"Limited Edition" sets

[TeufelHund]

Until fairly recently you could usually spot a limited edition set as they had distinct printing on the side but that seems to have disappeared recently? Any ideas why?

I'm wondering if certain sets are only considered "limited" in some markets. For example last year Anakin's Jedi Interceptor and Pre-Visula's Shuttle were both limited to single retailers here in Australia but when I went to Germany to visit my in-laws they seemed to be at every store I visited.

Edited March 28, 2013 by TeufelHund

[Good Cragger Fan]

I think that there should be no such thing as "limited edition" sets, just like it was the case in the 1980's and 1990's (and before those times)! Therefore, all supposed "limited edition" sets would thus become "regular edtion" sets and thus would and/or can be sold in every store that carries LEGO products in evey market in the entire world, or they would simply be not be produced by LEGO.

[Grimmbeard]

It could be just the market place, depending on whatever deals are allowed and made. Though there are some sets that are identified as limited edition, I remember set 6253 Shipwreck Hideout was.

[PenPlays]

The sets that were once titled "Limited Edition" have always been the store exclusives (in other words, only at Toys R Us and Lego Stores). It wasn't until recently that the label was removed, and that Lego has branched out in (at least the US) Wal-Mart, and Target. Much like their "Limited Edition" counterparts, the "Store Exclusive" sets generally have a 9-month production run (as opposed to a year). This does not include such anomalies as The Zombie Monster Fighter set, and the Sungnyemun Architecture set from yesteryear (3 months and 8 months respectively).

Keep a look out in the respective forums of each theme you wish to purchase their "Store Exclusives" from. You should be able to figure out which stores carry which sets by word-of-mouth.

[legotrainfan]

Hi everyone!

I have been asking myself why there are limited release sets. As a child I bought King's Catapult 1917 and Train Cars 2126 with money I had saved. However, finding out about those sets was always a coincidence. The sets I bought were not listed in the LEGO catalogue. I just coincidentally saw them in shops and I simply thought that I had to have them.

What's actually the idea behind such sets? The copies that were produced were limited in number and that way I - and I assume many others - missed a lot of great sets. In the past I knew nothing about the existence of Train Station 2150, for instance. When Metro Station 4554was discontinued, I thought, "Now it's not available any more!" I didn't know that an identical version in red was released after its discontinuation. But I have recently bought the red one.

But why not releasing such great sets in larger quantities? Why does TLC produce limited edition sets? I am just a bit frustrated because I missed some brilliant limited releases.

Reason for edit: typo/word order

Edited April 10, 2013 by legotrainfan

[LEGO Historian]

Hi legotrainfan... you ask some very good questions... and I did some checking... but I've not found a lot of answers...

The 1917 King's Catapult was part of a 3 pack special (3 packs in 1). The other sets are more mysterious. Sometimes TLG does release sets midyear... and they're not in catalogs. But must of what you've identified are 1xxx and 2xxx sets... and those number ranges are for special release sets. For some sets, a special is a particular retailer (such as a Target exclusive), others are for a particular product (the 1592 UK Weetabix Town Square... and the 1592 Dutch Unox Soup Town Square).

But it's those that have no relationship to any exclusive.... those special sets that are hard to place.

Sometimes it's just a way for TLG to get rid of specific parts... other times it's just a last minute whim. I wish I could answer more on this topic... but if TLG doesn't tell us (which they usually don't)... and if we can't find the specific reason... then it's just a "special set" for no reason that we can figure out.

Sorry I can't get more specific.....

[Carrera124]

What's actually the idea behind such sets?

I have the same question, especially regarding sets from the 1980s.

E.g. set 1572. It is US-only, but this does not necessary explain why it doesn't have a normal numer like 66xx, which were standard at that time.

[LEGO Historian]

I have the same question, especially regarding sets from the 1980s.

E.g. set 1572. It is US-only, but this does not necessary explain why it doesn't have a normal numer like 66xx, which were standard at that time.

Carrera124.... the 1xxx set numbers were not used for Town or Space or Castle... but that number range was used for "Special" sets of all LEGO System types. For example... here is a list of the "Special" Space system sets produced by TLG, what (if any) multipacks they came it, and where sold. Since this info is a table, it likely won't line up very well but be left justified...

