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The Origin Story – How was LEGO made?

Team StoryWeavers|April 21, 2020, 09:24 IST| 149

Little Binnie was all set on her little bed, eagerly waiting for her dad to knock at the door. It was half-past nine, and as the tiny clock kept ticking on her study table, Binnie’s excitement grew, her lips trembling with eager anticipation. Her dad would arrive any minute now. Finally, she heard it. 

“Little Binnie, are you up for a story?”

She sat up straight, eyes wide with rapt attention. Oh, how she waits for these stories every night from her dad! 

“What story would it be tonight dad?”

“Well, today, I’ll tell you about LEGO.”

“LEGO? The little building blocks I play with every day?” 

“Yes, Bennie, that’s right. LEGO has a wonderful history. Did you know that the name is older than these plastic bricks?”

First version LEGO wooden duck

First version LEGO wooden duck

It started way back in 1932 when a skilled and hardworking carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen came up with a unique idea. Living in Billund, a little town in Denmark along with his four sons, Ole made tiny little toys for his sons. These little toys would range from wooden ducks, cars, walking puppies to yo-yos. Looking at their joy, Ole soon started selling his toys to nearby shops. But there was a problem with that! 

Although Ole was a great craftsman, who had an eye for detailing, he was bad at marketing his toys. One of his sons, Godtfred, started helping him and together, they managed to keep up with their growing business. 

Time passed by, and Ole wanted to coin a perfect name for his toy company.  He took inspiration from the phrase “leg godt,” which in Danish means ‘play well’. But Ole was looking for a shorter name, which would be easy for everyone to remember. He finally named his company ‘LEGO’, an abbreviation for ‘Leg Godt’.

One stormy night, a fire broke in their storehouse, destroying all the toys, artworks and designs. This made Ole very sad, as he helplessly saw all his hard work reduce into ashes in seconds. He almost lost his company, but he never lost hope. Soon, along with Godtfred, they built a new factory, much bigger and stronger than the previous one. Slowly and steadily, the company began to run smoothly, and both Ole and his son began to look for new challenges for their wooden toys.

A walk to a machine demonstration in Copenhagen introduced Ole to the plastic injection moulds for toy making. He saw this as a great opportunity for the LEGO Group and purchased the moulding machine. Soon, he started moulding teddy bears and other toys. By 1949, his company launched its first building set – Automatic Binding Bricks.

The famous three-generation picture of Ole Kirk Christiansen, his son Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, and his grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen

The famous three-generation picture of Ole Kirk Christiansen, his son Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, and his grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen

By now, LEGO was already a household name. But Godtfred had bigger plans. He felt LEGO needed a system that would encourage children to think creatively, build their imagination, and prepare them for life. The following year, the company launched its now world-famous LEGO ‘System in Play’. With this, children got an opportunity to explore their imagination and come up with their designed houses, rockets, and ships. In 1958, Godtfred took it one step further. He modified the plastic bricks in a way that they could be linked with each other in countless combination.

Google doodle for 50th anniversary of Lego

DID YOU KNOW?

Google’s first-ever server was housed in an enclosure made of LEGOs. Google paid its tribute to LEGO with this iconic doodle to celebrate 50 years of LEGO.

By 1961, LEGO decided to produce only plastic bricks and expand its business to many other countries. Godtfred came up with a marvellous idea to sell his toys to the whole world. He built the Billund Airport in Denmark and established a private 800-meter long runway and hangar north of his factory in Billund. Soon he expanded that and made a whole LEGO-themed amusement park in 1968. It was a huge success, with 600,000 guests in the very first year!

“Wow!” Binnie exclaimed! “This is incredible. I didn’t know that LEGO bricks had such an amazing history”. She turned towards the tiny LEGO house she had built that morning and smiled.

Well, that was the Origin Story of LEGO. The sole idea behind these tiny bricks is to encourage everyone to expand their imagination, experience, and express their idea of the world. 

Did you like reading the Origin Story of how LEGO came to be? Stay tuned as we take you to yet another intriguing story under our new series – The Origin Story – next month.

