The LEGO brand is the most famous in the world of toys today. Even more famous than the Barbie doll. But few people know that the Danish company began its history as an ordinary manufacturer of wooden products. And the first LEGO toys were completely made of wood.

How did the word LEGO come about?

The father of LEGO toys, famous today all over the world, is a certain carpenter from Denmark, Ol Kirk Christiansen, who back in 1932 opened his own small business producing carpentry products. At that time, the main production in his workshop was the manufacture of ladders and ironing boards.

In the same year, Master Christiansen decided to additionally produce children's toys from wood.

The goods from Christiansen's shop began to be in incredible demand, and his business began to grow slowly but surely. Two years later, Mr. Christiansen came up with a great name for his wooden toys. From the expression " exciting game“, - in Christiansen’s native language, “leg godt” means exactly this - he formed a short and sonorous word LEGO.

How LEGO gained popularity

For 15 years, Christiansen's business flourished and developed, and wooden LEGO toys delighted the children of Denmark. But evolution and technological progress do not stand still and there is a need to modernize toy production. So, in 1947, LEGO toys appeared in plastic versions.

And two years later, in 1949, the first prototype of LEGO plastic bricks appeared. At that time these bricks were called Automatic Binding Bricks. Since then toys LEGO began to gain popularity not only in Denmark. By the end of the 50s of the last century LEGO became the most popular entertainment for European children.

From then to the present day toys LEGO constantly modified, design refined, components improved. And what’s remarkable is that since the very first LEGO brick was introduced (in 1949), all LEGO elements have remained compatible to this day. So, if you take LEGO toys released in 1960 and 2011, parts from sets LEGO for kids and parts from LEGO sets for teenagers, then you can build something complete from all this.

LEGO today

The LEGO company has long been located in Bellund (Denmark). The territory occupied by production and office space reaches 210 thousand sq.m! The company employs more than 8,000 people, most of them working in LEGO's homeland, Denmark. In addition, LEGO offices are located in all parts of our planet, incl. in the USA, in Switzerland, in Brazil, in South Korea.

The actual production of LEGO toys is geographically located in several places: in Denmark, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, China, Austria and Hungary.

Buy toys LEGO Today it is possible in 130 countries of the world. Over 300 million children around the globe play with LEGO. And LEGO production reaches 20 billion pieces per year!

A few facts about the Lego company:

• A 545-meter-long children's railway made from Lego bricks is included in the Guinness Book of Records.
• The company's staff numbers 8 thousand workers in 37 representative offices. Half of them work in Denmark, the rest in other countries.
• Two eight-pin cubes can be combined in 24 ways. Three cubes - in 1064 ways.
• Lego sets are sold in 130 countries around the world.
• Approximately 30 million people play them.
• Approximately 600 Lego bricks are produced every second.
• The assortment is updated annually by 35-50%.

When palaces and orbital stations grow from small details, and the rooms are filled with pirates, princesses, billionaires and thieves, both the children and adults whose hands it was created are filled with happiness. Fantasy has no limits when possibilities are endless - this could become the company's motto.

The information was prepared by Tatyana Vladimirovna Dmitrienko,

senior teacher of MBDOU TsRR DS No. 425.

• Lego success story
• Lego inheritance
• Gender miscalculation...

The history of the iconic Lego brand dates back to a small carpentry workshop in the Danish village of Billund in 1932. Its founder, a simple carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, tried to make ends meet by making ironing boards, stepladders, chairs... However, His Majesty Chance decided to dispose of the modest family contract differently.

Lego success story

Christiansen noticed that his son and first assistant Godtfred collected large shavings that vaguely resembled various figures, painted them and successfully exchanged them with his friends for things of children's interest. Ole Kirk's ingenuity prompted the Danish carpenter to expand the workshop's range of wooden toys. The pioneer of the new product line was a duck on wheels. The children's line of business was gaining popularity and began to bring in disproportionately greater profits compared to other products. Already in 1934, the carpentry workshop received the sonorous name Lego. The company owes its name to the same resourcefulness of Ole Kirk Christiansen. It was he who, based on the new direction of the workshop’s activities, connected the first two syllables of the Danish words “LEg GOdt”, which translated means “play well”. In addition, the chosen name became prophetic in terms of translation from Latin - “I collect”, as well as “I study”...

