BAYKO Retail Cabinets - Contents

I only have a photocopy of a photocopy of a damaged original, but this is a list of the contents of what seems to be the Retail Cabinet of the day, though, unfortunately I have never seen it.

The dates can only be an estimate, however, I believe the absence of Pillars, the 'Oak' parts and the white Windows to be a decisive indicator.

I know, from items in my own collection, that several of the items listed here were indeed boxed in the quantities specified above.

The document also says : -

…the mind boggles - what special colours were they alluding to?

Well, it looks like the offer to make longer Rods the customer wanted applied from the earliest days…

…the 'Oak' parts, white Windows, green Arches, etc. are probably what they meant by “special colours”…

…though there is anecdotal evidence that these parts were stocked, at least by some retailers.

The final point is that these Retain Cabinets, based on the contents list, would have been substantially smaller than the later versions, if only because of the very much smaller range of different parts, though the relative inefficiency of space/volume utilisation, because of the use of the boxes, will, at least partially counter this.

As well as the above details, it also refers only to sets #0 to #3 and conversion sets #0X to #2X.

This places the introduction of this sheet after the launch of set #3 and before the launch of the set #3X in late 1951…

…hence the estimated dates.

The slightly restricted range of parts included further supports this conclusion.

It also has space for prices of longer Rods from 9 Brick to 12 Brick.

The document [below, left] is actually a…

…to quote from the sheet itself.

The contents listed for the refill packs mentioned here are identical to the contents mentioned in the table above.

I am certain that, together, they create an overwhelming case that these were definitely the contents of the full Retail Cabinets of the period.

Sadly this form isn't dated, but the lack of so many parts which were included in set #3X which was launched late in 1951, suggests that the dates are logical.

The information above is taken from the card [below, left]…

…which is clearly intended to help retailer's manage their Retail Cabinets.

A minor point of interest here is that the order in which the BAYKO spare parts have been listed differs quite significantly from the previous card [above]. Some of the changes are to accommodate the new parts, but other changes are more difficult to explain.

These new parts are making their debut here. They are Side Bricks and Windows, Opening Windows, Small Chimneys and Gate & Matching Balustrade.

The start date for the use of this Retail Cabinet Card I have based on the launch dates for the “new parts which are in production, but are not included in the standard sets”. These new BAYKO parts were released during 1950 and 1951…

…the end date is based on the stated availability of just one “Instruction Booklet”. The new, i.e. second manual, for set #3X, was first mentioned in an April, 1951 Parts Price List…

The script over the parts list, to the right of the card, confirms these the contents of a full Retail Cabinet.

I also own a scruffy version of the above which includes a small, blue oversticker [right], issued in 1958 which added Lazing Material, Ramps and T.V. Aerials to the card, though, sadly, with no contents quantity figures included.

I am guessing, but I suspect that this card came from a relatively small toy shop, which continued to use this card, with its cabinet, up to 1958 and beyond.

There is another example of this oversticker, this time on an order form [below]…

The information in the table above is again taken from the document opposite…

…which is clearly a re-order sheet with which the retailers would have restocked their retail cabinets.

The document also includes “Instruction Booklets No. 4” for the first time, included as an overprint [below]…

…the price of the sets #0 to 3 manual has also been overprinted with a price which only applied in 1951 and 1952, hence the dating of the form.

The form also says : -

The information above is again taken from the BAYKO Stock Reorder Form [right, upper]…

…which is clearly a re-order sheet with which the retailers used to restock their retail cabinets.

There have been several changes made since the previous form [above] : -

The order quantity for these items has been reduced…

…perhaps to make way for the increased quantities of these…

…and the separate introduction of Screws for Base Links.

It also says : -

Office systems were obviously getting more efficient - there's now a space to re-order more re-order forms!

The contents, though not the layout, of this form are identical to its export equivalent [below].

In addition to the Stock Reorder Form, [right, upper] I have a Retail Cabinet Support Card [right, lower] which displays exactly the same Cabinet contents, so I thought I would show it here rather than unnecessarily duplicate the table.

These cards, as well as showing the Cabinet Contents, also show the prices which the retailer should charge, together with printed 'measuring sticks' to help the retailer unearth the required sizes of Rods and Floors for the eager collector.

It also includes the script : -

The information above is again taken from the document opposite…

…which is clearly a re-order sheet with which the retailers used to restock their retail cabinets.

The key detail here is that this form was intended for use within the export markets, as identified in the printers code at the bottom left hand side of the document.

The lack of a mention of Glazing Strips means the form dates before glazing for windows was introduced around 1956.

The contents of this form are identical to the domestic equivalent form [above].

Office systems are catered for, as with the domestic version, as there's again a space to re-order more re-order forms!

Clearly, and unsurprisingly, export Cabinets had the same contents as domestic ones given that the form specifies that : -

This information above is taken from the BAYKO Stock Reorder Form opposite…

…which is clearly a re-order sheet with which the retailers used to restock their retail cabinets.

This offer of “Cabinet of Spare Parts” - “Full Contents” or “Half Contents” explains why some of the cardboard packs for various parts are occasionally found in different sizes.

The key detail which differentiates this form is the oversticker [right, lower] stuck over the left hand column headings which adds/introduces Glazing Material, Ramps and T.V. Aerials.

In the list [above] I've included them at the bottom of the left hand column, though this is merely an expedient.