Like this story? Read weird fun facts about plants here:

Weird But True: 10 Facts About Plants That Will Blow Your Mind

About the Author


Books are Tanaya Goswami’s first love and cheesecakes come a close second. Talking about movies, music, calligraphy, politics, and Elon Musk will get you listed under the friends’ section of her diary. Ever since moving on from her job as an English lecturer, she spends her time at BYJU’S crafting stories filled with emotion and sprinkled with sarcasm. Outside of work, she’s either learning something new (French, most recently!) or is curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. She firmly believes that discovering what you don’t know is the key to knowledge and is constantly working towards improving herself. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories, have something nice to say, or if you have compelling ideas to share!

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Comments



Siddhi Arun Kadam

August 19, 2020

I love it. That’s so interesting. Really.


Siddhi Arun Kadam

August 19, 2020

It’s inspiring.


Sneha chirakkal

August 8, 2020

Wow this is amazing ???????


Deva

August 1, 2020

Wow it’s amazing


Shubha

July 29, 2020

It was really interesting.


B.Venu Sudarshan

July 27, 2020

Super


Satwik Singh

June 21, 2020

I have lego as it is so difficult to make it


Neeraja

June 20, 2020

Wow , I just love Lego. Just like Binnie , I didn’t know that Lego had such an amazing history. I am really looking forward for the next set of these amazing stories


Vishav jamwal

June 14, 2020

Super


Chinmaya.c

June 13, 2020

??????


Ashu

June 12, 2020

Amazing!!!


Jahnvi

June 5, 2020

Really interesting


Sukanya

June 2, 2020

It was really interesting


Lakshita Rana

May 30, 2020

Amazing!?


Lakshita Rana

May 30, 2020

Wow!?
It was really interesting and
Informative…..


Prachi

May 26, 2020

It was really nice reading such an epic story about determination and hard work


Anish ganesh

May 25, 2020

Wow?.This is the best origin story I have ever heard and I love Lego. Because we can make anything from its bricks ?.I am so excited to read another origin story.

Thank you
?✌️


Akshat Agarwal

May 25, 2020

Wow, what a wonderful story of LEGO. It was really nice and interesting ??


Saumya

May 21, 2020

Wow


Dhiren jain

May 20, 2020

Wow ! Amazing .it is really true and yes, seriously waiting for another series


V.keerthana

May 19, 2020

Wow ! It was intresting & amazing to read.


V.keerthana

May 19, 2020

Wow ! It was amazing to read.


Aryan Bharati

May 19, 2020

It is so inspirational and motivational things to learn from the history of LEGO


Omprakash

May 17, 2020

Excellent


Vathsal

May 11, 2020

It was very interesting Wow


Krishna

May 9, 2020

wonderful story.


Athul

May 1, 2020

It’s was very amazing


Jaivik J

April 30, 2020

WOW! What a great story. I am so excited about another series of origin story.


Pahal

April 30, 2020

Your articles are amazing!!


Avrajit Biswas

April 29, 2020

Wow!!!
So brilliant thinking.


Kavin

April 28, 2020

Amazing story to read
SUPERB!


Vedaant

April 28, 2020

It’s an inspiring story


Soumik

April 28, 2020

Thank you Byjus & Tanaya Goswami for this wonderful story! Got to know something new. Looking forward to the next amazing story.


miss aastha patel

April 27, 2020

wow! I didn’t know Lego had a big history


Samarjeet singh

April 26, 2020

A big fan of Lego blocks made different types of engin with these blocks as they are many favourites.Thomas the tank engine.


Ashok

April 26, 2020

It seems intersting to know more about lego.??


Snehil

April 26, 2020

I love to read story books. Unloved reading the amazing story behind the world.


Ankita Aich

April 25, 2020

I understand it that “Ole think his toys
were fried in seconds after that but he
don’t lost its hope ” And I think that
We also should not lose our hope. ?


Rajesh Ranjan

April 25, 2020

Very inspiring


Aakash

April 25, 2020

It’s very interesting and useful


Riddhi Patil

April 25, 2020

It was amazing!


Brahmadatta

April 24, 2020

It was so interesting,I love it


Chirag

April 24, 2020

I never knew that Lego had a big history


Rajshree

April 24, 2020

So much interesting and curious about the next series


Variya Jain

April 24, 2020

Very great….. amazing ??


R.grishma

April 23, 2020

It’s so wonderful to know the history of LEGO
I’m eagerly waiting for another intriguing story
Thank you byjus ☺☺☺


Raiyan khan

April 23, 2020

Really, It was amazing and also mind blowing and worked as a mind refresher.
Thank you! Byju’s for the this amazing story.