A more detailed dive into the success story of the Lego company reveals that the idea of ​​​​a fastening construction set was spied by Mr. Christiansen Sr. from the English company Kiddcraft. Its founder, Harry Fischer, in the mid-40s of the last century, invented and patented cubes with four and eight protrusions on the surface for mutual connection. A trip to Foggy Albion in 1947 became fateful for the founder of Lego. In addition to purchasing a molding machine for the production of plastic parts - with the goal of diversifying the production of wooden toys with plastic ones - Ole Kirk Christiansen received permission to use samples of Kiddcraft toy building blocks.

He modified the design of the English designer and, using the newly acquired unit, launched “automatically interlocking bricks” into production. This is the long name that the first parts of modern Lego bore.

Lego inheritance

May 1, 1954 is considered the birthday of the world famous brand, since it was on this day that the Lego name was officially registered. The new manager of the company, the son of the founder Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, realized that the “highlight” of his products should be the creation of a fundamentally new system of creative children's games. The concept was based on the philosophy of multifunctional construction. In the form of Lego bricks, it opened up an inexhaustible source for realizing children's fantasies, from constructing earthly castles to constructing space stations. When the locomotive of the innovative system, called the Lego Play System, despite the imperfect adhesion of the bricks, found its enthusiastic consumer, Christiansen Jr. realized that he had found his “goose that lays the golden eggs.”

At the same time, a technical failure in the high-quality holding of Lego parts to one another for several years was a stumbling block for a full-scale ideological revolution in the world of children's construction sets. Raw materials for the production of cubes due to their chemical characteristics did not allow achieving high-quality mutual adhesion of parts. Godtfred managed to solve the technical part of the problem thanks to the invention of a new system for connecting blocks of the “spike-tube” type, which is also used in modern Lego construction sets. The issue with raw materials was resolved after successful experiments with ABC polymer. It is this type of plastic that allows the spikes and tubes to be securely fastened together. Based on the experiments carried out in January 1958, the painfully familiar design of the Lego brick was patented.

It is worth noting that all cubes produced since the receipt of this patent are fully connected to parts that come off the assembly line today. Such continuity becomes even more relevant due to the fact that one generation is simply not able to implement all possible combinations. It has been mathematically proven that more than 915 million combinations can be made from six 8-studded, single-color Lego.

Working for a small consumer forced the company’s employees to think through all sorts of options for “using” the cubes by young designers. Barium sulfate provides an invaluable service to Lego. It is this water-insoluble salt that is included in the plastic composition of all parts. It is non-toxic and is clearly visible on x-rays, allowing the cube to be quickly detected if swallowed. Lego figures are also designed to be accidentally swallowed. To avoid an attack of suffocation in such a situation, all “little men” are equipped with special holes.

Gender miscalculation...

The beginning of the 1970s greeted the company unkindly. The prohibitive level of popularity of the designer, which covered consumers like a tsunami, sharply decreased to a critical level. Tempted by market abundance, the buyer, fed up with Legov’s bricks, began to look elsewhere. However, the third generation of the Christiansen family, Mr. Kjell, was able to breathe new life into production. The grandson of the company founder made a serious shift in emphasis in the concept of the gaming system. The basic line of universal construction sets aimed at developing children's imagination was supplanted by the creation of a whole complex of narrowly focused thematic sets. In addition, the transport series was equipped with electric motors. These conceptual innovations have borne fruit. Since the beginning of the next decade, the company's revenue has grown an average of 10% per year.

At the same time, the company’s serious miscalculation was its attempt to reach new consumers using the gender factor. The Scala set, designed specifically for little coquettes, did not find a response in their hearts and was soon discontinued, causing considerable losses.

Anti-crisis management “Legov’s way”

Subsequently, the European Court finally legalized their activities, ruling that the design of a Lego brick cannot be a trademark, since it has an exclusively technical function. Taking advantage of this decision, serious gaming giants began to fill the niche of designers a la Lego, depriving the Lego Group of a monopoly that was comfortable for a successful business.

In the early 1990s, management miscalculations in assessing the market and a serious increase in competition marked the beginning of a long-term management crisis. Era computer games made it worse. 1998 brought a kind of anti-record - the company's losses amounted to $48 million. Anti-crisis management led to the dismissal of more than a thousand older employees, the creation of a mini-film studio for filming cartoons with Lego characters, the development of a line of programmable robots, which made it possible to significantly increase the consumer age limit, as well as the opening of the production of related products, including clothing, etc. Thus, an attempt to keep up with trends " fast world"and diversify capital led to a shift in production focus from the design direction to other, often alien to the company, business areas. As a result, the pursuit of innovation almost brought the Lego Group to a sad bankruptcy procedure.

The turning point in determining the future of the company was the statement by the director of strategic development, Jorgen Knudstorp, that none of the innovations in the Lego Group was profitable, and the management system was not effective.

