BINBAK vintage UK made buildings

Jack Binns and Bill Baker first met when apprentices in the 1930s, but WW2 disrupted their lives (they served in the Black Watch Highlanders and Yorkshire Light Infantry respectively), until they met again in 1946, and agreed to set up a wooden toy company, Binns, Baker & Co in Bradford, using the brand name 'Binbak'. Jack supervised the basic construction, Bill supervised the finishing, painting and packing, and they shared design and business management. Their main product ranges were dolls houses, garages (for Dinky/Corgi cars), castles, western forts, and farmyards, with quite a lot different models of each being made over the years, plus a few large luxury special items for the Royal family and other VIP clients. Minor lines included at least two each of riding schools and zoos.  
In 1972 Bill decided to leave the business, so Jack and his wife continued to run it on a smaller scale from a barn near their home in Batley. Sadly, Jack died suddenly in 1987, but his wife Norrie continued for a few years, until 1991, with her loyal staff, when other family matters forced her to finally close it down.
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(Last 2 photos repeated from zoo & wild west threads, but here as well because they're Binbak.)

Interesting again     

DaveScriv wrote:

Jack Binns and Bill Baker first met when apprentices in the 1930s, but WW2 disrupted their lives (they served in the Black Watch Highlanders and Yorkshire Light Infantry respectively), until they met again in 1946, and agreed to set up a wooden toy company, Binns, Baker & Co in Bradford, using the brand name 'Binbak'. Jack supervised the basic construction, Bill supervised the finishing, painting and packing, and they shared design and business management. Their main product ranges were dolls houses, garages (for Dinky/Corgi cars), castles, western forts, and farmyards, with quite a lot different models of each being made over the years, plus a few large luxury special items for the Royal family and other VIP clients. Minor lines included at least two each of riding schools and zoos.  
In 1972 Bill decided to leave the business, so Jack and his wife continued to run it on a smaller scale from a barn near their home in Batley. Sadly, Jack died suddenly in 1987, but his wife Norrie continued for a few years, until 1991, with her loyal staff, when other family matters forced her to finally close it down.

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(Last 2 photos repeated from zoo & wild west threads, but here as well because they're Binbak.)

Dave - the fort I remember well. It was one of my Christmas presents in the late 1960’s. It went very well with my Timpo 7th Cavalry and Herald Indians.

Thanks for bringing back happy memories. I never knew anything about the manufacturer.

Happy to revive memories of     past.

In case you hadn't guessed already, the fir trees were bought in by Binbak from a Christmas cake decorations company.

Thay are absolutely wonderful  

Imagine being a child getting one of those farms for christmas, ohhh, heaven !!!!   

Again a very interesting and well described history. I enjoy a lot reading them and they won't not only serve for those who are visiting the forum these days as it will keep and surely be interesting to future collectors.

Some great and wonderful old models there!I used to dream of getting a farm or zoo like one of these as a child!  

New addition to my Binbak collection, another, smaller, riding school

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Nice stuff again!!

Nice trip down memory lane! Definately recognise the Zoo front with cages and the new riding school addition. Better finished than some of the contemporary companies, and better materials, the forts are plank no? I have some stuff of the lesser companies making things out of flat/block painted hardboard...when I get it out of storage (  ) I'll get copies to you.

smallscaleworld wrote:

Nice trip down memory lane! Definately recognise the Zoo front with cages and the new riding school addition. Better finished than some of the contemporary companies, and better materials, the forts are plank no? I have some stuff of the lesser companies making things out of flat/block painted hardboard...when I get it out of storage (  ) I'll get copies to you.

Mostly plywood, and yes, very strong construction.
I hope you soon manage to get your collection out of storage.
Remember, I still have that rare Lone Star D-Day set if you have good buildings and/or other stuff for a swap.

Wonderful riding school, a very harmonic set! Congratulations Dave and thnaks for showing!

Hoping that I’m not infringing any policies on this site, just to say thanks for this article and that I currently have a Binbak castle on sale on eBay UK and am getting around to listing a Binbak Riding School in the near future. I think I have some farm buildings somewhere too .

anthonys_collections wrote:

Hoping that I’m not infringing any policies on this site, just to say thanks for this article and that I currently have a Binbak castle on sale on eBay UK and am getting around to listing a Binbak Riding School in the near future. I think I have some farm buildings somewhere too .

I would like to see them, please.

It's here. I don't collect castles, but it looks good.
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Dave's pictures are now visible again

Never seen these before! Very interesting!

Kikimalou wrote:

Dave's pictures are now visible again

Thank you! How did you do that? There are a few photos missing in other topics that I'd love to see.

rogerpgvg wrote:

Kikimalou wrote:

Dave's pictures are now visible again

Thank you! How did you do that? There are a few photos missing in other topics that I'd love to see.

If you tell me what topic you want to see, just tell me and I will do the job

Thanks! There are two JEOL topics where I'd quite like to see the photos from elephas_maximas:
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t9272-jeol-g102-african-elephant-cow
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t12785-jeol-bull-elephant-walk-around
I'll let you know if I find any other topics.

rogerpgvg wrote:

Thanks! There are two JEOL topics where I'd quite like to see the photos from elephas_maximas:
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t9272-jeol-g102-african-elephant-cow
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t12785-jeol-bull-elephant-walk-around
I'll let you know if I find any other topics.

Unfortunately I can't help for those ones, elephas_maximas is nowhere to be seen since 2020.

The topics I can bring to life again are Dave Scrivener topics.

I see. Here are a few Davescriv topics where the photos have gone. His posts were very informative. It's sad that he is no longer with us.

https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t15062-britains-variants
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t14445-britains-goats
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t13640-britains-plastic-crocodile-colour-variants
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t11403-britains-1962-floral-1964-general-leaflets
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t10998-vintage-zoos-zoo-cages-and-enclosures
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t11031-wend-al-uk-vintage-aluminium-figure-manufacturer
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t11028-phillip-segal-minor-vintage-uk-manufacturer
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t11294-crescent-toy-company-farm-zoo

There are some more in the vintage companies non animal series, but they may be less useful for animal collectors. Thanks a lot for your help!

https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t15062-britains-variants
https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t14445-britains-goats

These two are done

Thanks, great to see the photos.

The job you asked is completely done