Radhika

April 23, 2020

I would
Iove stories like this I am excited about
Other series


Debasmith Das

April 23, 2020

Very interesting story. I really love it


Anette. Shaijan

April 23, 2020

WOW Amazing


Ankita Jana

April 23, 2020

This was informative


Samadrita sen

April 23, 2020

Wow I love it…I knew the story of LEGO…. Yes……??


Adila bashar

April 23, 2020

Amazing!never thought the tiny blocks had such a history.


Srinidhi

April 23, 2020

The Origin story-LEGO inspiring story..?


Srinidhi

April 23, 2020

That was awesome ?


Shivansh Sharma

April 23, 2020

Amazing!


Thilokkumar

April 23, 2020

Wow!


Kumar subhankar

April 23, 2020

Thank you byju’s for send this information.
??


Krishna Satpute

April 23, 2020

It was very interesting ?


Anant Arvindan

April 23, 2020

I have watched this story on YouTube but I never saw the picture of the Kirk family.
Wow!!!


Gargi Kumawat

April 23, 2020

WOW!It’s amazing. Please send more .


Shavul hameed

April 23, 2020

Nice interesting news thanks you BYJU’S


Aryaa

April 23, 2020

Wow


Shrivats Bansal

April 23, 2020

It’s brilliant story


Sheetal Jain

April 23, 2020

Wow what a great story


Karanveer

April 23, 2020

That’s amazing ???


Akshay

April 23, 2020

Great….. further enhances participation!


Dev Sheth (Mini Stephen curry)

April 23, 2020

Wow….v.intersting

Keep sending more …about space & universe


TANUSRI KINTALI

April 23, 2020

I never thought that LEGO has an amazing story in the past


Aditya

April 23, 2020

Really very informative and very interesting
Story of worlds biggest toy company. I’m
Really excited for next origin story.


Avi Shivraj

April 22, 2020

It’s awesome and really really inspiring.


Avi Shivraj

April 22, 2020

It’s awesome


Trisha gupta

April 22, 2020

Wow it was really amazing
I am waiting for such intresting story


Trisha gupta

April 22, 2020

Wow it was really amazing
I am waiting for another such intresting
Stories.


Trisha gupta

April 22, 2020

Wow it was really amazing I will wait for another such intresting story


Tanishka Tyagi

April 22, 2020

Fantastic


Alvina maria

April 22, 2020

wow is great


Alvina maria

April 22, 2020

wow this story is great and wonderful. It is interesting and amazing.This give me information of LEGO.


Ayushi Sharma

April 22, 2020

It was really interesting story, behind the world’s biggest toy company.


Ayushi Sharma

April 22, 2020

It was really interesting story,story behind the world’s biggest toy company.


Sanskriti Rawat

April 22, 2020

Thanks for the interesting story of Lego. Looking forward to have more such interesting informations.


Divya Zambare

April 22, 2020

The Origin Of LEGO is a Fascinating story. I loved it and waiting for the next series to come.
Thank you Byjus.


Samriddhi Arya

April 22, 2020

Very interesting


Gowri

April 22, 2020

It’s awesome ?


Jisna Jose

April 22, 2020

It was really such an amazing story!!Just loved it and
inspired us!!Keep sending stories like this so that apart from studies
we also gain knowledge outside it..


nihar

April 22, 2020

the big story behind tiny blocks is amazing


Sreya gladson

April 22, 2020

This story is really inspires me


Pragyan yadav

April 22, 2020

Wow. Very interesting


Anika Kulshrestha - student

April 22, 2020

I love it, please send more origin stories


Viraj Deshmukh

April 22, 2020

It is very inspiring


Dhananjaya

April 22, 2020

Super i like


Jeyalakshmi

April 22, 2020

really breathtaking eagerly waiting for another series like this


Jeyalakshmi

April 22, 2020

really awesome very eager to hear many origin from this great author!!


Krishiv Kumar

April 22, 2020

I love reading this and it is amazing and wonderful story.


Bahunlang

April 22, 2020

Wow it was such an interesting story!


Shubham

April 22, 2020

I play it but I can’t know about it thanks and please send such interesting origin stories ?????