At the initiative of Mr. Knudstorp, the Lego Group got rid of the ballast of non-target and unprofitable business areas, relocated production to countries with cheap labor, and established an online scheme for exchanging ideas with its clients. An important stage was the revival of the traditional Lego gaming system, as well as a return to the classic design and size of the bricks.

The measures turned out to be effective. After a long dive, the company managed to return to the ranks of serious players. According to Lego Group Vice President John Goodwin, the company's net profit in 2015 increased by 31% and reached DKK 9.2 billion.

40 trillion cubes to the moon

Confirmation of the newfound status of a gaming heavyweight for the Lego Group is that the Guinness Book of Records is replete with all sorts of “achievements” of spike-and-tubular parts: a 545-meter Lego railway, a 30-meter tower, full-size working cars, printing printers, Amur tiger life-size... The scope of application of bricks seems limitless.

According to scrupulous calculations by company employees, the total production of various design elements for all years of production exceeds 760 trillion pieces. Only the number of released animated Lego figures is rapidly approaching the population of our planet... The gigantomania of the Lego Group management prompted the company to carry out mathematical calculations, according to which a tower of 40 trillion Lego cubes will reach the moon.

Fortune magazine, paying tribute to Lego's status as the best toy of the century, allowed itself a very true joke, writing that of the countless bricks scattered around the globe, "almost certainly 10 billion are stuffed under sofa cushions, and another 3 billion are inside vacuum cleaners." .

Lego dividends for owners who have played enough

Undoubtedly, innovative technologies coupled with a competent business ideology is the key to a successful future. British financial analysts made an almost sensational statement. According to them, people who purchased Lego 15 years ago, if sold today, will earn more than those who invested in gold and stocks during the same period. For example, a constructor from the series “ Star Wars"under the name "Millennium Falcon", the market price of which in 2007 was about 342 pounds, today can be purchased from "played enough" owners for 2.7 thousand pounds, which is equivalent to 280 thousand rubles... It turns out that Lego is like good cognac. Over the years it only increases in price.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Founded by Ole Kirk Christiansen in 1932 in Billund (Denmark). Initially, the company specialized in wooden furniture and toys, and later began producing construction sets made from special plastic blocks. Today, LEGO play sets are among the most sought after and popular in the toy industry. In addition to classic construction sets, the LEGO company produces themed sets (including those based on movies) and computer games.

Name

The name LEGO comes from the Danish words "LEg GOdt" ("to play well, to play with pleasure"). Later it turned out that this word is translated from Latin as “I put together,” which perfectly reflects the main idea of ​​LEGO constructors.

LEGO history

1932 Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter and joiner, founded his own company in Billund (Denmark). His company produces stepladders, ironing boards, chairs and wooden toys. His son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, works at family business from 12 years old.

1934 Christiansen's company has approximately 7 employees. The first line of toys under the LEGO brand appears. Soon the company itself changes its name in accordance with the brand.

1935 LEGO produces a Kirk's Sandgame playset and a wooden duck on wheels that has become very popular. In addition, the company offers clothes hangers “Dagny Holm design”.

1936 Gottfried decorates the workshop with his father's motto, “Only the best is good enough.” LEGO is releasing a new toy, Numskull Jack on the goat, which has become a highlight of the year.

1937 Gottfried Kirk Christiansen turns 17 years old. He begins creating models for LEGO.

1939 The factory employs 10 employees. "Only the best is good enough" becomes LEGO's official slogan.

1939 Denmark is occupied by the Germans. Gottfried does not go to study in Germany, as previously planned, but becomes a manager in his father's company.

1942 The LEGO factory burns down, but production of wooden toys can be resumed quite quickly.

1943 The factory employs 40 employees.

1946 LEGO becomes the first company in Denmark to purchase special equipment for making plastic toys and details for them. The cost of the device is 30 thousand Danish kroner, the company's income this year reaches 450 thousand Danish kroner. The purchase of equipment turns out to be completely justified.

Product of the Year: wooden LEGO bricks with “decorations” - letters and numbers.

1947 LEGO now has The Windsor SH Plastic Molding Machine, a plastic molding machine. As a sample, six series of wooden toy animals are produced and exported to India.

Products of the year: plastic ball for children and educational game "Monopoly".

1948 The factory employs 50 employees.

Product of the Year:"A game of Tiddlywinks".

1949 LEGO produces about 200 different plastic and wooden toys, including the first construction sets - the predecessors of modern LEGO construction sets. They are sold exclusively in Denmark. Branded four-color packaging has appeared.

Products of the year: the first Automatic Binding Bricks with four and eight studs, plastic fish, plastic sailor.

1950 Gottfried Kirk Christiansen turns 30. He was appointed junior vice president of the company.

Product of the Year: three sets of plastic bricks that are sent to kindergartens.

1951 The first film about LEGO was shot (cameraman and director - Christian Lund) - black and white and without sound. Plastic toys account for half of the company's output.

Products
of the year: a building made of bricks (base area - 10x20 studs), a plastic Ferguson tractor, which can be assembled and disassembled.

1952 Ole Kirk Christiansen plans to expand the company and build a new plant. The company has its own canteen.

Product of the Year: large plastic and wooden cars.

1953 The Automatic Binding Bricks have a new name - LEGO Mursten. The signature LEGO logo is printed inside each piece. An application for trademark registration has been filed.

Products of the year:"Gift Box" containing a plastic Chevrolet car.

1954 The LEGO trademark was officially registered on May 1st. Gottfried Kirk Christiansen goes to England and meets a purchasing agent on a ferry, with whom he communicates about toys. After this, Gottfried came up with the idea of ​​​​creating a LEGO system.

Products of the year: windows and doors for LEGO constructors.

1955 The company improves the bricks and launches a revolutionary project – “LEGO System of Play”. This is a fundamentally new gaming platform. Gottfried demonstrates it at the toy fair in Nuremberg (Germany), where it receives many positive reviews. LEGO begins its first real export - to Sweden.

Products of the year: 28 play sets and 8 cars plus additional elements.

1956 LEGO Spielwaren GmbH becomes distributor in Germany.

Products of the year: cyclists and motorcyclists (small plastic figures of men).

1957 Gottfried Kirk Christiansen becomes Managing Director of LEGO. A new way of connecting bricks has been invented. The LEGO Group is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Products of the year: international and Danish flags, LEGO bricks glowing from within.

1958 A new block communication system – “pins and tubes” – has been patented. It makes the models more stable. Gottfried Kirk Christiansen becomes head of the company, which by that time has 140 employees. Product of the year: slanted bricks (tiles).

1959 Futura, LEGO's development department, consists of five employees. A market analysis department and its own photo studio appear. The company's technological equipment has been significantly improved and is partially automated. LEGO toys are sold in France, Great Britain, Belgium and Sweden.

Product of the Year: Bilo-fix (combination of wood and plastic).

1960 A warehouse of wooden LEGO toys burns down. A decision was made to discontinue their production. The company employs 450 employees. LEGO sets are sold in Finland and the Netherlands.

Product of the Year: bricks with numbers.

1961 The LEGO range includes 50 playsets and 15 vehicles, as well as various additional elements. Sales start in the USA and Canada under a license agreement with Samsonite Corporation. Product supplies to Italy are being established. Gottfried Kirk Christiansen buys a small Piper Apache plane, and a landing site is established in the immediate vicinity of Billund.

Products of the year: kit " Big city", Terapi line for preschoolers.

1962 The LEGO Wheel line has been relaunched. Sales start in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Morocco and Japan.

1963 LEGO production begins to use ABS, a special plastic that provides better adhesion to parts. Sales start in Austria, and INTERLEGO AG is created in Switzerland.

Product of the Year: London Bus toy (London bus).

Gottfried Kirk Christiansen lists the characteristics that every LEGO product should have:

1. Unlimited game potential.

2. Suitable for girls and boys.

3. Suitable for all ages.

4. Suitable for any season.

5. Healthy and calm games.

6. You can play for a long time - even several hours.

7. Development of imagination and creativity.

8. The more LEGO bricks, the better.

9. Additional elements and kits are always available.

10. The quality is visible in every detail.

1964 In addition to the core and special LEGO sets, a line of models is being launched. First sales in the Middle East (Lebanon). LEGO bricks are on display in the Danish Pavilion at the New York World's Fair. A new LEGO factory opens in Germany.

Products of the year: car models, Jumbo line (together with the Samsonite brand).

1965 First sales in Spain. The company employs more than 600 people.

Products of the year: special “tile” bricks, a set of doll furniture.

1966 The company's product range includes 57 sets and 25 vehicles. In one year, 706 million LEGO elements were produced. Branded construction sets are sold in 42 countries around the world.

Products of the year: Railway battery-powered, light bricks.

1967 At this moment there are 218 various elements LEGO (not counting color variations). 19 million LEGO sets are sold every year. A wheel for small toy cars was invented.

Products of the year: biplane, motorized trucks.

1968 LEGOLAND amusement park opens in Billund. On the first day it attracts 3,000 visitors. The LEGO Group introduces its first computer, the NCR 390, costing DKK 85,000. First sales in Latin America (Peru and Curacao).

Product of the Year: Jeep (project by Kjeld Kirk Christiansen).

1969 The LEGO DUPLO range for children under five has launched internationally. The first film about the LEGOLAND park appears. Start of production of PVC tires for LEGO cars.

Product of the Year: 12 volt motor for trains.

1970 LEGO employs approximately 1,000 people in Billund.

Products of the year: colored gears for models, LEGO Impulse boxes cars.

1971 A new plastic molding workshop has been opened. Minitalia, the first and main competitor of LEGO, appears in Italy.

Products of the year: a line of furniture and dishes for a doll’s house, the book “We Play with LEGO.”

1972 The license agreement with Samsonite (USA) ends. The company has its own PR department. Sales are launched in Czech Republic. To date, almost 2 billion LEGO bricks and other elements have been produced.

Products of the year: new cars for the LEGOLAND park, re-launch of electric trains.

1973 A new LEGO logo appears, uniting all of the company's products under one label. Sales begin in Eastern Europe(Hungary). Firms were opened in the USA and Portugal. German psychologist Karin Grossman writes the book “Get More with LEGO!” — Scientific research 200 children playing with the legendary construction set.

Products of the year: boats for LEGOLAND park.

1974 The LEGOLAND amusement park features a LEGO replica of the famous Mount Rushmore. Founded in Spain.

Products of the year: LEGO men, Car and Caravan line.

1975 The LEGO company employs 2,500 people. English becomes the official corporate language.

Products of the year: The Expert Series and Moon Landing lines.

1976 A LEGO monument was unveiled in Billund (sculptor – Robert Jacobsen).

Products of the year: Harley Davidson motorcycle, LEGO VILLE line.

1977 Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, grandson of the company's founder, joins the management of the LEGO Group. The DUPLO plant in Billund becomes independent.

Products of the year: LEGO TECHNIC line, DUPLO men.

1978 A new principle has been developed - “System within a System”. The DUPLO rabbit logo appears. The first LEGO Road Show takes place in Dayton (Ohio, USA), which later becomes worldwide.

Products of the year: USS Constellation and The Castle lines.

1979 Kjeld Kirk Christiansen has been appointed President and CEO of INTERLEGO A/S. The DUPLO logo is registered as an independent trademark.

Products of the year: FABULAND and SCALA lines.

1980 An educational products department has been created.

Products of the year: toys for newborns DUPLO, sound elements DUPLO.

According to a survey, by the early 1980s, 70% of Western European families with children under 14 years old had LEGO construction sets in their homes.

1981 Show open LEGO World Show in Denmark.

Products of the year: special educational program of 22 elements.

1982 The LEGO Fiction department has opened, and the company itself is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Products of the year: educational lines DUPLO Mosaic and Technic I.

1983 There are 3,700 LEGO employees worldwide.

Products of the year: DUPLO rattles, DUPLO trains, FABULAND books.

1984 Subsidiaries were founded in Brazil and Korea. McDonald's is partnering with LEGO for joint promotions in the US and Canada.

1985 The LEGO Prize (an annual international award for exceptional efforts on behalf of children) was founded. The company has 5,000 employees. Collaboration with Professor Seymour Papert begins.

Products of the year: DUPLO farm, LEGO Technic line, new LEGO train series.

1986 The LEGO Group has been awarded the title of Supplier to Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark.

Products of the year: DUPLO Family line, computer control system for LEGO models.

1987 The company has 6,000 employees. LEGO products are sold in 115 countries. Korean climber Yong Hu leaves a LEGO man at the top of Everest.

Products of the year: monorail for LEGOLAND park, DUPLO Playboard line.

1988 The first official world championship in LEGO building is being held. The Art of LEGO exhibition is touring the UK.

Products of the year: lines DUPLO Circus, DUPLO Plane, Forest People, Black Star.

1989 Dr. Seymour Papert becomes head of LEGO Education and Research. It's now called LEGO Dacta (from the Greek word for "study"). The first LEGO Dacta Center opens at LEGOLAND.

Product of the Year: The Pirate line.

1990 The LEGO Group is recognized as one of the world's 10 largest toy manufacturers, the only one in Europe (the others are located in the USA and Japan).

Product of the Year: DUPLO Zoo line.

