1891: April 7 - Ole Kirk Christiansen, founder of the Lego Group, is born.
1895: The woodworkingshop, "Billund Woodworking and Carpenter's Shop", which would eventually evolve into the Lego company is founded in Billund, Denmark.
[edit]20th century[edit]1910s
1916: Ole Kirk Christiansen purchases the small woodworkingshop in Billund.
[edit]1920s
July 6, 1920: Godtfred Kirk Christiansen is born.
1924: Ole Kirk's shop burns down when a fire ignites some wood shavings. Ole Kirk builds a larger workshop, renting out most of the space, and using the rest for his own shop.
[edit]1930s
1932: Ole Kirk Christiansen's shop nearly goes bankrupt in the depression. With a lack of normal carpentry jobs, Ole Kirk starts producing toys, many of which were wooden pull toys.
1934: The company name Lego is coined by Christiansen from the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning "play well". Coincidentally, "Lego" also means "I assemble" in Latin.
1942: A fire breaks out in the factory, forcing the company to rebuild.
1943: The company grows to 40 employees.
1947: Ole Kirk purchases the first plastic moulding machine in Denmark, and the company begins manufacturing plastic toys. The Christiansens are inspired by samples of the "Kiddicraft Self-Locking Building Brick", a design patented by the Briton Mr. Harry Fisher Page.[1]December 27 - Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is born.
1948: The company grows to 50 employees.
1949: Lego begins producing similar plastic bricks, calling them "Automatic Binding Bricks."
[edit]1950s
1951: The first ever film about Lego is shot. The photographer is Christian Lund, and the film is black and white with no sound.
1953:
Automatic Binding Bricks are renamed Lego Mursten, or "Lego Bricks."
First baseplates are created.
1954:
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen becomes junior managing director of Lego, and soon has the idea to turn Lego bricks into a toy system.
The Lego brick design is improved to allow better versatility and "locking" ability.
Ole Kirk Christiansen dies; Godtfred inherits leadership of the Lego Company.
The Lego company patents the stud-and-tube coupling system. This new system makes models much more stable. Sloping roof tile bricks are featured.
The company in Billund grows to 140 employees.
1959:
A small staff at Lego, the "Futura" division, is established to develop ideas for new sets.
Lego begins selling its products in other countries such as Norway, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.
Lego France, British Lego Ltd., Lego Belgium and Lego Sweden are established.
[edit]1960s
1960:
February: Another warehouse fire consumes most of Lego inventory of wooden toys.
Production of wooden toys is discontinued; the company changes its focus to the plastic building bricks.
Lego Finland and Lego Netherlands are established.
By the end of the year, the company grows to 450 employees.
1961:
The Lego wheel is introduced.
Sales start in the United States and Canada through a license agreement with Samsonite Corp.
Lego Italy established
1961-1962: Lego makes an arrangement allowing Samsonite to begin producing and selling Lego products in Canada, an arrangement that would continue until 1988.
1962:
Lego sells toys in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Morocco, and Japan.
Lego 1/3 elements are introduced.
1963:
Cellulose acetate is abandoned in favor of the more stable ABS plastic in making Lego bricks.
Samsonitebegins producing Lego bricks under license in North America.
Lego Austria is established.
The Lego Group starts Modulex.
1964:
The first Lego sets containing instruction manuals are introduced.
Lego sells toys in Lebanon.
A production plant, Lego Werkzeugbau GmbH, is opened in Hohenwestedt, Germany.
1965:
The company in Billund grows to more than 600 employees.
1966:
One of Lego most successful series, the Lego trainsystem is released. Initial train sets include a 4.5-volt motor and rails.
Lego is now sold in 42 countries.
1967: First Lego hinges.
1968:
Train sets with a 12-volt motor are introduced.
On June 7, the Legoland Park in Billund is opened, at which 3,000 people visit on the opening day.
Lego bricks with magnets are introduced.
1969:
The Duplo system, using larger bricks and targeting younger children but also compatible with existing Lego bricks, is released.
The company in Billund grows to 843 employees.
[edit]1970s
1970: The company grows to 1,000 employees.
1971: Lego introduces furniture pieces and dollhouses for girls.
1972: Lego adds boat and ship sets, with hull pieces that actually float.
Lego Samsonite license agreement ends
Lego USA established in Brookfield, Connecticut.
1973:
Lego USA moves to its present-day location in Enfield, Connecticut.
All Lego products are placed under one logo, a red square with the Word, Lego, in white bordered by black and yellow.
Lego first sells toys to Hungary.
Lego Portugal is established.
1974:
Lego figures are launched, starting with the Lego family.
Bricks and Pieces, the first official Lego newsletter, is introduced in the United Kingdom.
Lego Spain is established.
1975:
The company grows to 2,500 employees.
The Expert Series sets are introduced.
1977:
The Lego Technic (known as the Expert Builder) series is launched.
Lego Town is launched.
Lego Boats is launched.
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen joins the Lego Group management.
Duplo people are introduced.
1978:
Lego introduces the minifigurewith movable limbs and hands that can grasp utensils. This was the company's second most important design, after the brick itself.
Lego Castle is introduced.
Lego Space is introduced.
1979:
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen becomes president of Lego.
Lego introduces the Fabuland and Scala themes.
Lego Singapore is established.
[edit]1980s
1980:
Lego establishes the Educational Products Department.
New factories are opened in Switzerlandand Jutland, Denmark.
It is revealed in a survey that seventy percent of all Western European families with kids under fourteen own Lego bricks.
Lego train tracks are introduced.
1981: The second generation of Lego trains is produced, including a wider variety of accessories.
1982:
Expert Builder series matures and becomes Technic.
The Lego Groupcelebrates its 50th anniversary on August 13th.
