LEGO Historian

Here's a closeup of the first 24 colors that LEGO made bricks in. Surprisingly these bricks were made during the 1949-56 era, when they were making "slotted" bricks. This is from LEGO DVD Chapter 48 - LEGO Bricks. Note all the interesting colors... several of which have yet to be re-introduced 50 years later!!

Here's one of the best examples of why everyone should own my LEGO DVD (especially download)... it's 2,800 pages... because it explains very complex issue such as this 700/3 basic set of 1960-65. There's 8 more earlier versions of this set, some in different languages, from 1949-60..... This is the bottom of the 700/3 box (the instructions were there on 1960s sets).... it depended on which version each European country wanted to sell that year... And this shows the 2 box top variations, as well as a Danish magazine ad for the contents... See here for more specific (and complex) details on all the variations of this one simple 700/3 set... http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream Now you know why the DVD or download becomes so handy to have..... ;-) http://legocollectorsguide.weebly.com/

Dave, I think he was referring to the "Principles of Play"... rather than the "System of Play"... The encounter with the Magasin du Nord executive in 1954 is what got Godtfred Kirk Christiansen to think about creating a toy based on those 10 principles to create a system..... 1 LEGO — unlimited play potential 2 LEGO — for girls, for boys 3 LEGO — fun for every age 4 LEGO — year round play 5 LEGO — healthy and quiet play 6 LEGO — long hours of play 7 LEGO — development, imagination, creativity 8 LEGO — the more LEGO, the greater its value 9 LEGO — extra sets available 10 LEGO — quality in every detail So although the idea started formulating in 1954... it was not until 1955 that it took hold in the first LEGO System... the Town Plan.

Wolfwing... it took me a while to figure it out too... but if you maximize your image in FLICKR.... put your cursor on that maximized image, and then RIGHT click it... the 3rd drop down menu item down says "OPEN IN A NEW TAB"... You LEFT click that. That will open up a new tab (a deep link as they call it). Then you go to that page... at the top... and highlight the link line, and then RIGHT click again... selecting "COPY" from the drop down menu list. Then you come back to this screen... LEFT click on the symbol for a framed image of a picture (2 avatars to the right from the smiley face at the top of your post here. This will give you a small box with "//http:". Put your cursor within that white area with the "http"... then RIGHT click and select "PASTE" from the drop down bar.... and you should get this below... your image.

Thanks Mariko!! My UNOFFICIAL LEGO SETS/PARTS COLLECTORS GUIDE (1949-90s) has several chapters that have large parts devoted to USA/Canada Samsonite LEGO set. There is even a chapter on USA/Canada Department Store Exclusive Catalog Sales sets (sold nowhere else in the world). TLG Billund didn't keep tight reins on early LEGO production in some other countries (USA/Canada/Norway/Sweden)... so there are a LOT of sets that are not in the Vault in Billund Denmark, as well as a lot of sets that they have no records of in the LEGO Archives. I had a lot of fun dealing with the LEGO Archives folks in putting my Encyclopedic (at 2,800 pages... it is indeed encyclopedic) volume. There are some really cool parts that were made for USA Samsonite only, that were not found elsewhere in the world... such as 4x8 waffle bottom plates in black or gray, or 2x8 and 2x10 bricks in trans clear (only ever produced in a USA (only) #045 parts pack).... 2x8 and 2x10 trans clear bricks are unknown elsewhere. Another rare early LEGO item were those 4x4 corner bricks (12 studs).... they were only sold in red, white, blue and yellow... except USA/Canada, where they were also sold in black (unknown elsewhere). There is a special chapter in the LEGO DVD that lists country specific LEGO parts. Such as for the USA only subchapter, it lists the 2x8 and 2x10 trans clear bricks... and the 50x50 green/gray roadplates (#078, as listed in the BL database). Another USA only item was the 40x40 baseplate... only sold in the #112 pack that is shown in your "fragmented" catalog. My favorite parts in that chapter were for Norway... where a set of green classic windows/doors (1954-56) were produced... and would fetch 100 Euros each. Anyway... here's the link to ordering my DVD... either as a DVD... or a download (for folks who choose the DVD and ask nicely.... I send them the download (immediately) as well... and that way the can see right away what is in the guide. Also, nice thing about getting the download... no wait, no customs, no shipping charges... and... if you get a new computer or (Lord forbid) a virus that requires wiping their computer clean.... I'll send a new (free) download copy. Here's how to order directly.... (pointing to a Europbricks site prevents me from any violations of forum etiquette)! Also check out some of the other cool stuff (mostly never before seen by AFOLS).... http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=72926 Cheers, Gary Istok