#1478 M-Tron Mobile Satellite Up-Link (in #1476) 1991 USA

#1498 Spy Bot Set (in #1510) 1987 USA

#1499 Twin Starfire Set (in #1510) 1987 USA

#1507 2 Set Value Pack (#1557, #1558) 1986 ALL but AS

#1510 2 Set Value Pack (#1498, #1499) 1987 USA

#1530 2 Set Value Pack (#6808, #6848) 1988 USA

#1557 Space Scooter Set (in #1507) 1986 ALL but AS

#1558 Mobile Command Trailer (in #1507) 1986 ALL but AS

#1580 Lunar Scout Set 1986 USA

#1593 Delta Spacecraft Set (Persil) 1983 EU/UK

#1616 Futuron 2 Set Value Pack (#1620, #1621) 1989 ALL

#1620 Futuron Astro Dart Set (in #1616) 1989 USA

#1621 Futuron Lunar MPV Vehicle Set (in #1616) 1989 USA

#1675 3 Set Pack (Only 1875 is Space) 1990 USA

#1682 Space Shuttle Set 1990 USA

#1875 Blacktron Meteor Monitor Set (in #1675) 1990 USA

#1968 Space Express Set (Can/Ger) 1985 EU/CAN

#1969 3 Set Pack (#6825, #6847, #6848) 1985 USA

#1974* Futuron Star Quest Set (in #1974 3 Pack) 1989 USA

#1977 3 Set Pack (#6801, #6822, #6823) 1983 USA/CAN

#1983 3 Set Pack (#886, #889, #6824) 1984 USA/CAN

#1999 3 Set Pack (#6807, #6822, #6823) 1985 ALL

This info is from a table in my LEGO DVD/download... Chapter 30 - LEGO Classic Space (1980-90).

Gary Istok

Edited April 10, 2013 by LEGO Historian

[Carrera124]

Carrera124.... the 1xxx set numbers were not used for Town or Space or Castle... but that number range was used for "Special" sets of all LEGO System types.

Of course, I know that. And I also know the list, thanks to Brickset & Co.

But the question is: why were these sets "special", while other sets (e.g. 6390 and 6375-2, both US-only, too) were not ?

Some (few) sets show that they are special, e.g. the 1589 breakdown assistance, or the 1854 velux house, or the milk trucks.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Carrera124

[LEGO Historian]

Of course, I know that. And I also know the list, thanks to Brickset & Co.

But the question is: why were these sets "special", while other sets (e.g. 6390 and 6375-2, both US-only, too) were not ?

Some (few) sets show that they are special, e.g. the 1589 breakdown assistance, or the 1854 velux house, or the milk trucks.

As I mentioned on my first post on this thread... if it's a "known" exclusive, such as the Weetabix, Danone, Air Canada, Tine Milk, Crest, Pepsi or any other company, then we know the reason... otherwise I don't think even TLG knows why. When the folks who created the Fantasia book collectors guide (English/German)... they asked TLG Archives where these special sets originated. And they were not given an answer either. So it's just one of those mysteries that we'll never get an answer to.

Also... of the 22 Space System sets I have in my list... only 6 are listed in the Brickset "Special" category.

Edited April 10, 2013 by LEGO Historian

[Carrera124]

Mysterious... I wondered whether time might be an indicator... early sets within 6xxx range, later sets (from 1985 or so) within 1xxxx range.

But 6387 proves this wrong... it is also an US-only set, and is located within the 63xx range.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Hi everyone!

I have been asking myself why there are limited release sets. As a child I bought King's Catapult 1917 and Train Cars 2126 with money I had saved. However, finding out about those sets was always a coincidence. The sets I bought were not listed in the LEGO catalogue. I just coincidentally saw them in shops and I simply thought that I had to have them.

In the past I knew nothing about the existence of Train Station 2150, for instance. When Metro Station 4554was discontinued... I didn't know that an identical version in red was released after its discontinuation. But I have recently bought the red one.

But why not releasing such great sets in larger quantities? Why does TLC produce limited edition sets? I am just a bit frustrated because I missed some brilliant limited releases.

That is strange.. I had seen, 2126 Train Cars many times as a kid in the LEGO catalogs in the mid-late 90's. I am in the U.S. which may be a contributing factor. I was the complete opposite on the 2150 Train/4554 Metro Stations though. I never knew of 4554, but that was a year or so before I got my first set and a few years before I started collecting and getting catalogs . Off topic, the yellow one was listed @ 600pcs for $72 USD, the red @ 599pcs for $73... go figure. I'm probably stating the obvious, but when it comes to "limited availability" seems, to me, like it's available though TLG only, or available only to country(s) X, a particular retailer, etc. I'm not exactly sure how they handled limited/exclusive set distribution that far back. Let alone availability for other countries. Set numbers, on the other hand, completely elude me... Some crazy algorithm I suppose

[LEGO Historian]

Mysterious... I wondered whether time might be an indicator... early sets within 6xxx range, later sets (from 1985 or so) within 1xxxx range.

