RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored LEGO Results:
LEGOS History: Plastic Bricks, Kirk Christiansen And Wooden Toys
By:
Published: June 19, 2007
LEGO is a name synonymous throughout the world with fun. Millions of children grow up with the LEGO as their favorite toy. One thing that the LEGO brings that few other toys do, is the ability to build anything. With the right amount of blocks, time, and imagination, the LEGO can be used to create anything that a child wants.
In fact, its become an industry that brings in billions every year. What many people don't realize is the history behind the name and company.
The LEGO story starts in the small town of Billund, Denmark, where a carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen developed a line of wooden toys to sell to children in the area. The toys, a series of differently shaped wood blocks, were a big hit with children across Denmark. In 1934, the wood block business was so successful that Ole Kirk Christiansen decided to leave the carpentry business behind and found the LEGO Corporation.
Kirk Christiansen chose the name LEGO from a Danish word taken out of the phrase “Leg Godt” or "play well." Leg Godt has become part of company's credo, as it strives to get children to play well together. While they're great toys for individuals, the playsets are really designed to be group building activities. If the Danish word wasn't enough, the Latin meaning of the word is “I study and I put together,” the perfect description of what the toy blocks allow children to do.
In the late 1940s, the corporation, building great steam in Denmark and throughout Europe, switched to plastic molded toys that were much cheaper and more durable than the wood blocks. These first plastic bricks were called the Automatic Building Bricks by Christiansen, though they came to be known by the LEGO Brick brand shortly thereafter. By 1955, large sets of interconnectable plastic blocks were on the market, including the first sets with wheels to allow the construction of vehicles.
It was about this time that Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Ole's son, had taken the reigns of the corporation. Under his direction, the company upgraded its manufacturing process, creating a better locking mechanism, and the familiar current block design of today. With the redesign and better connecting techniques, the plastic building blocks became very popular overseas.
In recent years, the brand has grown exponentially from its days making wooden toys, being included in the marketing for major films and TV series, like “Star Wars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Harry Potter.” Additionally, there are thousands of different standalone sets and spinoffs like the Bionicle, Mindstorm, and Clikits series of plastic bricks.
LEGO is one of the biggest brands in the world. There are four LegoLand theme parks throughout Europe and the United States and a minipark in the Mall of America, along with a cartoon series and computer games, including the very popular Lego Star Wars games. With all the popular tie-ins and new sets hitting the market, there are no signs that LEGO is going to slow down any time soon.
Sources:
“LEGO.” Wikipedia. 13 June 2007. 13 June 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego.
Bellis, Mary. “LEGO History.” About.com: Inventors. 2007. 1About, Inc. 13 June 2007. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blleg o.htm.
About Us. The LEGO Group. 2007. 13 June 2007. http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=grou p.
LEGO History. Lugnet. 1997. Zucaro Internet Publishing. 13 June 2007. http://www.lugnet.com/pause/chronology.html.
The LEGO story starts in the small town of Billund, Denmark, where a carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen developed a line of wooden toys to sell to children in the area. The toys, a series of differently shaped wood blocks, were a big hit with children across Denmark. In 1934, the wood block business was so successful that Ole Kirk Christiansen decided to leave the carpentry business behind and found the LEGO Corporation.
Kirk Christiansen chose the name LEGO from a Danish word taken out of the phrase “Leg Godt” or "play well." Leg Godt has become part of company's credo, as it strives to get children to play well together. While they're great toys for individuals, the playsets are really designed to be group building activities. If the Danish word wasn't enough, the Latin meaning of the word is “I study and I put together,” the perfect description of what the toy blocks allow children to do.
In the late 1940s, the corporation, building great steam in Denmark and throughout Europe, switched to plastic molded toys that were much cheaper and more durable than the wood blocks. These first plastic bricks were called the Automatic Building Bricks by Christiansen, though they came to be known by the LEGO Brick brand shortly thereafter. By 1955, large sets of interconnectable plastic blocks were on the market, including the first sets with wheels to allow the construction of vehicles.
It was about this time that Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Ole's son, had taken the reigns of the corporation. Under his direction, the company upgraded its manufacturing process, creating a better locking mechanism, and the familiar current block design of today. With the redesign and better connecting techniques, the plastic building blocks became very popular overseas.
In recent years, the brand has grown exponentially from its days making wooden toys, being included in the marketing for major films and TV series, like “Star Wars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Harry Potter.” Additionally, there are thousands of different standalone sets and spinoffs like the Bionicle, Mindstorm, and Clikits series of plastic bricks.
LEGO is one of the biggest brands in the world. There are four LegoLand theme parks throughout Europe and the United States and a minipark in the Mall of America, along with a cartoon series and computer games, including the very popular Lego Star Wars games. With all the popular tie-ins and new sets hitting the market, there are no signs that LEGO is going to slow down any time soon.
Sources:
“LEGO.” Wikipedia. 13 June 2007. 13 June 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego.
Bellis, Mary. “LEGO History.” About.com: Inventors. 2007. 1About, Inc. 13 June 2007. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blleg o.htm.
About Us. The LEGO Group. 2007. 13 June 2007. http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=grou p.
LEGO History. Lugnet. 1997. Zucaro Internet Publishing. 13 June 2007. http://www.lugnet.com/pause/chronology.html.
Featured LEGO Products:
