Category Archives: History Of Lego

Mr Ole Kirk Christiansen (Lego Inventor)Photo Credit:Who Invented Lego

Learn the legos history and read a fascinating short story of the man behind the invention of LEGO of which today is still a family business. Legos history shows why Lego became a world phenomenon and the inspiration behind a man i simply call a genius.

Since LEGO`s first introduction in the USA IN 1949 they have made 400-Billion pieces of Lego to date and still rising every day.

LEGO was invented in Billund (DENMARK) By a man named Ole Kirk Christiansen which his Son still owns to this very day! Ole Kirk Christiansen was a carpenter.

the word LEGO is derived from two Danish words (leg and godt) which means (play well)

In 1916, Christiansen purchased a woodworking business were he made a living building houses and furniture for farmers. In 1924 his workshop was burnt down by the help of his two sons who accidentally started a fire beside some wood shavings.

Ole Kirk took this travesty as an opportunity to expand his business even further. Soon after the great depression had a serious impact on his lively hood this was the time, while trying to make cuts on his businesses costs he started making miniatures of his products as design templates. These miniature step ladders and ironing boards inspired him to make toys.

Mr Ole Christiansen`s Toy Car Photo Credit:Bilofix

(Although a local Denmark LEGOemployee has said that Ole Kirk`s inspiration to make toys was more suggested by the government as the retold stories tell his woodworking company was going out of business so his local social worker suggested him to make toys)

1932 Was the year Ole Kirk`s company began the manufacture of wooden pull toys, piggy banks, cars and trucks. He was always happy with a small amount of success but in these hard times many people could not afford such lavish toys.

Watch This Lovely Movie On The History Of Lego

As there were a lot of farmers around this area they would sometimes trade food for his toys for Christmas and such. Ole kirk found that he still had to produce furniture in order for his business to survive.

Lego Factory Christiansen Family Photo Credit:Legos Tumblr

Mid 1930`s when the yo-yobecame a big fad it gave him a brief moment of success until it suddenly collapsed, he was a resourceful man not giving into hard times turning disadvantage in his favor by recycling these yo-yo parts into wheels for a new toy truck that he designed.