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Ole Christiansen founds his toy factory
Ole Kirk Christiansen was a Danish carpenter and furniture maker. He realized that during the world war, people would not spend money on furniture but would always buy toys for their children, so he began making wooden toys. parents.lego.com -
Company is named "Lego"
Lego is a conjunction of two Danish words, "leg" meaning "play" and "god" meaning "well" parents.lego.com -
Fire burns the LEGO factory to the ground
Ole Christiansen had to rebuild his factory. http://www.lugnet.com/pause/chronology.html -
First injection moulding machine was used to create "LEGO Blocks"
This was the first injection moulding machine in Denmark. parents.lego.com -
The concept of "Automatic Binding Bricks" is created
Automatic Binding Bricks were the base concept of LEGO bricks as we now know them. http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/ -
first Lego Block was created
The first lego brick as we know it was created in 1958, with tubes allowing the bricks to interlock. http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/ -
Wooden toy warehouse destroyed by fire
After the toy warehouse burned down for a second time, the company decided to stop production of wooden toys and focus on the LEGO brick. http://aboutus.lego.com/en/lego-group/the_lego_history/1960/ -
Began using Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
This plastic is:
-extremely hard
-scratch, bite, and saliva-resistant surface
-ideal for keeping the bricks connected http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/1990/
parents.lego.com -
The battery-driven LEGO Train
The first battery- operated LEGO train is introduced. http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/ -
Light Brick
The first brick that can light up is created. http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/1990/ -
First LEGOLAND opens in Billund
This amusement park is built around legos, with rides and impressive lego displays. On opening day it attracted 3000 visitors, and 625,000 in its first season. -
LEGO Technic sets are introduced
The LEGO Technic sets are the predecessor to MINDSTORMS. They aren't yet programmable, but can move. Pieces in these sets are harder to assemble/disassmble becasue they're more rigid when put together, but they have more moving functions, such as axles for wheels. http://www.animationandrobotics.com/?p=324 -
First LEGO World Cup held in Billund
This shows that LEGO has become a teambuilding and competitive exercise. http://aboutus.lego.com/en/lego-group/the_lego_history/1980/ -
LEGO Mindstorms is created
LEGO Mindstorm kits contain materials to make small, programmable robots with sensors. http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/1990/ -
Harry Potter themed LEGO sets
The LEGO Group signs a partnership deal with Warner Bros. allowing them to launch a series of LEGO Products based on JK Rowling's universe of Harry Potter. http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history/2000/ -
LEGO Ferrari car is introduced
The LEGO Ferrari joined the LEGO Racers set as the first car to be based on a real model. http://aboutus.lego.com/en/lego-group/the_lego_history/2000/ -
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is launched
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is a more advanced version of MINDSTORMS.