THE HISTORY OF THE LEGO BRICK

The LEGO Company was founded in Billund, Denmark of the 1932, by an entrepreneur carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen The Name LEGO comes from the combination of the Danish "leg godt", which means to "play well." Originallly he manufactured stepladders, ironing boards, stools and wooden toys. He had a son that worked with him at the age of 12 named Godtfred Kirk Christiansen when he started the business.

By mid 1930's Ole Kirk places the following motto on the workshop wall: "Only the best is good enough" which became representative of the LEGO brand for a very long time, and the quality of the toys he made. During this time frame he was not making plastic LEGO building bricks rather toys made of wood.

By 1940 Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, Kirk's son Godtfred, does not travel to Germany to study as planned rather, he becomes manager at the LEGO factory. 1942 The LEGO factory burns to the ground, however, the production of wooden toys is soon resumed.

In 1947 The LEGO company is the first in Denmark to buy a plastic injection-moulding machine for toy production. The machine costs 30,000 Danish Crowns. By comparison, the revenue of the company this same year is 450,000 Danish Crowns.

In 1949 the forerunner to the modern LEGO brick is produced with four and eight small studs, it is called, "The LEGO Automatic Binding Brick" and is made of plastic. At this time the bricks and the LEGO company's other products are only sold in Denmark.

In 1950 Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, is appointed Junior Vice President on his 30th birthday.

By 1953 The Automatic Binding Bricks get a new name, "LEGO Mursten" translated to english, "LEGO Bricks." The name LEGO is printed inside all bricks. The first application for registration of the company trademark is made. The Danish registration is accepted on the 1st of May 1954.

In 1954 the word LEGO is officially registered in Denmark on May 1st. Godfred Kirk Christiansen travels to England and meets a purchasing agent on the ferry. They talk about toys. The agent thinks that toys lack idea and system. This spawns the LEGO System idea in the mind of GKC.

By 1955 LEGO had further developed the LEGO Bricks, and there were a few dozen sets available. The company launches the revolutionary "LEGO System of Play". The first official export of LEGO begins to Sweden. Godfred Kirk Christiansen demonstrates the new product at a toy fair in Nuremberg, Germany. Reaction are not positive.

In 1958 The current and still used LEGO stud-and-tube coupling system is patented. The new coupling principle makes models much more stable. Roof bricks also make their first appearance.

In 1959, "Futura," the product-development department, now has five members of staff. A market analysis department is established, and a Photography department established. As well, LEGO France, British LEGO Ltd., LEGO Belgium and LEGO Sweden are established. The machines in the production are now so automatic that one operator can handle two machines at a time! LEGO gives the municipality of Billund approx. 20 acres of land and 50.000 Danish Crowns for a sports ground.

In 1960 the wooden toy warehouse is destroyed by fire. Production of wooden toys is discontinued entirely by LEGO and they only make plastic toys. LEGO Finland and LEGO Nederland established.

By 1961The LEGO Group starts adding wheels to the types of parts being manufactured! It is marketed in the following year. The range comprises 50 sets, 15 vehicles and various loose elements. Sales start in the US and Canada via a license agreement with Samsonite Corp. They company has it's first ever strike that lasts about 1 or 2 days. LEGO Italy is established.

In 1962 Sales start in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Marocco and Japan. LEGO Australia established. The first personnel manager hired.

In 1963, LEGO Austria established. Procurement department established. INTERLEGO AG established in Switzerland. The first international company film, "Mr. Johnson from Australia", is produced.

Godfred Kirk Christiansen presents the company to the ten product characteristics:
1. Unlimited play potential
2. For girls and for boys
3. Fun for every age
4. Year-round play
5. Healthy, quiet play
6. Long hours of play
7. Development, imagination, creativity
8. The more LEGO, the greater the value
9. Extra sets available
10. Quality in every detail


In 1966 Lego makes the first battery powered LEGO train. LEGO is now sold in 42 countries.

