Hope CE Primary School

Introduction

The plastic toy Lego began in 1949 when they were called Automatic Binding bricks to present day when the bricks are called Lego Bricks.  The word Lego is a contraction from the Danish phrase leg godt meaning Play well. Later the Lego group discovered that Lego in Latin meant I put together or I assemble.

In the beginning 

The Lego group started in Ole Kirk Christiansen’s workshop. He was a carpenter from the
village of
Billund,
Denmark. In 1916 Ole Kirk purchased a woodworking shop in Billund which had been in business since 1895. He earned a living by building houses and furniture for farmers local to the area with a small staff of apprentices. His shop burnt down in 1924 when a fire, lit by two of his sons, ignited some wood shavings. Ole Kirk took the disaster as an opportunity to construct a larger workshop. The Great depression would soon have an impact on his livelihood. In finding ways to make production costs smaller, Ole Kirk began producing miniature versions of his products as design aids. It was these miniature stepladders and ironing boards that inspired him to begin making toys. In 1932 Ole Kirk’s shop was started making wooden toys, piggy banks cars and trucks. But families were often poor and were unable to afford Ole Kirk’s toys. Farmers local to Ole Kirk sometimes traded food in exchange for his toys. Ole Kirk found he had to continue producing practical furniture in addition to toys in order to stay in business. In the mid-1930s his son Godtfred started working for him and took an active role in Ole Kirk’ company. It was in 1934 that the company name Lego was coined. Ole Kirk held a contest amongst his staff to see who could come up with the best name for the company, offering a bottle of homemade wine as a prize. In the year 1937 Ole Kirks son, Godtfred starts making models, he was 17 years old. In 1939 the Lego group had 10 employees. 1940 was the year that the Lego business went down hill.
Denmark is occupied by the Germans in World War 2. Godtfred Kirk Christiansen does not travel to
Germany as planned. Instead, he becomes manager at LEGO. In 1942 the Lego group went even more downhill because the Lego factory burns to the ground. However, the production of wooden toys is quickly resumed. In 1947, the LEGO Group is the first in
Denmark to buy a plastic injection-moulding machine for toy production. The machine costs 30.000 Danish Crowns. In 1948 the LEGO company has 50 employees. When the year 1949 came the Lego Automatic binding brick is invented with four and eight studs. The company produces around 200 different plastic and wooden toys, including Automatic Binding Bricks, a forerunner of the LEGO bricks we know today. They are sold in
Denmark exclusively.
The first packaging with four colours is introduced. In 1950 Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, is appointed Junior Vice President the day he turns 30. 1958 was the year Ole Kirk Christiansen the founder of LEGO dies. His son, Godtfred takes his place and becomes head of the company. There is 140 employees in just Billund. 1960 comes the wooden toy warehouse is destroyed by fire. Production of wooden toys is entirely abandoned.
App. 450 employees in Billund. In 1965 there are more than 600 employees in Billund. 1969 Lego duplo is launched internationally. In 1970 there are 1000 employees in Billund. 1977 was when Kjeld Kirk Christiansen joins the Lego group management. 2 years later Kjeld Kirk Christiansen is appointed President and Chief Executive officer of InterLego. According to a survey, 70% of all Western European families with children under 14 now have LEGO bricks in their home. In 1986 Godtfred Kirk Christiansen resigns as Lego System and Lego over seas. His son Kjeld Kirk Christiansen takes over. Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, celebrates his 70^th Birthday on the 6^th of July 1990. Unfortunately 5 years later on the 13^th of July 1995 Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the founder, dies at 75 years old. The Lego website www.lego.com is launched in 1996. In the same year LegoLand Windsor, the first LEGOLAND family park outside
Denmark opens on the 29^th of March. In 1999 Lego star wars is introduced to the world. In 2003 the visitor record is broken again in the LEGOLAND park in
Billund, Denmark. 1,63 million people pay a visit to the park during the season. Conclusion

Lego was a popular toy and still is. It should, hopefully, continue to be popular. Lego has been popular because it is an old toy and has been passed down through the generations to present day.  By Edward Pomfret.