Oddly, the oversticker does not include any mention of actual order quantities of the parts concerned.

There's also an earlier card [above] with the same label…

…click here to jump back to this card.

It's been suggested that this form comes later than the Overprint version below, because it's missing the T.V. Aerials. However, the T.V. Aerials were introduced two years earlier, so their omission must be an error - or laziness…

…though, of course, I could be wrong!

The form also still says : -

This information above is taken from the document opposite…

…which is clearly a re-order sheet with which the retailers used to restock their retail cabinets.

This and offer of “Cabinet of Spare Parts” - “Full Contents” or “Half Contents” explains why some of the cardboard packs for various BAYKO spare parts are occasionally found in different sizes.

Some people have suggested that this form actually predates the one above, but given that the T.V. Aerials were introduced significantly earlier, I don't think it is relevant in the dating sense…

…though, of course, I could be wrong!

The form also still says : -

This information above is taken directly from the document opposite…

…which is clearly a BAYKO Stock Re-order Form, with which BAYKO retailers used to restock their Retail Cabinets.

This and offer of “Cabinet of Spare Parts” - “Full Contents” or “Half Contents” explains why some of the cardboard packs for various BAYKO spare parts are occasionally found in different sizes, as Cabinet Contents have varied over time.

The clear difference between this 1958 Stock Re-order Form and its predecessors is that “Aerials, T.V.”, “Glazing Materials, Sets” and “Ramps” are now fully integrated into their appropriate slot [in alphabetical order] on the document, and, consequently, the form is a little longer.

If nothing else, this should act as conclusive proof that this version did indeed supercede the two forms above, with their 'label' and 'overprint'.

Apart from the order in which they are printed, there are no other data changes to the information contained in this document - i.e. the order quantities for BAYKO Spare Parts remain the same.

I'm sorry but I don't have a document which specifically details the contents of a MECCANO era Retail Cabinet, so I'm afraid I can't specify the exact contents…

…however, the form [left] is, perhaps, the next best thing - it's the form used by retailers to replenish their stocks of both BAYKO sets and spare parts, probably the first of the MECCANO era - and it does include details of the repeat order quantities for each BAYKO part.

It informs the retailer that a full Retail Cabinet would cost the princely sum of : -

[£11.24]

[£02.34] purchase tax.

It also goes on to say : -

Reading between the lines, I can only assume that this loan was automatic with the [first?] order.

I'm afraid that's all I can offer at this stage.

I don't know about you, but I'd love to pay £11.24 for a Cabinet full of brand new BAYKO parts - and I think I'd happily accept the free Cabinet as well!

I still don't have a document which specifically details the contents of a MECCANO era Retail Cabinet so I'm afraid I still can't specify the exact contents…

…however, the form opposite is, still perhaps, the next best thing - it's the form used by retailers to replenish their stocks of both BAYKO sets and spare parts following the August, 1962 launch of the set #15 and the retail packs - and, again, it does include details of the repeat order quantities for each BAYKO part.

It informs the retailer that a full Retail Cabinet would cost the princely sum of : -

It also goes on to say : -

I can't see many retailers failing to tick the box for that offer!

I'm afraid that's again all I can offer at this stage.

I don't know about you, but I'd even be prepared to stretch to £12 for a Cabinet full of brand new BAYKO parts - and I might just be persuaded to opt for the free Cabinet as well!

I'm sorry but yet again these documents don't specifically detail the contents of a MECCANO era Retail Cabinet so I'm afraid I can't specify the exact contents…

…however, the forms [left and right, below] are, perhaps, the next best thing - they're used by retailers to replenish their stocks of BAYKO spare parts, and include details of the repeat order quantities for each BAYKO part.

The documents date from 1965 with the one on the left being slightly earlier. They're actually double sided with the full range of MECCANO spare parts on the back.

The contents of the form, set out above, are identical to the other forms from 1962 onwards.

I'm afraid that's all I can offer at this stage.

I'm sorry but I still don't have a document which specifically details the contents of a MECCANO era Retail Cabinet so I'm afraid I can't specify the exact contents…

…however, the form [right] is, perhaps, the next best thing - it's the form used by retailers to replenish their stocks of BAYKO spare parts, almost certainly the last of the MECCANO era - and it does include details of the repeat order quantities for each BAYKO part.

The list of parts is unchanged since August, 1962.

All the frills, such as offers of a “free loan” of a wooden storage cabinet, have long gone, but the full range of BAYKO parts, established in August, 1962 is still there.

I'm afraid I have no more information to offer you at this stage…

…except to point out that this is, almost certainly, the penultimate pure BAYKO document ever released - even though it did have a MECCANO spare parts list on the back.

I'm sorry but I still don't have a document which specifically details the contents of a MECCANO era Retail Cabinet so I'm afraid I can't specify the exact contents…

…however, the form [right] is, perhaps, the next best thing - it's the form used by retailers to replenish their stocks of BAYKO spare parts, almost certainly the last of the MECCANO era - and it does include details of the repeat order quantities for each BAYKO part.

The list of parts is unchanged since August, 1962.

All the frills, such as offers of a “free loan” of a wooden storage cabinet, have long gone, but the full range of BAYKO parts, established in August, 1962 is still there.

I'm afraid that's all I can offer at this stage…

…except to point out that this is, almost certainly, the last pure BAYKO document ever released - even though it did have a MECCANO spare parts list on the back.