The LEGO® Story

Summary

The script narrates the inspiring story of LEGO's origins, from the struggles of carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen to the innovative toy brand we know today. It details the hardships, creative solutions, and the unwavering commitment to quality that shaped LEGO's success. The narrative highlights the company's evolution from wooden toys to the iconic LEGO system, emphasizing the importance of imagination and creativity in children's play.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a skilled carpenter, founded the LEGO company during a time of personal and financial hardship.
• 🏗️ The initial LEGO product was wooden toys, which Ole started making after losing his carpentry business.
• 👦 Ole's idea to make toys was inspired by his sons' joy with his small invention, leading him to believe there was a market for such products.
• 📈 The business began to grow after a wholesaler placed a large order for the high-quality wooden toys produced by Ole and his son Gottfried.
• 💸 A significant setback occurred when the wholesaler filed for bankruptcy, leaving Ole with a large stock of unsold toys.
• 🚗 Ole personally took on the task of selling the toys, which he managed to do successfully despite not being a natural salesman.
• 🔄 The company's name 'LEGO' was chosen for its meaning in Latin, 'I put together', which aligns with the building nature of their toys.
• 🔥 A devastating fire in 1942 destroyed the LEGO workshop, but Ole was determined to rebuild and continue the business.
• 🛠️ The introduction of a plastic molding machine allowed LEGO to expand its product line beyond wooden toys, eventually leading to the creation of the iconic LEGO bricks.
• 🧩 The development of the LEGO system of play, which enabled children to build houses and learn about traffic safety, was a breakthrough for the company.
• 🌐 Gottfried's idea to put LEGO into a system and focus on the construction aspect of the toys led to international success and the expansion of the LEGO universe.

Q & A

Who was the founder of the LEGO company?

The founder of the LEGO company was a skilled carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen.

What was the initial business of Ole Kirk Christiansen before he started making toys?

Ole Kirk Christiansen initially had his own carpentry company, but due to hard times, he had to dismiss his last worker and close down the workshop.

What event led Ole Kirk Christiansen to consider making toys?

Ole Kirk Christiansen got the idea to make toys after he created a little invention that made his sons very happy.

What was the first significant order for Ole's wooden toys?

The first significant order for Ole's wooden toys came from a wholesaler from Fredericia who was impressed with the quality of the toys.

What unfortunate event occurred after Ole received a large order from a wholesaler?

After receiving a large order, Ole found out that the wholesaler had filed for bankruptcy and couldn't buy the toys that had been ordered.

What did Ole Kirk Christiansen decide to do with the toys that couldn't be sold due to the wholesaler's bankruptcy?

Ole decided to drive around and sell the toys himself, despite not being a very good salesman.

What is the meaning of the name 'LEGO' in Latin?

In Latin, the word 'LEGO' means 'I put together'.

What was the breakthrough product that led to the success of LEGO's plastic toys?

The breakthrough product was the gray Ferguson tractor, which marked the success of LEGO's plastic toys.

What was Gottfried's idea to improve the clutch power of LEGO bricks?

Gottfried noticed that LEGO bricks had a better clutch power when they had tubes inside, leading to a whole construction system with endless possibilities.

What was the concept behind the 'LEGO System of Play'?

The 'LEGO System of Play' was designed to give children a realistic town setting to build houses from LEGO bricks, stimulating their imagination and creativity.

What significant infrastructure did Gottfried build to facilitate the global sale of LEGO toys?

Gottfried built an airport, Billund Airport, to make it easier to sell LEGO toys worldwide.

What was the visitor count for the first year of LEGOLAND?

In the first year, LEGOLAND had six hundred thousand visitors.

What is the core belief of the LEGO company regarding the quality of their products?

The core belief of the LEGO company is that 'only the best is good enough' because children deserve the best.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Origin of LEGO and Ole Kirk Christiansen's Journey

This paragraph introduces the LEGO brand's humble beginnings with Ole Kirk Christiansen, a skilled carpenter who, during a difficult financial period, had to let go of his last employee. After a tragic loss of his wife, Ole found inspiration in his sons and decided to venture into toy-making, using leftover wood from his carpentry business. The story highlights Ole's resilience and creativity, which led to the establishment of a toy workshop in Billund, where high-quality wooden toys were produced. A significant turning point came when a wholesaler from Fredericia placed a large order, marking the start of LEGO's commercial success.