1991 The company has 7,550 employees. The number of molding machines in the five LEGO factories reaches thousands.

Products of the year: Ships, Flex-system elements and 9-V train lines.

1992 Two Guinness records at once: 545 meters of LEGO railway and a castle made of 400 thousand LEGO bricks. Subsidiaries were opened in Japan and Hungary. The first LEGO exhibition in Russia.

Product of the Year: LEGO DUPLO Toolo line.

1993 The building of the GUM department store on Red Square in Moscow is decorated using LEGO constructors. The children's clothing brand LEGO Kid's Wear was launched.

1994 A subsidiary was opened in Mexico. The LEGO exhibition “Journey into Space” is open at the Space Center Houston (USA).

Products of the year: LEGO Belville and DUPLO playhouse lines.

1995 Gottfried Kirk Christiansen has died. Weekly LEGO TV programs are broadcast in Latvia and Lithuania. The company participates in exhibitions around the world.

Products of the year: LEGO DUPLO PRIMO, LEGO FreeStyle, LEGO SYSTEM Aquazone lines.

1996 The website www.lego.com was launched. The LEGO SYSTEM line (Time Cruisers, Western, Exploriens) is developing.

1997 The LEGO Imagineering Center opens in Disneyland, Florida, USA. The first LEGO MINDSTORMS learning center opens at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, USA. A major LEGO event in the Kremlin Palace in Moscow attracts more than 300 thousand participants, mostly children.

1998 In the LEGO universe, the slogan "Just Imagine..." appears. The company begins cooperation with the Danish publishing house Egmont Group to produce books for children.

1999 LEGO opens its own online store. Products of the Year: Star Wars and Winnie the Pooh and Friends lines.

LEGO bricks were named one of the "Products of the Century" by Fortune magazine.

year 2000. The British Toy Association calls LEGO the Toy of the Century. The LEGO Group begins to actively interact with major film studios: the LEGO Harry Potter line has been launched. In addition, LEGO collaborates with Steven Spielberg.

year 2001. LEGO My World receives prestigious award for the best in Germany software, and a robot from the LEGO Mindstorms line is sent from the International space station into Earth's orbit.

Products of the year: LEGO BIONICLE and LEGO DUPLO dolls lines.

2002 LEGO brand stores open in Cologne (Germany), Milton Keynes (UK) and Moscow (Russia). LEGOLAND amusement park is also opening in Germany.

2003 The first film based on the BIONICLE line, “Mask of Light,” was a great success at the box office.

2004 Jørgen Vig Knudstorp has been appointed as the new general director companies. LEGO begins to collaborate with Ferrari and releases sets based on the world famous racing cars.

2005 year. LEGOLAND theme parks have been sold to Merlin Entertainments. www.lego.com allows you to design your own models and then buy the elements needed to build them online.

2006 www.lego.com has over 8 million unique monthly visitors. A new and significantly improved version of the LEGO robotics system has been launched. The board game Parcheesi appears.

2007 The LEGO Group is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The LEGO Club has approximately 2.5 million members. A licensing agreement was signed with Lucasfilm Inc., and the LEGO Indiana Jones line was launched soon.

2008 The signature LEGO brick is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A huge model of the Taj Mahal Palace has been created, consisting of 5922 elements. At the moment this is the largest LEGO-s
weapons

year 2009. The LEGO Group is recognized as the world's fifth largest toy manufacturer. In collaboration with Warner Bros. The world's first feature film based on LEGO bricks and men is being created. In the same year, multi-year partnerships with Disney and Pixar began.

Product of the Year: LEGO Games – a series of board games that the whole family can play.

2010 The first online LEGO Universe game has launched. The world's largest LEGO mosaic was created in London (dimensions 15.3 x 6.4 meters, consists of 384 thousand LEGO bricks).

Products of the year: Prince of Persia and Atlantis lines.

2011. LEGOLAND amusement park opened in Florida (USA). The LEGO Group is recognized as the world's third largest toy manufacturer.

Products of the year: LEGO Technic Unimog and LEGO Ninjago lines.

year 2012. Conducted organizational changes at the LEGO Group, aimed at the future growth of the company.

Product of the Year: New LEGO Friends line, aimed at girls aged 5 to 8 years old.

Official site: www.lego.com

Russian language site: www.lego.com/ru-ru

The history of Lego begins a little more than half a century ago. Then Ole Kirk Christiansen, like many other carpenters, was engaged in building houses and making custom furniture in his Danish town of Billund.

In the era of the global economic crisis, when many countries were covered The Great Depression, people, wanting to please their children with at least something, were ready to buy them toys. Ole Kirk decided to switch to their production.

