BAYKO - Plimpton Era Summary

After teething troubles as C.B. Plimpton's fledgling company struggled to master the [then] new plastic technology, BAYKO finally hit the shops just in time for Christmas 1934.

Not surprisingly, particularly when viewed with hind-sight, the initial range of BAKELITE BAYKO parts certainly appears quite limited - just 16 initially, including the bases.

Initially sets #1 to #5 were produced with conversion sets #1A to #4A available from 1935.

Bricks were brown or cream.

Windows were 8-pane, 'Georgian' style in dark green - only one size and style was available.

Bases were large and brown.

Large and Small roofs were available in brown.

The Ornamental Additions sets contained red (initially) and white Pillars, 'Oak' and green Arches, mottled green Roofs, white Wall Capping and 'Oak' Bricks and Full Corner Bricks.

Quantities varied with the set size.

Colours also changed with time. The red Pillars were initially brown and green Arches were originally dark before being lightened as were the mottled green Large and Small Roofs.

These Ornamental Additions sets allowed you to embellish models built from the standard sets - indeed, as they contained no Rods or Bases, that was they only way they could be used.

Bricks were 'Oak'.

Windows were 'Georgian' style with 8 panes in white.

Bases were large and brown.

Large and Small roofs were mottled green.

'Oak' Wall Capping and white 3-Brick Pillars were introduced.

In theory, from this point onwards until the war, any set could be ordered in the above colour scheme.

These sets are held in great affection be original owners and modern collectors alike.

Bricks were now true red or white.

Windows were still 8-pane 'Georgian' style but in light green - still only one size and style was available.

Bases were still large and brown.

Large and Small Roofs were now available in red though early sets still have maroon roofs. Occasional examples also emerge which are a deep cheery red colour, very much a halfway house between the two colours.

Any set could be specially ordered in the 'Oak' and white "De-Luxe" colour scheme.

► Conversion set #5A now made sense and was introduced at the same time.

From 1938 to the war BAYKO sets #20 to #23 and conversion sets #20A to #22A were produced.
►	These introduced a range of new parts, Domes, Pinnacles, Turrets, Curved Bricks and Windows, Bay Window Covers and 1-Brick Pillars.
►	Bricks were red or white.
►	Windows were initially 8-pane 'Georgian' style in light green but were changed to the "cruciform" style in 1939 when the 'New Series' sets were introduced. Curved Windows always matched the later style and were the same colour.
►	Bases were large and mottled green. Given that there were never more than two of these Bases in what were, and remain, rare sets, these are very highly prized by collectors.

►	Domes, Pinnacle Roofs and Platforms, Bay Window Covers and all 4 styles of Turret were Orange, a colour which was unique to these sets...
	...not necessarily very tasteful, but highly collectable.
►	1-Brick Pillars were white and were also unique to these sets.
Click here for more details of this unique, very popular, BAYKO production phase.

The original Small Roof was renamed as the Medium Roof and a new [smaller] version of Small Roof was introduced.

Full Corner Bricks were superseded by End Bricks...

...and more Bricks of course!

Wall Capping was [apparently] dropped - though some people, myself among them, still believe that they were, never-the-less, still included in the 'New Series' version of set #6...

...even though they were never included in the parts list.

Straight Steps - in red - replaced the earlier left-hand and right-hand ones and also the Platforms.

Long Bricks and Large Windows were also introduced.

Bricks were red or white.

Windows were a new, 'Cruciform' style, with 4 panes, in light green, the Large and Curved Windows matched in style and colour.

Bases now became small and were mottled green.

Roofs were red.

Any set could be specially ordered in the 'Oak' and white "De-Luxe" colour scheme.

Parts that were dropped from BAYKO sets at this time were still available separately.

Whilst sets were not available until the following year, there was at least a modest trade in spare parts somewhat earlier, certainly in October, 1945 - how widespread this was I've no means of knowing...

The Flat Roof was introduced, initially with a diamond pattern, but after about a year it was changed to the standard tiling style.

Bricks were red or white, though some unusual shades of red date from the first year or so of this period.

Windows were a yellow green for the first year or so, then standard mid-green.

Bases were small and, after flirting with pale colours and shades of grey, settled on green.

Roofs were red.

 

New parts now emerged and were included in set #3X from 1951 - Balustrades [including matching Gate], Wall Bricks, Corner Bricks, Gable Roofs, Side Bricks and Windows, Opening Windows, Long Roof Ends, Small Chimneys and Crazy Paving.

In the mid 50's material changes began with the gradual introduction of polystyrene. Retooling the windows allowed for the introduction of Glazing.

From around May 1958 the TV Aerial and Ramp became available, and the Opening or Garage Doors from June 1st, 1959.

NB. Only Bricks, Half Bricks, End Bricks, Windows, Large Windows, Garage Doors and, later, Doors actually used the new material.

The colour scheme was unchanged though windows lightened slightly with the new material.

This format and colour scheme prevailed until the MECCANO BAYKO take-over.

I'd love to hear from you if you've more information on the Plimpton era...

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