BAYKO in AUSTRALIA

There is a horizontal fold across the middle to create a 4-page format similar to ones produced in the UK.

However, this example, based on the early, diamond pattern Flat Roofs yet with information on BAYKO set #3, must be dated around 1948 or 1949, and predates any UK examples I have seen.

The lack of information about BAYKO sets #3X or #4 further supports that date.

This document is shown here thanks to Graham Harmer.

The above document is basically a straight copy of the domestic documentation of the same date with prices in Australian £/s/d and, of course, the address of the importer.

It too is shown courtesy of Graham Harmer.

The above document is, again, basically a straight copy of the domestic documentation of similar dates with prices in Australian £/s/d and, of course, the address of the importer.

Yet again this is shown courtesy of Graham Harmer.

The original of the above document has seen better days, but I think it has tidied up pretty well.

While this may be a copy of a domestic document, if it is, I've never seen it...

...the layout is unusual, compared to other price lists, in that the parts list is a single list rather than separate standard and supplementary lists.

It is also an unusual size, being significantly longer that other price lists of the same period.

It too is shown courtesy of Graham Harmer.

This is a beautiful little 16-page catalogue-cum-flier produced by HOBBYCO for their Australian market.

The world's first and finest plastic construction toy features on page 6 [right, above], alongside BRICKPLAYER and part of the MECCANO range.

Click on either of the images above to reveal a larger image of the BAYKO entry, which is worth looking at for 2 reasons : -

Firstly there is clear reference to the availability of a "full range" of BAYKO spare parts - indeed a spare parts list is to be included "with each set".

Secondly, set #4 is clearly listed in all its glory, though it didn't appear in the U.K. market until the following year. Is this a further example of the export lead industrial strategy of the day, or is it the cock-up theory rearing its ugly head again? Perhaps some form of production problems shot holes in this pre-printed timetable. We're unlikely ever to know - but we can speculate!

I'm afraid this flier isn't dated, but the inclusion of BAYKO set #4 means it is 1952 at the earliest, and, of course, 1959 at the latest!

The layout of the flier is simple enough, a simple vertical fold produces 4 pages.

It's slightly odd that they chose not to reproduce the standard blue box colour on the flier, even though they used blue ink elsewhere on the document...

...but what an excellent document!

Grateful thanks to Graham Harmer for the images shown here.

This is the Australian market equivalent of the standard domestic quality Inspection Slip.

Apart from the address, the layout, font, etc, are identical to those used for the domestic market Inspection Slips.

This suggests, indeed in my opinion it confirms, that the inspection process for export product was carried out in the U.K.

Common sense supports this...

...after all, there would have been comparatively little BAYKO expertise in the receiving market, not to mention the logistical issues associated with opening and resealing each set in the receiving market...

...if you remember, most sets were dispatched in a protective brown paper sleeve.

This slip is shown courtesy of Angus Jones.

The above document, which is printer's coded July, 1961, exactly like its more familiar UK counterpart is very much an advocate of the play value of completed BAYKO models.

There is actually one significant difference between the UK and Australian versions,and that occurs as part of the script on the left hand page of the interior of the Australian version. There is a whole paragraph which has "disappeared" : -

To make such a change deliberately must surely indicate differing marketing strategies in the two markets, strongly suggesting that, at least at the time that these fliers went to press, MECCANO did not have a spare parts sales operation in Australia. Do you know differently? If so I'd love to hear from you...

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

These 2 1962 MECCANO era BAYKO fliers are straight copies of the U.K. equivalents...

...the one on the left bears the legend "Australia, 1962" [top right]...

...the one on the right has its prices in Australian £/s/d.

These are again shown courtesy of Graham Harmer.

This is a direct copy of the standard UK equivalent...

...with Australia instead of UK on the front cover...

...and an Australian price list in Australian £/s/d.

As can clearly be seen from the front cover [top left], BAYKO, just as in the UK, was only part of the contents of the broader MECCANO product range in Australia.

The BAYKO page [top right] is typical of MECCANO era literature.

The price list [left] shows the prices of sets and conversion sets in Australian £/s/d.

This is the only Australian market document that I own.

This is also shown courtesy of Graham Harmer.

This document takes the form of a single sheet, folded twice, to create a simple, 6-page booklet.

This a relatively standard format for MECCANO general products price lists, which were used throughout the world and for several years.

In this particular case we see the Australian version, date coded February, 1961.

The prices are all shown in Australian £/s/d - Australia has long since moved to dollars.

I particularly like the comment, immediately beneath the word BAYKO - "THE FAMOUS PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION TOY". Thanks to eagle-eyed Robin Throp for noticing this.

We also get a pretty strong signal that this form is closely linked to the relaunch of BAYKO, in Australia, under the MECCANO banner with the comments "NEW PARTS - NEW PACK - NEW MODELS".

If you click anywhere on the image [right] you will be able to read a much larger version of the BAYKO section, which is located at the bottom of the front page.

This simple MECCANO era BAYKO document could have been typed by anybody, however...

...there are other known examples of similarly typed MECCANO era BAYKO documentation, authenticated by the Museum of Liverpool Life, so I have no difficulty in accepting that this is genuine, and am very grateful to Graham Harmer for the image.

The heading of the document proclaims its validity for the "Season 1961-1962", and there is a reference code which suggests it was printed on May 3rd, 1961.

The prices are all shown in Australian £/s/d - Australia has long since moved to dollars.

An interesting piece of trivia is that the left hand column, which would have been referred to as the Part Number in traditional BAYKO circles, is here referred to as the "SALES No.".

Over the years my skill in tidying up images has improved considerably, never-the-less, the image of this much used sheet took over three hours work...

...but I think it has come up quite well.

This document yet again takes the form of a single sheet, folded, to create a simple, 4-page booklet.

This a relatively standard format for MECCANO general products price lists, which were used throughout the world and for several years.

In particular case we see the Australian version, dated 1965.

If you click anywhere on the image [right] you will be able to read a much larger version of the BAYKO section, which is located just below centre of the front page.

The above document, which is dated June, 1966, is another in the standard MECCANO 4-page general products price list series, however, by this time BAYKO has been relegated to page 3, towards the bottom of the right hand column [above, right].

The eagle-eyed among you will have spotted that this document follows shortly after Australian decimalisation, Valentines Day, 1966, and is the only document I have where the BAYKO is priced in Australian dollars.

A final interesting detail is that this document was printed by...

..."The Harbour" Press, Sydney...

...to date, this is the only BAYKO document I've seen which was printed outside the UK.