In his workshop, called Lego (in Danish leg godt - “play well”), he and his son began making wooden toys (tractors, trucks, cars). But wooden toys quickly lost their presentation, and were also heavy.

Later, Lego decides to switch to plastic, without even suspecting that this is already a step towards success. Olya manages to take the next step thanks to the help of Briton Hillary Fisher Page. This becomes a decisive stage in the history of the creation of Lego. An inventor, Page was also the owner of Kiddicraft. He became interested in creating toys when he was still a child. In the very early 1940s, he began producing plastic “building bricks” that had grooves and projections for joining. The inventor believed that only by understanding the psychology of a child can one create good toys. Therefore, he spent hours on playgrounds, playing with their little visitors. He was interested in watching how they used certain objects.

In 1947, the Christiansens placed an order to England for a molding machine. Suppliers send them product samples, including several of Page's "building blocks." Ole was immediately fascinated by the idea of ​​universal modules. Refining the Briton's design, he abandons the rounded edges, making them straight. He converts the dimensions of the modules to the metric system.

The public saw the first Lego “self-locking bricks” in 1949. However, buyers did not react to the new toy. In the mid-50s of the 20th century, Christiainsen’s son expressed a brilliant idea: “Taking one single construction set as a basis, you can give children the opportunity to assemble any kind of toys from it.”

The ability to construct any objects from multi-colored “bricks” was appreciated by both children and teachers. Thus, Lego products became very popular. It is known that there are entire amusement parks that are created using Lego modules. The area of ​​the most famous Legoland (Billund) is 100,000 square meters. Its construction required 8 million modules.

LEGO constructor - who doesn't know it? Blocks consisting of plastic elements covered with pimples have become not just an indispensable attribute in a set of children's toys, but even a part of world pop culture. With their help, they make characters from cult fairy tales, films - anything that brings joy and a smile. However, few people know the story of the LEGO manufacturer, which is connected with the tragedy.

Story

It all started when, at the beginning of the 20th century, Ole Christiansen was born the tenth child of poor farmers. He became a carpenter. If you have not heard anything before about the manufacturing country whose company produces LEGO, then most likely you will be interested to know that the company originates in Denmark, and its founder was Christiansen. In Billund he set up a carpentry workshop, specializing in particular in the production of stairs. But a crisis broke out. However, this was not enough for fate: this father of 4 children lost his wife - she died, and then his workshop burned down!

A widower, in order to calm the grief of his beloved children, carved a small duck out of wood for them - a simple toy. Not only the kids, but also other families really liked it. He decided to start making such toys and quickly gained popularity in the area.

It was 1932. Thanks to local success, the company got off the ground - he soon began planning the production of other toys so as not to fall out of the market. I decided to produce blocks from which children could build, in particular, castles and other structures.

Brand

In 1934, Christiansen changed the name of the toy company to "LEGO" - short for the Danish phrase "Leg godt" (have fun). So, we found out that the manufacturing country of LEGO is Denmark. The factory grew, and in the early 40s the owner's eldest son, Gottfred Christiansen, began working there. Things went so well that the family bought Denmark's first plastic injection machine and started making plastic toys in 1947.

And two years later it began producing the blocks we know today. Their design was significantly improved in 1958. The famous blocks were patented at the same time. The company enjoyed great success in Denmark and began to expand into foreign markets. And then another tragedy occurred - Ole Kirk Christiansen died of a heart attack. His son took over the company.

Tragic repeat

History likes to repeat itself. Two years after the death of the founder of the company, a fire started at the plant! This hastened the decision to stop making toys made of wood. But the products began to be exported, in particular, to the USA. And in 1968, the first Legoland was launched in Billund - an entertainment city built from construction kits. Another director of the company was the grandson of the founder, Keld, and in 2004, management was entrusted to an outsider. However, to this day the majority of shares remain in the hands of the founder's family. Therefore, when asked what manufacturing country is LEGO, people again answer that it is Denmark.

History of the name

The name "Lego" is an abbreviation of two Danish words. The company itself claims that this means “playing well.” This is their name and our goal.

Over the past 80 years, the company has undergone incredible development - from a small private firm to a modern global business that is today the third largest toy manufacturer.

Products

Small block- This is the most important product of the company. Twice the product of the LEGO manufacturer received the title of “toy of the century.” The details have undergone major changes over the years, but the starting point is still the traditional brick.

The presence of many shades makes it unique. For those who come into contact with colorful elements, you just need to use your imagination and let your creativity flow.