But 6387 proves this wrong... it is also an US-only set, and is located within the 63xx range.

Yes it does... TLG always had exceptions to just about any rule you try to use to make sense of LEGO set numbers... they try to drive us mad.... and have succeeded!

[paul_delahaye]

Yes it does... TLG always had exceptions to just about any rule you try to use to make sense of LEGO set numbers... they try to drive us mad.... and have succeeded!

This problem is not just a Lego issue. In my company we have a very similar issue which drives me mad, we have a part numbering system which allows you to classify the product by corporate brand, size, left/right and colour, the system was great when it was first introduced 15+ years ago, but over time new product managers and product data management employees have joined the company who do not understand the original logic of the system, subsequently new part numbers being created do not follow the originally intended part number scheme, I could easily see the same being the case with Lego.

I personally consider a real "Limited" edition set to be one like given away on the Lego inside tour, where the sets are literally hand numbered. Or one given to a Lego employee for Christmas. It might be right to say some of the Corporate branded sets from the 80's are also limited, but maybe just in a different way.

The sets with Limited edition printed on the packaging in my eyes are more "Exclusive" sets to a particular retail store, appears to be a marketing ploy required by the store who has the agreement with Lego, The former company Woolworths in the UK always used to have Lego exclusive sets, now TRU seems to have that arrangement with Lego in the UK.

Paul

Edited April 14, 2013 by paul_delahaye

[Carrera124]

... the system was great when it was first introduced 15+ years ago, but over time new product managers and product data management employees have joined the company who do not understand the original logic of the system, subsequently new part numbers being created do not follow the originally intended part number scheme, I could easily see the same being the case with Lego.

Maybe, but the Lego numbering system was very simple during the 1980s. Even a 10-year old is able to understand it after reading one or two catalogs. It is hard to understand that a "new" product manager should not be able to understand such a simple system.

Or, if a new employee makes a mistake, if there is experienced staff that can correct that issue.

[Aanchir]

Maybe, but the Lego numbering system was very simple during the 1980s. Even a 10-year old is able to understand it after reading one or two catalogs. It is hard to understand that a "new" product manager should not be able to understand such a simple system.

Or, if a new employee makes a mistake, if there is experienced staff that can correct that issue.

Even during the 90s and 2000s a lot of set numbers followed a pretty consistent logic. For instance, most regularly-distributed constraction sets (Throwbots, Roboriders, BIONICLE, Ben 10, Knights' Kingdom II, etc.) were clustered in the 8500-9000 range, which is understandable since this section had previously been mostly occupied by Technic sets, and the themes of the constraction category started out as mere Technic spin-offs.

One thing that I think changed that caused the numbering system to be a little less strict in its rules is that at some point, more of an emphasis was placed on having the set numbers for a particular year's sets be consecutive whenever possible. In the 80s, from what I've seen, set numbers within a certain theme's block were largely distributed based on price point, not year of release, so big Ninja sets would be consecutive with big Royal Knights and Dragon Masters sets. Eventually this meant that if a big enough block of consecutive set numbers was not available, certain sets would be numbered differently than their predecessors, and might even have to be squeezed into a block that was otherwise reserved for a different theme category.

In the past five or so years, there seems to have been less attention put towards making the set numbers follow logical rules and more attention put towards filling in the gaps. This would be a part of why there are more and more exceptions to the numbering rules as the years go on. There are probably even earlier examples of places where the rules were broken because they were obsolete-- for instance, having a certain block of numbers devoted to Fabuland sets makes little sense once Fabuland is discontinued.

And this year, set numbering has been radically revamped, so hopefully numbering rules will be followed more consistently now.

[LEGO Historian]

Prior to 1980 most LEGO sets were 3 digits, but not always. And with 3 digits that meant far fewer set numbers available. So many of the new to 1971 set numbers were reused in the late 1970s a second time. This was also the case in the 1960s. When you search one of the online databases for 3 digit set numbers... sometimes there are 2 or 3 different sets (of different years) with the same set number.

By far the most common set number for LEGO was the number 700. From1949-55 ALL sets had a 700 prefix, followed by a second identifier... such as 700/1 or 700A... or for individual parts sales... 700 3/4 identified a 2x3 brick... since it was 3/4 of a 2x4 brick! There are about 200 LEGO items with the 700 prefix... which was used for sets from 1949-65... and the 700E (10x20 thick) baseplate was used for years beyond that.

Here's a Danish December 1954 LEGO Retailer Catalog (image from my LEGO DVD/download)... showing everythng as 700x....

Gary Istok

Edited April 15, 2013 by LEGO Historian

[Alcarin]

nice info there :)