was a BAYKO exhibition held in Merstham in Surrey to celebrate 75 years since Charles Plimpton developed his BAYKO Light Construction Sets. Exhibits included giant models of a 32-foot seaside pier, a 9-foot x 4-foot cathedral, models of Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, and a skyscraper. There was also a comprehensive display of BAYKO boxed sets from the 1930s to the 1950s.
BAYKO 80
In June 2014, the Liverpool Museum celebrated 80 years since Charles Plimpton first produced his BAYKO sets with an exhibition of BAYKO parts, sets, and models, some of which were spectacularly large. Members of the BAYKO Collectors Club gave interesting talks on the history, and they were very pleased to host the two daughters of Charles Plimpton when they visited the exhibition.
Our Mission
We aim to help and support BAYKO collectors throughout the world.
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