Yes.... someone bought the only Town Plan with a Sealand Service Station (with very rare white garage door), and the only known Philips Electronics Store (with Minitalia windows). But the Victorian Hotel will now be known as the "HOTEL MERCER".... A very pleased grandmother bought this so that her 2 grandchildren will have the opportunity to play with a town that is a throwback to the 1960s... "when times were simpler then"....

Tommy is a great guy... but very busy (I can relate). He likely gets a zillion EMAILs (as do I)... and sometimes some slip thru the cracks. I do know there were some issues with his machine, and also he was getting some buzz from some legal folks. It's enough to turn you off to the idea... He made me a set of 20 REGINA MAERSK 1x10 white embossed bricks (see image below) for he semi-MOCs I was selling 2-3 years ago of the first LEGO Maersk ship of 1959-60. He was careful in not using the official Maersk font (which I had asked for). He does high quality work, just not as much as he used to. I think sometimes the effort is just not worth it for him... and then there's life outside of LEGO. Just sayin'..... Gary Istok

I've got a new webpage source for selling my 2,800 page LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide on DVD or download.... http://legocollectorsguide.weebly.com/ Although it will link you directly to Paypal... you don't even need an account there to buy my Encyclopedic Collectors Guide. But you will have all the protection that Paypal provides! And here is less that 1/10 of 1% of what is in my all encompassing collectors guide.... http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69200 Also... from now on... future updates will be available to those who have purchased this particular DVD or download.... I've already found the first unknown set.... it's a #492 set (which is listed in most LEGO online databases as a 1966-68 continental European 8 piece flag set. Well at some point in 1969 TLG decided to eliminate the wavy LEGO flags (although they were produced in Britain, Ireland and Australia until 1972 in flags parts packs #442A and #442B. But in continental Europe... the #492 and #493 parts packs (7 different wavy country flags and a LEGO flag in each pack) were discontinued by 1969.... or so we thought... It seems that somewhere in continental Europe (and we don't yet know where??) they combined both flag packs into a single #492 pack... that contained 15 flags (no need to double up on the LEGO flag)... Here's the back of the box (the back of the box shows the LEGO flags inside).... Here's the back of the 1966-68 (EU) #492 and #493 flags packs... And.... here's the box top and back of box of the mysterious (starting in 1969) #492 box with 15 flags..... This newer #492 box is in the box style of the 1969-72 EU spare parts pack boxes (which have a different design as the earlier 1966-68 boxes. But which country this 15 flag parts pack was sold in starting in 1969 is a big mystery. TLG used this set to get rid of their leftover wavy flags... since starting in 1973.... all flags were going to be straight flags with flag stickers (found in the 939 and 949 parts packs. Just the first of what will likely be future updates for the LEGO Guide... but future updates will be provided for free... to keep folks current on rare stuff about LEGO. Enjoy! Gary Istok

That picture of the rose window is from the North Rose of Chartres Cathedral 35 miles SW of Paris in France. It was donated to the cathedral by Blanche of Castile, husband of the late French King Louis VIII who died (1223) while his son (St. Louis IX) became king at an early age. So his mother Blanche was Regent of France for at least 10 years until St. Louis IX was old enough for becoming king. The window dates to that era... circa 1230. Here's where I use the picture.... http://legocollectorsguide.weebly.com/

Thanks AussieJimbo.... Mariko.... even though there are pieces in your lot that may appear to be earlier.... that may not actually be the case. USA Samsonite retooled many old LEGO molds, and kept reusing them. For example... waffle bottom bricks were retired in Europe in 1963... but can be found in USA Samsonite sets as late as 1972 (as in your case). Also 1x6 and 1x8 beams have tube bottom in Europe starting in 1964... but the hollow partition bottom 1x6 and 1x8 bricks can also be found in USA Samsonite sets as late as 1972. I do believe that TLG Denmark sold USA Samsonite many of their old molds that they would otherwise have retired. Samsonite retooled many of them... so you will find some bricks with more than 1 font on the same brick.... and not even going in the same direction! My 2,800 page Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide (1949-1990s) on DVD or download goes into all sort of anomalies that can be found with Samsonite sets. Such as the late date for Waffle Bottom plates. One of the strangest things I've seen is sloped bricks in Samsonite sets with 1950s LEGO font. You will find a great deal of different fonts on your LEGO part assortment. I just call it "LEGO Mayhem". Also some LEGO plates have a "non-italics" LEGO font. I always tell folks that a normal Samsonite set has at lesat 2-3 fonts on the assortment of parts....

