Bayko Empire State Building

Leo Janssen, a Bayko enthusiast, built this huge model of New York's Empire State Building out of hundreds of pieces of 'Bayko', a Liverpool-invented model construction set, between 1999 and 2003. Charles Plimpton first set up Plimpton Engineering Co Ltd in 1933 to produce Bayko at 15 Gibraltar Row, very close to Princes Dock. After he died, his wife took over the business, which was then sold to Meccano Ltd in 1960. Bayko was then produced for the next seven years at the company’s factory in Speke. Liverpool technology influenced the development of American skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building. American architecture influenced iconic Liverpool buildings like Martin's Bank, the Cunard Building, the Adelphi Hotel and the Royal Liver Building. The model consists of several levels stacked on top of each other. Its total height is more than four metres!