Anyone else miss Trays, Jewel Trays & Liftable lids?

[richthelegodude]

As a kid, I always great fun doing Lego "window shopping". Walking around toys r us, looking at the "special parts" trays (as I called them back then , now known as jewel trays) to see what new and awesome parts was on offer in the set. Even smaller sets like the 8044 universal pneumatic set (my first technic set! ) had the almighty liftable lid and jewel tray of magic "special parts" goodness.

I really miss the liftable lids / trays / jewel trays and viewable sets. The old boxes was also much stronger, my 8275 bulldozer box collapsed pretty much instantly after putting a light small set on top of it.

I wish lego would bring the old style boxes back...

[BearHeart]

As a kid, I always great fun doing Lego "window shopping". Walking around toys r us, looking at the "special parts" trays (as I called them back then , now known as jewel trays) to see what new and awesome parts was on offer in the set. Even smaller sets like the 8044 universal pneumatic set (my first technic set! ) had the almighty liftable lid and jewel tray of magic "special parts" goodness.

I really miss the liftable lids / trays / jewel trays and viewable sets. The old boxes was also much stronger, my 8275 bulldozer box collapsed pretty much instantly after putting a light small set on top of it.

I wish lego would bring the old style boxes back...

I loved lifting the lids and peeking into these sets as a kid.

However, I think now with the internet, being able to see hi-res pictures of every set before they even hit the shelves kinda kills the need for that.

Although I would like to see LEGO bring those boxes back for pure nostalgic value, I'd rather pass on them if it means it will cause the prices of sets to rise.

[allanp]

Dude you are a man after my own heart!

I too would love a return to the old style boxes, at least for the flagship set of any given theme. I have the 8880, 8480, 8868 among many others in there boxes (opened and very well played with of course). I'll build them, keep em built and play with them for a couple of days and then take them apart before any dust collects on them. They look amazing when built but when they are in their boxes in pieces they look so inviting, I just wanna build them. I just throw the new boxes away. I know the internet may have played a small part in this but I think the main reason is cost cutting. But with how much more appealing the older style packaging looked I wonder if that move to cpeaper, less appealing packaging was maybe not such a good idea. Of course the test would be to release a new set in both style of packaging and see which one makes the most profit.

[CP5670]

Yeah, the old boxes are much cooler than the modern ones. They just screamed "high quality product" whenever I saw them. Unfortunately, they changed the boxes around 2000 to cut costs.

[Walter Kovacs]

Not only did you get to see the cool specialty parts when you lifted the lid. They filled the backside of the lid with lots of alternate builds for the set. Another casualty of the early 2000s.

[Condor]

Not only did you get to see the cool specialty parts when you lifted the lid. They filled the backside of the lid with lots of alternate builds for the set. Another casualty of the early 2000s.

I completely agree with you. I used to love trying to figure out how to build the airport out of the Victory Lap Raceway or a stage out of the International Jetport. Not to mention all the other alternate builds.

Is there a collection of box scans somewhere? I kept the boxes from when I was a kid because of the alternate builds, but it would be great to see what the other sets looked like.

[Brickdoctor]

I have to agree with everything said here. Figuring out alternate builds is/was one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes to 'excercise' my LEGO skills, I'll pull out one of my old boxes and try a small alternate build.

[Henchmen4Hire]

Speaking as a thief, I'd love those window boxes to come back, so easy to swipe parts

Yeah, they were pretty boxes though!

[Brickdoctor]

Speaking as a thief, I'd love those window boxes to come back, so easy to swipe parts

You mean like LUL display windows and Exclusive Minifigures in Visual Dictionaries?

[richthelegodude]

DrNightmare you fiendish lego thief! **hides his lego**

Anyway I really doubt a couple of vacuum formed trays (say a yellow one plus a clear jewel tray) added that much cost in the grand scale of things. It's not precision moulded ABS or anything! There was a a fair bit more carboard in the old boxes mind, so a bit more cost there too.

I agree with Allanp though, these cheap "kellogs" boxes (as I call them, just a big flimsy box with a bag with the stuff in!) really could be a doubled edged sword - they have little or no appeal to me, and I think it pureley is a cost cutting exercise. Considering TLC is now back in a financially healthy position (or so I was lead to believe) surely they could treat the fans to decent boxes again . I am also going to throw some of the new boxes that have collapsed in on themselves away - they are just too weak to be of any use .

I know the internet is partly responsible, but a lot of people (myself included) still prefer going to the shop and having a look before handing over our hard earned cash. Plus seeing as TLC main source of money is kids, surely they should want to make kids choose Lego over what ever else is in the shop.

I think some of the really old boxes was awesome too such as the boxes of the 744 and 733 universal building sets.

[jonwil]

Given the theft and cost reasons for not going back to the boxes with the clear window that let you see inside, I would like to see TLG move back to the style of box that opens a bit like a pizza box with the entire top of the box opening up. Easier to use the box as a place to put the parts when building (or to reuse the boxes to put things in later) and less chance that instructions and stickers will become damages when being put into the boxes.

[Izzy]

I was given an appliance for Christmas and the box had the 'peek' window. It was a very nostalgic moment for me, and I did actually say out loud "This is just like the old LEGO boxes." And just got an eye roll in return. My family knows me too well.

It was such a big thing for me as a kid to go and peek at all the big sets that I would never own.

But on a security matter nowadays, I have noticed in my local stores that the Lego Encyclopedias with the special Figs in them, have all been ransacked and there is those LEGO City Activity Books with a Fig and a few bricks, they have also been broken into. Sad but true.

To answer the question, yes I do miss them. But can understand and agree with why they are no longer in use.

[Enpaz]

Yeah, those lifting lids were super-awesome! That's also why I could understand keeping a set you've got just once only with the boxes that have them! Because you can somehow "feel" the set even if it's sealed. It's not at all like the boxes we've got today. And nothing ever came out of the box crumpled or teared - a thing you can't claim for the newer boxes.

Cheers!

[richthelegodude]

I do not think the security issue is true. If somebody that way inclined wants to pinch lego, with either boxes all they need is a penknife... With the modern sets they will just get a random bag rather than any particular parts / or the whole set though.

Plus why should we let crime dictate the way we live? Catch and punish the blighters that do plunder things in shops and let us live nice lives again .

[lifeinplastic]

The old boxes were great. I miss being able to have a peek inside the big sets! I wish the modular building were done like this. The boxes were strong enough to be used as storage as well as being able to separate parts in the trays. Hope these are brought back and we get more exclusive City sets!

[dr_spock]

I like the old boxes with all the pictures, plastic tray and window. I don't think they will go well today with all the "green" initiatives to reduce landfill waste and excessive packaging.