OK... I've been very busy trying to get my house back from foreclosure (lawyers are not cheap)... and in doing so I got my BL store closed down because I owe them some serious commission fees (and not for other reasons)... Anyway... I'm trying to raise some cash for both (BL and lawyer)... and put some very hard to find items on Ebay. One item is a custom made Town Plan that I made long ago (but just this week modified, since some buildings didn't have curb appeal in the photos...) Here's 2 images..... There are images of all 10 buildings in the Town Plan scene.... Also selling some rare parts (such as a mint 2x10 trans-clear brick and other rare mint parts. Need to raise some bucks! There are over 200 windows in that Town Plan set! Including lots of rare parts..... Under my EBAY "Istokg" ID.... I've got lots of mint items not too often found... at great prices!! The only thing this is NOT real LEGO are the 2 VWs.... they're WIKING (a German HO scale model)... real LEGO ones in mint would cost over $100 each. But the other trucks are real LEGO... LOL.... when I was building that Victorian style hote with clock tower... I was watching Seinfeld... so that's where I got "HOTEL NEWMAN".... Also, the 608 KIOSK set is a real set that fit perfectly here... so it's included (mint parts + instructions). ... and many of the parts (flag, trees, road signs, printed bricks) go back at least 50 years....

That old stuff is what I first grew up with.... got my first Samsonite LEGO set in 1961, when the first licensed set came to the USA. As it turns out a 3rd generation Shwayder Brothers member was on a ferry (this scenarios happens all the time to the Christiansen LEGO family).... and he met Godtfred Kirk Christiansen.... who starting in 1958 was the Managing Director of LEGO. He wanted to expand to the USA and Canada, but a small Danish company with only about 200 employees was too much for the USA/Canada market (ditto for Britain/Ireland/Australia). So Mr. Shwayder was the grandson of one of the 4 Shwayder brothers who founded a luggage company in Colorado in 1910 (which later became Samsonite). The first LEGO sets sold in the USA came out in late 1961, produced from a Samsonite plant in Stratford Ontario (although specialty parts were still produced in Denmark). By 1962 the Samsonite plant was also producing LEGO for Canada. In 1965 a USA plant started producing LEGO from Loveland Colorado (a suburb of Denver). Samsonite had their own LEGO font on the studs... it was smaller and fatter with the "O" more open. For some reason red and yellow LEGO produced for USA Samsonite often was still made of Cellulose Acetate (which warped), while the rest of the world was making LEGO (starting in 1963) out of ABS plastic, a more stable plastic. You can always tell Cellulose Acetate red an yellow... the red was more red-orange, and the yellow a "Chiffon Yellow". That connector part was universally introduced in the 400 and 401 wheel sets of 1962-63. It was the first LEGO part made of Nylon, and was a milky white translucent color. Yes USA Samsonite LEGO really took a beating, compared to European LEGO. My guess is that American kids always played with it on the cement front porch or driveway, thus scratching it much more. TLG was not happy with the underperformance of Samsonite sales in the USA, and in 1970 started litigation to revoke the license. That catalog that you have is the 1971-72 Samsonite LEGO catalog... the last one before TLG took over LEGO sales in the USA, and moved production to Connecticut. Samsonite of Canada toe-ed the TLG corporate line much better than Samsonite USA, and they were able to keep the license until 1985, when TLG bought it back. But what is kind of silly is that when it comes to celebrating first LEGO sales for USA.... TLG uses the 1973 date, while in Canada they use the 1962 date. __________________________ Also... that 1971-72 Samsonite LEGO catalog you have (that are in pieces) ... it has some very strange things in it.... For example the 112 baseplates are 40x40 baseplates... a size not found elsewhere. Also the 110 Vehicle Accessory Pack has never ever been found. Neither has the 111 Home Accessories Pack.... My guess is that Samsonite never made these 110/111 packs, but just sold the regular toy stores the same 166 Wheel Accessories Pack and 167 Home Accessories Pack intended only for Sears (as sales catalog exclusives). And since they were going to lose the LEGO license anyway... they didn't care what the catalogs said!

