The History of LEGO
Jason A Forthofer
May 25, 2010
Play well, in Danish leg godt, or LEGO. For nearly 80 years children around the world have been playing well with this simple building toy which inspires imagination and encourages creativity. But where did LEGO come from?
In 1932 master carpenter Ole Kirk Christianson opened shop in the town of Billund, Denmark. Here he created a variety of wood products including toys. Two years later he named his toys ~ LEGO.
Through the 1930´s LEGO expanded. By 1939 they had 10 employees and a variety of products. But in 1942 tragedy struck when the LEGO factory burned to the ground. Production quickly resumed and in 1946 the company produced the first wooden brick decorated with numbers and letters. LEGO also became the first company in Denmark to buy a plastic injection mold for toy production. As the 1940´s ended LEGO was producing more then 200 wooden and plastic toys including the forerunner of today´s LEGO brick, the Automatic Binding Brick. Sales were still limited to Denmark.
The 1950´s were a very important decade for LEGO. The company continued to expand and by 1951 more then half the toys produced were plastic. This was also the decade when the name LEGO was officially registered as a trademark and the first exports of the toy began. By the end of the decade LEGO will have a presence in France, Britain, Belgium and Sweden. But there is also loss. In 1958 founder Ole Kirk Christianson dies, he is replaced by his son Godfred, who has been working in the company since he was 12 years old.
More loss occurs in 1960 when the warehouse housing the wooden toys burns. It is decided to discontinue wooden toys and focus solely on plastic. Foreign sales continue to expand around the globe and in 1966 they are being sold in 42 countries. In 1968 the company opens LEGOland, a theme park where all buildings, landscapes and vehicles are built from standard LEGO bricks.
During the 1970´s, 80´s and 90´s LEGO continues to expand, adding figurines, vehicles and model LEGO sets. Today LEGO is sold in more then 130 countries. They are the fifth biggest toy manufacturer in the world with a global work force nearing 8000. LEGO was named ´Toy of the Century´ by Fortune magazine and the British Association of Toy Retailers.
In 1932 master carpenter Ole Kirk Christianson opened shop in the town of Billund, Denmark. Here he created a variety of wood products including toys. Two years later he named his toys ~ LEGO.
Through the 1930´s LEGO expanded. By 1939 they had 10 employees and a variety of products. But in 1942 tragedy struck when the LEGO factory burned to the ground. Production quickly resumed and in 1946 the company produced the first wooden brick decorated with numbers and letters. LEGO also became the first company in Denmark to buy a plastic injection mold for toy production. As the 1940´s ended LEGO was producing more then 200 wooden and plastic toys including the forerunner of today´s LEGO brick, the Automatic Binding Brick. Sales were still limited to Denmark.
The 1950´s were a very important decade for LEGO. The company continued to expand and by 1951 more then half the toys produced were plastic. This was also the decade when the name LEGO was officially registered as a trademark and the first exports of the toy began. By the end of the decade LEGO will have a presence in France, Britain, Belgium and Sweden. But there is also loss. In 1958 founder Ole Kirk Christianson dies, he is replaced by his son Godfred, who has been working in the company since he was 12 years old.
More loss occurs in 1960 when the warehouse housing the wooden toys burns. It is decided to discontinue wooden toys and focus solely on plastic. Foreign sales continue to expand around the globe and in 1966 they are being sold in 42 countries. In 1968 the company opens LEGOland, a theme park where all buildings, landscapes and vehicles are built from standard LEGO bricks.
During the 1970´s, 80´s and 90´s LEGO continues to expand, adding figurines, vehicles and model LEGO sets. Today LEGO is sold in more then 130 countries. They are the fifth biggest toy manufacturer in the world with a global work force nearing 8000. LEGO was named ´Toy of the Century´ by Fortune magazine and the British Association of Toy Retailers.
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