LEGO Creations for All Ages
LEGO Creations for All Ages Paul M.L. Janssen Lakeside Association, July 22 2011 Overview Part 1: History of the LEGO company Part 2: The adult LEGO fan Part 3: Art and Science of LEGO Part 4: Creations by and for all ages Part 5: LEGO Ohio Stadium Part 1: History of the Company Founded in Billund, 1916 Denmark (not named Lego till 1934) by Ole Kirk Christiansen Main Product Line: 1916-1932: Furniture 1932-1960: Wooden Toys 1949-1958: Plastic Pre-bricks 1958-current: System Bricks Part 1: History 1916 Ole Kirk Christiansen purchased an existing wood- working shop that had been in business since 1895. He primarily focused on houses and furniture. In order to aid in designing full-sized product, he constructed miniature sized items such as step-ladders and ironing boards. These miniature creations prompted him to start manufacturing wooden toys. Pull-along LEGO train, 1935 Pull-along LEGO duck, 1935 Part 1: History 1924 His young sons burned down his shop. He rebuilt his shop, now larger, and expanded his business. The great depression hit, and it is said government persuasion made him move primarily into toy production as a full-time focus. 1932 Ole Kirk Christiansen, master carpenter and joiner, establishes his business in the village of Billund, Denmark. His firm manufactures stepladders, ironing boards, stools and wooden toys. His son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, starts working in the business at the age of 12. Part 1: History 1934 The company and its products now adopt the name LEGO, formed from the Danish words "LEg GOdt" ("play well").
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