7 facts from the history of LEGO: why we love the most famous bricks in the world?

For 90 years now, they have been the market leader in children's goods, bringing together successive generations in the game - this is the easiest way to describe the Danish company Lego. Most of us have at least once held bricks of this brand in our hands, and their collections are very popular with adults as well. What is the history of Lego and who is behind their success?

Who invented Lego bricks and where did their name come from?

The start of the brand was difficult and there was no indication that Lego would be such a giant success. The history of Lego bricks begins on August 10, 1932, when Ole Kirk Christiansen bought the first carpentry company. Despite the fact that his things burned down several times as a result of an accident, he did not give up his idea and continued to make small, still wooden elements. The first store was opened in 1932 in Billund, Denmark. Initially, Ole sold not only toys, but also ironing boards and ladders. The name Lego comes from the words Leg Godt, meaning "to have fun".

In 1946, a special machine for making toys with the possibility of plastic injection was purchased. At the time, it cost about 1/15th of the company's annual income, but this investment quickly paid off. Since 1949, blocks have been sold in self-assembly kits. Over the years, the company has improved the production and quality of the kits - thanks to this, today it is one of the most famous toy brands in the world.

What did the first Lego set look like?

One of the most important dates in the history of the company is 1958. It was this year that the original form of the block with all the necessary protrusions was patented. On their basis, the first sets were created, which consisted of elements from which it was possible to build, including a simple cottage. The first manual - or rather inspiration - appeared in sets in 1964, and 4 years later the DUPLO collection entered the market. The set, intended for the youngest children, consisted of much larger blocks, which minimized the possible risk of suffocation during play.

For many, Lego's trademark is not the characteristic bricks, but figures with yellow faces and simplified hand shapes. The company started producing them in 1978 and from the very beginning these little heroes became the favorites of many children. The neutral facial expressions of the figures changed in 1989 when the world saw the Lego Pirates line - for the first time in the company's history, corsairs presented rich facial expressions: furrowed eyebrows or twisted lips. In 2001, the Lego Creations collection was created, the creators of which encouraged building enthusiasts of all ages to break through schematic thinking and use the resources of their imagination.

Lego - a gift for children and adults

These bricks are a great gift for both very young children and older children, as well as for teenagers and adults - in a word, for everyone! According to the manufacturer, Lego Duplo sets are already suitable for children aged 18 months and over. Famous collections are definitely one of the most desired and popular gifts for children from a few years of age and into their teens.

Of course, these blocks have no upper age limit, and many adults around the world buy them for themselves. Some of them are fans of various series who collect sets to complete their collection. There are also people who invest in Lego. Some limited edition sets that haven't been unpacked for 5 or 10 years can now cost 10x what they were when they were purchased!

Of course, there is no division by gender either - with all sets of sets, both girls and boys or women and men can equally play.

Quality above all, that is, the production of Lego bricks

While many Lego-like companies have been created over the years, none are as recognizable as the Danish company. Why? It is worth noting that they have very high quality standards - each element is made of safe plastic, and is also strong and flexible enough to last as long as possible. It takes more than 430 kilograms of pressure to completely crush a standard Lego brick! Cheaper options can break into several sharp and dangerous pieces with much less pressure.

In addition, Lego is highly accurate, thanks to which, even after several decades of purchase, you can still assemble any set. All collections, including the old ones, are perfectly combined with each other - so you can combine elements that differ by 20 years or more! No imitation offers such a guarantee of universality. Quality is monitored by license donors who constantly reject products that do not meet stringent requirements.

The most popular Lego sets - which bricks are the most bought by customers?

Lego collections directly refer to many phenomena of pop culture, thanks to which it is possible to maintain an unwavering interest in blocks. Harry Potter, Overwatch and Star Wars are just some of the most popular sets produced by the Danish company. Peculiar genre scenes are also very popular, especially from the Lego Friends collection. The “House on the Shore” set allows you to move to warm countries for a short time, and the “Dog Community Center” teaches responsibility and sensitivity.

What are the most interesting Lego sets?

Whether this set will interest a person depends on his personal predilections and preferences. Dinosaur fans will love sets licensed from Jurassic Park (like T-Rex in the Wild), while young architecture lovers will love sets from the Lego Technic or City lines. Having your own mini train, the Statue of Liberty, or a luxury car (like the Bugatti Chiron) will inspire your passions from an early age, allowing you to become familiar with mechanics and the basics of mathematics or physics.

How much is the most expensive Lego set in the world?

Although some sets can be bought for less than PLN 100, and the average price is in the range of PLN 300-400, there are also much more expensive models. They are usually intended for adult collectors, not children, and are a real rarity for lovers of this universe. Some of the most expensive sets are those related to the world of Harry Potter. The famous Diagon Alley costs PLN 1850, the same as the impressive model of Hogwarts. However, the most expensive are the models inspired by Star Wars. 3100 PLN to pay for the Empire Star Destroyer. Millenium Sokół costs PLN 3500.

How many elements are in the largest Lego set in the world?

In terms of dimensions, the aforementioned Imperial Star Destroyer is the undisputed winner. Its length is 110 cm, height 44 cm, width 66 cm, but it consists of 4784 elements. Released in 2020, the Colosseum, despite its smaller size (27 x 52 x 59 cm), contains as many as 9036 bricks. The manufacturers claim that this allows a very accurate recreation of one of the most famous Roman buildings.

Why are Lego bricks so popular with children and adults?

Another interesting question is why these bricks, despite having been on the market for so many years, are still so popular almost all over the world. Several factors are responsible for this, such as:

• High quality and durability - appreciated by both children and adults.
• Developing creativity and stimulating the imagination - with these blocks, children can spend hundreds of hours, and parents know that this time is devoted to the most useful and educational fun.
• Encourage learning and experimentation - anyone who tried to build the tallest tower as a child must have failed several times before they had the idea to build a solid foundation out of Lego bricks. Blocks also help to master the basics of architecture and involuntarily encourage learning.
• Cultivating patience and perseverance - these traits are very important both in the creation of the structure and in the rest of life. Assembling and disassembling a kit is often a lengthy and focused process that teaches patience.
• Colorful elements and iconic figures in the form of figurines - every fan of Star Wars, popular fairy tales of Disney or Harry Potter has a dream come true - to play with a figure depicting their favorite character. The company makes this possible by offering many different sets of well-known series.
• Perfect for group play - the blocks can be assembled by themselves, but crafting and building together is by far the most fun. Thanks to group work, the kits promote learning to cooperate and improve communication skills.

Lego bricks are one of the best ways to spend your free time and also invest money. The selected models allow you to have fun for many years, so why wait? After all, a dream set will not work by itself! 

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