I just sold some of my WIKING HO Scale Cars and Trucks on EBAY. WIKING (pronounced Vee-King) is a German toy maker that produces HO 1:87 scale products for model railroad folks. I've had about 50 WIKING cars and trucks that I bought in Germany in the 1980s, but always kept the packed away and never used. The price on these has not appreciated anywhere near as much as have the LEGO 1:87 cars and trucks, but the quality and look (especially of the VW Beetles) is almost the same. So I kept the 4 VW Beetles, and sold the rest of the cars and trucks. For the Wiking VW Beetles, I built 2 1958-62 Town Plan set models (307 VW Showroom and 306 VW Service) that have absolutely gone thru the roof in value on the secondary market. Each of these 1958-62 Town Plan sets can sell (with box) from $500-$1000+. And without the box, the 2 LEGO VW Beetles in mint condition in these 2 sets have been selling on the secondary market for at least $150 each. The 306 and 307 real sets each has 2 VW Beetles. These 2 sets make a nice addition to any of the 1960s Town Plan boards.... Saving hundreds of dollars, you can own the 307 for $32 and the 306 for $28. All parts are real LEGO except for the VW Beetles, which are Wiking. Check it out.... a pair of very nice sets (box top image is included, although the boxes are not... 307: http://www.ebay.com/...9#ht_1418wt_934 306: http://www.ebay.com/...9#ht_1130wt_934 These sets are so rare, that there's no 307 on Bricklink... and only 1 306... http://www.bricklink...?lotID=20405332 Note: there are 1958-59 and 1960-62 box types. Anyway... these 2 sets are very highly sought after by old time LEGO collectors, and here's a chance to get one or both at a very low price because of the VWs used (and no box).

Sigh... about 10 years ago I remember seeing a horrific sight.... a huge trash heap of "spent" LEGOLAND LEGO models that had either faded or weathered after many years, and were replaced by more modern models. It was a heartbreaking sight to see all those models getting ready for the garbage truck to turn them to ABS mulch. What is interesting about the old LEGOLAND Miiniland models compared to those of today, is that the old ones used classic windows, which were retired in 1986... and when those models were trashed... the replacement buildings were built differently... picturing new LEGOLAND models with a sea of the back of headlight bricks.... :-(

If you don't have a Bricklink account, or don't want to deal with Bricklink... the LEGO DVD or download is now available online.... don't have to be a Bricklink or Paypal member, and can pay with credit cards if you wish (although all transactions go thru Paypal)... although people without a Paypal account can still buy... Still have 5 LEAR JET freebies for the first 5 orders..... http://legocollectorsguide.weebly.com/

The problem with selling Homemaker items on Bricklink is that they have them broken down by individual sub-parts... such as with the oven.... you cannot buy a Homemaker oven as an item on Bricklink... but you can buy the outer range... the oven door, the baking rack, the oven dials, the 4 decorated tiles as stove top burners, and 3 plain white bricks. That sort of makes it difficult to sell a simple oven!

I agree completely... but often it involves more than 1 financial institution. When it's the same institution (Ebay AND Paypal)... then it becomes more transparent (and annoying)...

Still offering discount DOWNLOADS of the LEGO DVD (download of 688 MB takes only 6-10 minutes to get to your computer desktop)... http://cgi.ebay.com/...#ht_11144wt_934 Plus... if you would like a LEGO USA/Canada only LEGO Classic... the 1975-77 #455 Lear Jet (never sold outside of North America)... I'm offering 5 of them to Eurobrick folks (no box, no instructions) but with unused stickers and all the original parts in mint condition... for only $5... in addition to the LEGO DVD download order... With shipping, the price for the LEAR JET would total....$7 for USA, $7.50 Canada, $8.00 Elsewhere.... billed as a shipping cost... (so you just buy the discount DVD as download... and add either $7, $7.50 or $8) to get the "original new parts #455 LEAR JET)... although I may have to possibly invoice the shipping. Here's their selling prices on Bricklink.... http://www.bricklink...asp?itemID=7260 These Lear Jets averaging $14 (for used parts only) up to $60 (for MISB). Get all the new parts for $5, and add your own stickers.... 7 of the 46 parts have been discontinued for some time... (5 of them aren't even available in NEW on Bricklink!). NEVER SOLD IN EUROPE, BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA!

