Bayko was a constructional toy made in the UK between 1934 and 1964, designed for making model houses and other buildings. Vertical metal rods were positioned on a perforated base to make a framework, then units such as walls, doors and windows were slotted between them. Originally produced by Plimpton Engineering Ltd of Liverpool, Bayko was taken over by Meccano in 1960 and withdrawn from the market four years later, a victim of competition from more versatile toys such as Lego. The metal rod construction would also have posed safety fears in the modern marketplace.
Bayko still has a following today amongst enthusiasts, with some parts being available as reproductions. Bayko has a particular "period" charm, its components lending themselves naturally to the construction of those bay-windowed detached and semi-detached houses which so characterised suburban Britain in the first half of the 20th century. |
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