The book, 50 years of play is published.
Lego South Africa is established.
First Lego wind-up engine.
1983:
Lego launches the Duplo Baby series.
The company grows to 3,700 employees worldwide.
1984:
Lego Castle series is launched.
Lego pneumatics are added to the Technic series.
Lego Brazil is established.
Lego Korea is established.
1985:
Light & Sound sets are introduced.
Lego company grows to 5,000 employees worldwide; 3,000 of them being in Billund.
The gearstick is introduced.
1986:
Lego Technic robots controlled by computers are placed in schools.
Light and Sound sets are launched of Lego Town and Space themes.
Another factory in Manaus, Brazil is opened.
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen resigns as chairman of the board of Lego System A/S and Lego Overseas.
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen takes over for Godtfred Kirk Christiansen.
1987:
Forestman, Crusaders, and Black Knights, sub-lines of Lego Castle, are introduced.
Blacktron I and Futuron, sub-lines of Lego Space, are introduced.
Lego reaches almost 6,000 employees.
Lego South Africa is closed.
Lego Club is established.
1988:
The first Lego World Cup building contest is held in Billund.
Lego Canada is established.
The "Brick Separator" is introduced.
1989:
Lego Pirates theme is launched.
Lego Educational Products Department is renamed Lego Dacta.
Brick Kicks, the first official Lego Club magazine, is introduced.
Space Police I, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
[edit]1990s
1990
Lego Model Team sets are released.
Lego is one of the top 10 toy companies of 1990.
Forestman is discontinued.
The Blacktron I and Futuron themes are discontinued.
Space Police I is discontinued.
M:Tron, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Lego Malaysia is established.
The Duplo Zoo is launched.
9V Technic motors are first introduced in Europe, starting phase-out of 4.5V system.
1991
9V Technic motors are introduced in other markets including North America.
9V Trains motors are made 9V to bring the system into line with the rest of the Lego range.
Lego Paradisa is launched.
Blacktron II, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Imperial Guards, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced.
The company grows to 7,550 employees.
1992
Lego sets two Guinness World Records. Lego Castle and Lego Tower.
Paradisa and Duplo Toolo sets are introduced.
On Swedish television, the world's largest Lego Castle is built.
The Crusaders theme is discontinued.
Wolfpack, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Space Police II, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Lego Japan is established.
Lego Hungary is established.
The first Lego Imagination Center is opened in Mall of America in Bloomington, Minneapolis, United States.
1993
Duplo introduces a train and a parrot-shaped "brickvac" that could scoop Lego pieces up off the floor.
Space Police I is re-released.
Wolfpack, a sub-line of Lego Castle is discontinued.
Dragon Masters is introduced.
M:Tron, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Blacktron II, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Space Police II, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Ice Planet 2002, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Lego South Africa re-established.
The orange transparent brick is introduced.
1994
The Black Knights theme is discontinued.
Ice Planet 2002, a sub-line of Lego Space is discontinued.
Unitron, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Spyrius, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Islanders, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced.
Lego Mexico is established.
The company grows to 8,880 employees worldwide.
First pink Lego bricks.
Brick Kicks, the official Lego Club Magazine, is renamed Lego Mania Magazine.
1995
Lego Primo series is introduced.
Lego Aquazone is introduced.
Royal Knights, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Unitron is discontinued.
Imperial Guards, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is discontinued.
Lego TechBuild, a sub-line of Lego Technic is introduced.
Lego TechPlay, another sub-line of Lego Technic is introduced.
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the company's founder, dies.
Lego Belgium and Lego Netherlands become Lego Benelux.
Lego dolphin element is introduced.
1996
Legoland Windsor is opened in the United Kingdom.
The Lego Watch System is launched.
Lego Wild West is introduced.
Lego.com is launched.
Dark Forest, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Time Crusiers is introduced.
Spyrius theme is discontinued.
Exploriens, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Imperial Armada, a sub-line of Lego Pirates is introduced.
Legoland Billund reaches 25 million visitors since its opening in 1968.
It is estimated that 180 billion Lego elements have been made and over 300 million people worldwide play with them.
1997
Lego launches its first computer game, Lego Island.
Lego introduces fiber-opticelements.
Lego Paradisa is discontinued.
Lego Diversis introduced.
Fright Knights, a sub-line of Lego Castle is introduced.
Time Twisters, a sub-line of Time Crusiers is introduced.
Roboforce, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
UFO, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Aquaraiders, a sub-line of Lego Aquazone is introduced.
1998
Lego launches the Lego Creator, Loco, and Chess computer games.
Lego introduces beigebricks.
Lego Adventurers and Insectoids series are introduced.
Lego releases Mindstorms, a programmable computerized brick with Lego-compatible sensors and motors.
The red Lego logo introduced in 1973 is updated. It is a graphically tightened version of the logo used for the past 25 years.
Lego rereleases the Crusaders, Black Knights, and Dragon Masters themes.
Insectoids, a sub-line of Lego Space is introduced.
Lego Cyberslam, is introduced.
1999
Legoland California opens in Carlsbad, California.
Lego Rock Raiders series is introduced.
Lego produces a Star Warstheme with Lucasfilm.
UFO and Insectoids themes are discontinued.
Jungle a sub-line of Lego Adventurers is introduced.
Lego Underground is introduced.
Lego Slizers(Throwbots) are introduced.
[edit]21st century[edit]2000s
2000
Knights' Kingdom, Life on Mars, and Soccer/Football are introduced.
Dino Island, a sub-line of Lego Adventurers is introduced, then discontinued. RoboRiders are also introduced, then discontinued.
Lego Underground (Rock Raiders) and Lego Throwbots are discontinued.
