“The world’s first and finest plastic (building) construction toy.”
Invented by C.B. Plimpton and patented in 1933. Bayko is manufactured by Plimpton Engineering Company Ltd, between 1934-1958. Bayko is taken over by Meccano between 1959-1960s.
Many informative sources:
Active facebook group,
BaykoMan, Melright, MeccanoIndex-Bayko,
Bayko Collectors clubs, Brighton Toy Museum
Copyrights…
The Bayko name and logo are the Registered Trade Mark and are the Copyright of Transport of Delight.
Patented
GB422645, application date: Nov. 1933:
GB613767, application date: July 1946:
With the 1946 patent, gable constructions are added.
Bayko series
| Year: | Series: | Sets: | Material walls: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934-1936 | First production | #1-5 & #1A-4A | Bakelite (Phenol Formaldehyde) |
| 1935 | Ornamental additions De-Luxe set | A, B C #6 | Bakelite |
| 1937/ 1938 | Colour Change De-Luxe set (recolored) ‘Special sets’ | All sets #6 #20-22A,23 | Bakelite (Urea Formaldehyde) |
| 1939-1941 | ‘New Series’ | #1-6 & #1C-#5C | Bakelite |
| 1945/1946 | Post-War ‘New Series’ | #0-3 & #0X-2X | Bakelite |
| 1949-1959 | Post War Plimpton ‘The Peak Period‘ | Including: #3X & #4 | PolyStyrene (Styron 475) |
| 1959-1960s | MECCANO Takeover | #0-3, #11-15 | Re-tooled. PolyStyrene |
Bayko Sets
Box & Content: ‘Post War Plimpton’
Manuals
For good quality manuals, go to: Meccano Index – Bayko
If you have more proper scanned manuals, I’m happy to share them too.
Parts
Colors produced, during the years:
Some system characteristics
Here a short list of some system characteristics and how it’s retrofitted into the virtual LeoCAD library:
| Part types: | Original: | Virtual: |
|---|---|---|
| Bases | Bakelite / PolyStyrene Hole spacing: 3/8 [inch] / 9.525 [mm] | Single color pieces |
| Rods | Steel Diameter: 75 [thou] / 1.905 [mm] | Single color pieces |
| Walls | Bakelite / PolyStyrene ¾ x ¾ x 3/8 [inch] 19.05 x 19.05 x 4.7625 [mm] | Single color pieces |
| Bay size | 3/8″ (9.525 mm) | Scalled: 10 [mm] |
| LeoCAD settings: | ||
| Draw line every X studs | – | |
| Snap XY | 5 [mm] 1/4 stud | |
| Snap Z | 1 [mm] 1/20 stud | |
| Rotations | 30/45/90 [deg] |
Library information
Here an overview of the parts library:
Yes, this library is called Vayko…
Some parts need to be added togther (Dormer roof, Double opening door, etc). So the specific parts could have different colors.
In total: 101 unique parts. Variations of gable & roof styles are not included.
Part numbering/identification
For playing virtual, it’s more handy to re-arrange parts. Re-using the number system concept from L’Edifice, enables a more logic way to build virtual.
Coloring
Since Bayko using a lot of colors for the same parts, these Vayko library parts are created w/o any special color. This enables the modeler creating his own color pallete.
Corner parts…
In LeoCAD it’s possible to rotate parts, but when adding a next item on top, the next part will use the same orientation and ends up bellow the previous part. That’s why corner parts having a left and a right version:
Building in LeoCAD
This is actually a nice toy to play with, both in real & virtual. I’m also surprised by the various building possibilities, also found on FB. There are still enthousiasts printing there own unique DIY parts! 🙂
For game play, it’s very simular to the French wooden Bâtiss.