The brick block is one of the best toys, and no one needs convincing of it. It has been known since ancient times that playing with them brings joy to children and develops them from the very beginning. early age. Building with blocks involves imagination, improves manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Fun little bricks let you create your own, unique world. This game is a real challenge and a great exercise in patience.

Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to create the design you want. Almost anyone who comes across these blocks wonders who invented LEGO, whose country of origin? The designer became popular thanks to an idea that everyone liked.

It should be noted that initially a small Danish enterprise managed to grow to the whole world. At the moment, sets from him have become the most popular gifts for Christmas and many other holidays. Almost every young person remembers from childhood how these brick blocks were scattered on the floor, and what it was like to step on them. In the manufacture of its product, the company managed to find a balance between preserving original traditions and introducing innovation. All this keeps her afloat for such a long time. The benefits that LEGO manufacturers bring to people are also obvious. Such toys develop children's imagination and allow them to realize their fantasies.

Product Variations

So the story LEGO brand reaches its peak in the first half of the 20th century. The date when the company was founded is not the moment when the cubes that everyone knows today were created. The story of the LEGO manufacturer is actually much more complex and very interesting, and even inspiring. It is enough to get to know her better to understand this.

In numbers

In 2015, the LEGO manufacturer built a tower using these blocks in Milan. Its height reached 35.05 meters. This is the tallest fragmentary structure made of cubes.

The largest LEGO set consists of 5,900 pieces and is the famous Taj Mahal. The Indian temple is one and a half meters wide and 40 cm high. This kit used to cost about $300, but it has been out of production for a long time. In this regard, the complex now costs up to several thousand dollars. It is considered a rare and valuable item.

The LEGO manufacturer released the first figure in 1974. It looked different from the ones we know today. First of all, it was bigger. In turn, the first small part was created by the LEGO manufacturer in 1975. Mass production of little men began later.

LEGO Duplo, although eight times larger than a standard brick, is still compatible with it. One of the principles of the LEGO manufacturer is that all elements match.

Every second, 7 sets of this construction set are sold around the world; 40 billion LEGO bricks, stacked one on top of the other, could connect the Earth with the Moon.

Kinds

The country of origin of the LEGO set creates all the conditions for the development of the company. And she, in turn, constantly introduces innovations, never stopping in improvement. The range of LEGO themed sets is published in catalogs published every six months. There is also information about upcoming new products. In addition to sets with themed packages, new main blocks are being released different colors.

LEGO Duplo

LEGO Duplo is a building block made with little ones in mind. Children from one and a half to five years old can play with them. The upper age limit is arbitrary, since older children also enjoy building with Duplo. These bricks are larger than standard bricks, making them easier to use. Duplo sets are designed to encourage children to play and develop their imagination. The LEGO Duplo for girls has more pieces that appeal to little ladies, while the LEGO Duplo for boys has more pieces to suit their needs.

LEGO City

LEGO City is a series for older children. It is based on city life. Buildings, cars, police, fire, hospital, railway, airport and even a space center - this and much more can be created from City sets. This series can be played by as young as four year olds.

LEGO Friends

LEGO Friends are sets aimed at girls. They have animals, houses, cafes, a riding club, and the town of Heartlake City. Girls can create the world they dream of with five LEGO Friends heroines.

LEGO Ninjago

LEGO Ninjago is a toy for boys. The theme of this series is ninjas and their enemies. Dragons, fortresses, pirate airships and various items, needed for serious battles, limited only by children's imagination.

LEGO Creator

LEGO Creator is a line of Lego sets based on building, but rather on creating what a girl or boy dreams of. You can build a Ferrari 10248, a winter toy store, a Ferris wheel, or the most famous buildings in the world. The LEGO manufacturer made sure that the details were bright. The sets are designed in such a way that three different things can be made from the same cubes.

LEGO Technic

LEGO Technic is a real challenge for design engineers and young craftsmen. Kits from this line, like all others, have instructions for use included, but require a little technical experience. The cars in this series are very precisely made, they have working steering systems and a lot of parts. There are so many of them that the final result of the game exceeds expectations.

The LEGO brand keeps up with the times. Therefore, in addition to the classic brick block sets, Lego series based on films and fairy tales are also appearing. Thus, LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Angry Birds have already been released.

The company's history is the clearest evidence that it cares about its customers. Her priority is to make sure that everyone can find something for themselves. Fans of medieval castles, space expeditions, architecture, fans of racing cars, little princesses and great pirates - each of them will be able to create their own world from LEGO bricks. That's why these sets have become so popular.