KIRTI

April 22, 2020

WOW


Avantika Jaiswal

April 22, 2020

Wow!
Its amazing!!!!?


Prapti soni

April 22, 2020

Amazing story


Vidit Srivastava

April 22, 2020

nice one


Gracia deva needhi.J

April 22, 2020

WOW! Such an amazing history lego has! Thank you for the information. It was so useful.


Abishek

April 22, 2020

It’s awesome to hear a marvellous imagination from simpler blocks
Thankyou….


balkishore sipka

April 22, 2020

awesome


Vyom

April 22, 2020

Superb!!!! It gives a brief description about
the world’s favourite game of children which
every child would be desiring of.


Angel dubey

April 22, 2020

Food & NUTRITION


Harshal ravnang

April 22, 2020

WOWWW. It’s very inspiring and I am very excited to read another series of the orgin story


Shreesha

April 22, 2020

It is really interesting, I am waiting for the next series of this origin story.


Shreesha

April 22, 2020

Really interesting


Sanjana alur

April 22, 2020

Excellent information Byjus will always be admired by me for the kind of information it gives??


Priyanga

April 22, 2020

It was amazing


Fathima

April 22, 2020

It’s really good story.
and l am curious about next series


Fathima

April 22, 2020

It’s really a good story and
I am curious about the next serious.


Avni Jain

April 22, 2020

Great
LEGO is definitely every kid’s childhood memory


Pulkit

April 22, 2020

Amazing!!! It’s a great story.


Pulkit

April 22, 2020

Amazing!!! It’s interesting.Exited for more.


Arunkumar

April 22, 2020

Thank you byju’s.


Priyangshu Das

April 22, 2020

It was nice!!☺️


Ananya Das

April 22, 2020

Awesome , I did not know that . Amazing for my knowledge


Sujay

April 22, 2020

Thanks for information about LEGO and it’s origin !!????


Anvi kadoo

April 22, 2020

Woah!!!


ANUVARSHA.s

April 22, 2020

so good and interesting to learn.


ANUVARSHA.s

April 22, 2020

really amazing


JAY 31

April 22, 2020

Woooow!!!


Yûvàráj

April 22, 2020

Wow it’s amazing ???


M.RithishNivash

April 22, 2020

Wow


Keerthana Nambiar

April 22, 2020

That’s too AWESOME!!!


Pratibha

April 22, 2020

Curious to learn more about the next origin series


Mrunal shinde

April 22, 2020

Amazing!!!!
Interesting and informative….


Kristi

April 22, 2020

Wow
?
?
??Great!
?
??Cool?
???
?
??


Aviral Shukla

April 22, 2020

It is really amazing. I like this content
Very much. ?


Drishan koushik

April 22, 2020

Wow!!


Arayna patni

April 22, 2020

WOW…it is always intersting to learn amazing and weird facts about simple things ….keep sending more such articles


divya hasini

April 22, 2020

I was very curious to read the the story and I wish you to send more origin stories like this so that there will be a new interest created in students and I wondered that a small block of Lego has thos large history and anyways thankyou so much for making me learn this history of Lego blocks


Kritisha Chakravorty

April 22, 2020

This Is splendid !!!! I am eagerly waiting for the next origin story!


Kritisha Chakravorty

April 22, 2020

This was awesome!!!! I am eagerly waiting for the next origin story!


Praveen Singh

April 22, 2020

Amazing story of determination


Priyavrat

April 22, 2020

Omg ..


Simran Kaur

April 22, 2020

It is so helpful for students.


PULKIT THUKRAL

April 16, 2020

Please, send us some more stories and some avengers diy material as i am bored in this lockdown period……


Tanishqmaheshwari

March 29, 2020

Please tell the story of dominoes game next month


Nishchala

March 27, 2020

Please send more interesting things like this as I am really bored in my home isolation period.


Charmi

March 25, 2020

Excellent ??


Dhruvi Dronawat

March 25, 2020

WOW!!


Anushka dadhich

March 23, 2020

It’s inspiring wow it’s helpful for my information


Trrishan Saha

March 21, 2020

Wow!


Arpan

March 20, 2020

Loved reading the amazing story behind the world’s biggest toy company.


Archisha

March 20, 2020

It was really interesting, I am so excited about another series of the origin story.


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