The LEGOLAND� Billund ThemePark opens its gates on June 7th, 1968 and attracts 625,000 visitors in its first season, 3000 on the opening day. The first computer used by the LEGO Company is an NCR 390 for pay administration. The machine cost 85.000 Danish Crowns.

The DUPLO series for childern under 5 years old is launched internationally, in 1969. The first LEGOLAND film is made.

Throughout the seventies LEGO continued to expand its business abroad and hundreds of millions of LEGO sets were sold. New product lines specifically targeted for girls were introduced as well as the type and shape of bricks also continued to diversify. LEGO creates the Expert Builder and Technic brand which include gears, axles, girders, and pins to make moving creations with it's small motors and battery module.

In 1978 the first LEGO castle is made, it is completely made of yellow bricks. Shortly thereafter, in 1979 LEGO debuts other Systems including, LEGOLAND Space, FABULAND, SCALA and, DUPLO "house box."

During the early eighties, The Educational Products Department is established, The DUPLO rabbit logo is introduced, According to a survey, 70% of all Western European families with kids under 14 now have LEGO bricks in their home. In 1984 The LEGOLAND Castle Series debuts.

In 1986, the first LEGO light and sound set debuts, the LEGOLAND Space System, TX Starship (I had two of these, when they appeared in America in 1987). The Technic sets get their own macro figure, and the educational Technic System gets Computer Control. During the early to mid eighties the first Boat sets appear.

Some of LEGO's best series and sets appeared from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. LEGOLAND Space expanded into Blacktron (The guys with the Inverted Triforce as their symbol, and the cool all black suits), Blacktron II (not so spiffy as BT1), Futuron, Space Police, Space Police II, M-Tron, Ice Planet, Unitron, Roboforce, and Spyrius. The Futuron Monorail is a huge battery powered space monorail with a blue and white color scheme and well over 1000 parts. I think this was LEGO's most expensive set at the time, at about $150. My friend John, gets one of these for his 11th birthday in 1991. The Blacktron II and M-Tron series are the first to introduce transparent bright neon green cockpits, parts, and long antennas. M-Trons were also the first space sets to use Magnets. Ice Planet was the first to introduce transparent bright neon orange cockpits, parts, and long antennas.

As well, LEGO Castles really improved from the 80's into the nineties, and introduced various themes under the LEGOLAND Castle System. These were, Black Falcons, Royal Knights, Forestman/Dark Forest, Wolfpack, Dragon Masters, Fright Knights, Cowpack, and Ninjas. As well LEGO takes to the high seas with LEGO Pirates, Imperial Guard, and Crusaders. The first Tan colored bricks appear in the Ninja sets. The first Glow in the Dark parts are a Ghost for the Black Knights Castle, and then later the wands that "Majisto the Wizard" held in the Dragon Masters sets. The first LEGO parrot appears with the Pirate sets. The first Alligator Appears in an "Islander's" set. The first LEGO octopus appears in a AquaZone set.

Lego starts making more Girl's LEGO's called Belville, which include larger more doll-like plastic figures, usually of families and animals.

By the late nineties new sets based upon the Ninteenth Century American Western themes called Wild West featured small cowboy towns complete with bandits, a stagecoach, a sheriff, and a robbable bank, and mini dynamite tile. As well there were various Indian villages that were produced, and a Union Army Fort called "Fort Legorado." made predominantly of the first brown "log walls." Some of the originality and design quality and themes of the System sets started to wane, with less than stellar series like, Insectoids, and Time Crusers. These sets were often found on the discount shelf at the Toy Store. However the LEGO Explorians and UFO sets, were pretty cool. Interestingly enough LEGO capitalized on the media buzz about UFO's in 1997 related to the 50th anniversary of the Roswell, UFO crash in New Mexico, with the release of it's UFO line. The Explorian's sets were the first sets to feature color changing heat decals. Lego "Mission to Mars" sets appeared after these, and weren't quite as impressive as any of their previous space sets, but introduced the brick colors, sand red, and sand blue.

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