I wanted to sell it faster than 3 days... which is why... other wise I would have.... I may be putting some other stuff out there come to think of it... I've been selling there for a few years.... but mostly non-LEGO stuff. But this item just sold... Thanks!

I know many folks have had horror stories about Paypal... new customers who's funds are held... Paypal's propensity to always side with the buyer... investigations for no known reasons, etc. But I ran into a situation today that was kind of annoying... and showed just how shifty they can sometimes be. As most of you know Paypal is owned by Ebay... no biggie... and EBAY will take your funds from your Paypal account in order to pay their monthly Ebay user rates. And when they do so... they send you a rather vague EMAIL saying that EBAY will be removing your money by the xxth of the month. Again... not a big deal, it's fair warning. But here's what happened to me.... and let it be fair warning for those of you (like me) who sell but do not buy (and therefore do not keep a positive balance in Paypal)... I got got a message from EBAY saying that they were going to take $23 from me by July 20th. OK that's fair warning.... I had a few sales this week, and started the process of moving all my money out of Paypal and into my Bank Account yesterday (Tues). They say it may take up to 4 business days to transfer... but my bank always makes my money available (after Paypal holds it for 24 hours after your transfer request)... about 24 hours after Paypal is done with their 24 hour hold. So earlier this week I got my $23 notice of withdrawl for the EBAY fees.... and yesterday (Tuesday) I moved money from my Paypal account into my bank account which will be there on Thursday. Well today I got a notice from my bank (they have a 24 grace period for overdrafts)... that I was "short" in my checking account. That's odd I though... what could that possibly be? Well I got to the bank... and the overdraft was the $23 that Paypal took out for EBAY. WTF I thought?? Paypal sends EBAY payment requests over to my bank at lightning speed (thus the temporary overdraft)... while I have to wait 2 days for them to send my Paypal funds. So my Paypal removed money is caught in the 2 day limbo (longer for other folks)... while the EBAY fee payment request goes thru with lighning speed. All I can say... this really does add Paypal to my list of bottom feeders in the business world food chain (with BOA, Chase, CITI, et al...).

Since any rides from the original LEGOLAND would now be over 35 years old, I doubt that anything has survived that long in the climate of the north German Baltic coast. Here's a link to the park... http://www.hansapark.de/de/

Well it looks like the name is indeed Kirstine.... #9) Largest baseplate... the Dacta #1005 48x96 stud (40x80cm) gray baseplate... it was intented as a wall board for the Dacta numbers and letters set... but is twice the size of the normal 48x48 gray plate. #10) Second LEGOLAND park? LEGOLAND Sierksdorf (1973-76)... located in the far north of Germany near the Danish border on the Baltic Sea. Not 100% sure of the reason for its' closure after 3 years (it's now known as HANSA LAND), but I bet the fact that you almost have to drive by this park to get to LEGOLAND Billund another 100 miles north of here... was affecting attendance figures at LEGOLAND Billund. But I know that is not the official reason given for its' closure...

Just dropped the price to $59....

Very nice Asper!!!! So many people don't bother with the old (1956-86) classic windows and doors... but you used them beautifully. And they are so reasonable to purchase on the secondary market!! It's nice when all the windows match!! I like how you put the 1x6x2 3 pane window on the 2nd floor (along with a brilliant use of 3 classic LEGO doors with the flower box in front)... and on the first floor you took the 1x6x2 3 pane window style and stretched it by using a 1x4x2 and a pair of 1x2x2 windows... and then doubled up on them... very creative use of the old parts!

Just came across a group of 1970s LEGO Homemaker furniture parts I had packed away for 30 years.... $70.00 for the pictured lot below... plus some extra parts not shown.... Check out how rare new Homemaker furniture parts are to find, and how costly! http://www.bricklink...=P&catString=85 http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=istokg