Bayko Collectors Club

Robin Throp Tel: 01727-826811 14 Suffolk Close, London Colney, St. Albans, Herts. AL2 1DZ.  email

Download Membership Form
 

   
The Bayko Collectors Club was formed out of necessity by architectural modellers wishing to meet fellow collectors, so they could discuss products, modelling techniques, and display their creations. Bayko is by far the best, most widely known and largest of these systems, obviously discounting Lego, which is not generally considered as an architectural constructional system, although Modulex (expensive baby Lego) was produced by the same company for a limited time for architects, and a number of members have some in their collections.

The Club is a small and not for profit organisation which produces newsletters, now in part colour, and generally meets four times a year at the Lane End Village Hall, (across from the duck pond going westwards through Lane End, on the left behind a wooden enclosed transformer, away from High Wycombe, between junction 4/5 M40.) Do come along, and take something!  Good food and hospitality available.

Repro Bayko parts and cut roof sections are available from Leo Janssen and new design parts from Brian Salter (owner of the BAYKO TM), floors Leo/ John Lewis, and 2m stainless steel rods (bit difficult to post) from Peter Bradley, as a service for members. Often other spares/ sets available, and of course FOOD! Available at nominal rates. Please advice in advance for large repro orders to allow time to make/ obtain.

Other exhibitions are held in different parts of the country, with main Club members attending and are much appreciated, as Bayko is fondly remembered by a large number of people, who support huge smiles when seeing their childhood passion on display.

More Information and Membership Form

The dates for Bayko 75 have now been confirmed so make a date in your diaries May 16-17th, Merstham Surrey.

We plan to make this a showpiece event and would like to see as many of you as possible at Bayko 75, either as exhibitors or visitors. We now have new Bayko Collectors’ Club banners so we can easily be found! On the subject of exhibitors we have a number of members who have already confirmed that they will be displaying their architectural creations at Bayko 75. Amongst the models currently under construction (or on the drawing board) are the Houses of Parliament, a 32ft pier (yes 32ft!), a “Coronation Village”, a Cathedral (not life size I hope), and an “Architectural Journey”. Robin is bringing his large Yorkshire Mungo and Shoddy Reprocessing mill complex, never before displayed as one model. With 1,600 square feet of space and 50 tables to fill there is still room for more of you.  Models large and small are all welcome so come and join us, the more the merrier. With your imagination, skills and enthusiasm we will be able to surpass our 70th Anniversary event held at Sandy in 2004.  For those that attended Sandy, or read the report in Bayko News, you will know how much of a success that was.

Those modellers that have never exhibited before are positively encouraged to attend. Sandy 2004 was the first time that I had ever exhibited to the general public (without getting arrested) and it was a fabulous weekend. The nostalgia buzz just gets to you. As well as attending Merstham Model Steam Show in May 2008, I also attended the Reading Vintage Toy Fair in October, so many people remember playing with Bayko as a child and are absolutely thrilled at seeing their favourite construction toy once again. All would-be exhibitors should contact either myself or Robin as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t decided what to build yet just let us know that you want to attend. Don’t be put off by the fact that you may not have enough Bayko (or space) to build the Houses of Parliament or a 32ft pier, models of all shapes and sizes are welcome. A model of a normal 1950’s detached house and garage is enough to rekindle the childhood memories of a former Bayko owner!

Try the "Self Build" section, or "Guess the number of parts in the pier" competition, to win a Bayko set.

  Happy 70th Birthday
In late 1933 Patents were filed for Bayko,
"The fascinating, Never failing Diversion for Boys & Girls" with production for 1934.

In 2004 we held a large exhibition, at Sandy Upper School, Engayne Ave, Sandy Beds*, in conjunction with the Train Collectors Society 6th Annual event and their 25th year. Leo's Janssen's unique 16ft, 70,000 part Empire State Building (never seen before outside Belgium) was on show, together with other fascinating Super Models you keep hearing about in Collector's Gazette. These included: The large Country Club in rare pre war colours, Blocks of Flats, Egyptian Pyramid (impossible to make from standard parts), another skyscraper, HSBC Headquarters Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank with working outside lifts, a whole range of Bayko models throughout the various change periods, Buckingham Palace, Speke Airport, Brickplayer & Betta Bilda Models, Jackie's unusual varied Constructional Buildings, Sherrard's Wood School complex, and many, many more. Bayko Birthday Cakes were made and displayed.  Several model railway layouts featured Bayko, with the TCS advising that 33 vintage layouts and 10 traditional scenic layouts besides trade stands were on display, etc, etc.  Excellent reviews John Peel's Home Truths Radio 3 programme.
Update: Leo's Empire State Building and Speke Airport (now John Lennon International) are now owned by The National Museum, Liverpool, and are to go on public display when the new Museum Of Liverpool Life opens in 2010.

See photos of the 70th Anniversary Exhibition.

Robin Throp of the Bayko Collector's Club is expanding Club membership to include other architectural constructional systems, typically used with model railway layouts and welcomes inquires from those interested. These include: Airfix Builder, American Skyline, Arkitex, Betta Bilda, Brickplayer, Chad Valley/ Kenner, Kliptico, Cliki/ Cliki Plus (Meccano), Lott's Bricks/ Richter Blocks, Minibrix, Mobaco, Modulex (mini Lego), Samlo, and Wenebrix, etc, just to mention a few of the more common systems. These are regularly profiled in the newsletter and displayed at Club Shows.

Bayko Collectors Club: Robin Throp. 14 Suffolk Close, London Colney, St. Albans, Herts. AL2-1DZ. 01727-826811

Download Membership Form

Vist the Toy Collector Web Site