05:02

🛠️ The LEGO Brand and Gottfried's Innovations

The narrative continues with the evolution of the LEGO company under Ole's leadership, focusing on the importance of quality and the adoption of the name 'LEGO,' which means 'I put together' in Latin. Despite initial financial struggles, the company began to thrive, leading to the purchase of a milling machine to improve toy production. A critical lesson on maintaining high standards is illustrated through Gottfried's attempt to cut costs on lacquer, which Ole did not approve. The story also covers a devastating fire in 1942 that destroyed the workshop but did not deter the family from rebuilding and eventually exploring new opportunities with plastic toys, including the iconic LEGO bricks.

10:03

🚜 The Introduction of the LEGO System and Gottfried's Salesmanship

This paragraph delves into the innovative 'LEGO System of Play,' which allowed children to build houses and understand traffic safety, marking a significant breakthrough in the toy industry. The system's popularity led to international sales, but it also faced challenges, such as the bricks' inability to support weight without falling apart. Gottfried's ingenuity in improving the clutch power of the bricks by incorporating tubes revolutionized LEGO into a versatile construction system. The story also recounts Gottfried's personal efforts to sell LEGO products during a financial crisis and his vision for expanding the company's reach through an airport and a larger exhibition space.

15:03

🌟 The Expansion of LEGO and the Birth of LEGOLAND

The final paragraph highlights the ambitious plans of Gottfried to build an airport for easier global sales and the creation of LEGOLAND, an amusement park made entirely of LEGO bricks. The park's success, with 600,000 visitors in its first year, exceeded all expectations. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the legacy of quality and innovation instilled by Ole and carried forward by Gottfried, emphasizing the company's commitment to providing children with the best possible toys that inspire creativity and learning.

Keywords

💡Lego

Lego is a brand of plastic construction toys that interlock with each other. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating the origin and evolution of the Lego company. The script mentions Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder, who named the company Lego, which means 'I put together' in Latin, and showcases how the Lego brick became a success.

💡Ole Kirk Christiansen

Ole Kirk Christiansen is the founder of the Lego company. His story is integral to the video, as it details his journey from a struggling carpenter to the creator of a globally recognized toy brand. His perseverance and innovation are highlighted through various challenges he faced, such as the bankruptcy of a wholesaler and a devastating fire.

💡Innovation

Innovation is a key concept in the video, representing the process of developing new ideas and putting them into practice. It is exemplified by Ole's decision to make toys from leftover wood and his later adoption of a plastic molding machine to create the first Lego bricks, which revolutionized the company's product line.

💡Quality

Quality is a recurring theme in the video, emphasizing the importance of producing well-crafted toys. Ole's commitment to using only the highest quality wood and his insistence on adding an extra layer of lacquer to the toys underscore the company's dedication to excellence, which became a cornerstone of the Lego brand.

💡Resilience

Resilience is depicted through the characters' ability to bounce back from adversity. The video shows Ole's determination to rebuild his business after personal loss and a workshop fire, and Gottfried's efforts to overcome financial crises and production challenges, ultimately leading to the success of the Lego system.

💡System of Play

The 'System of Play' is a concept introduced by Lego that allows children to build and create using the interlocking bricks. It represents a breakthrough in the toy industry, as it not only provided entertainment but also educational value, such as teaching children about traffic safety through the town plan sets.

💡Plastic Molding Machine

The plastic molding machine is a significant technological advancement mentioned in the script. It enabled Lego to produce plastic toys, including the first Lego bricks and teddy bears, which marked a shift from wooden toys to a more diverse range of products and contributed to the company's growth.

💡Clutch Power

Clutch power refers to the ability of Lego bricks to stick together firmly. Gottfried discovered that adding tubes inside the bricks improved their clutch power, which was a crucial innovation that allowed for more complex and stable constructions, thereby enhancing the play experience.

💡LEGOLAND

LEGOLAND is an amusement park built by the Lego company, which features models and attractions made from Lego bricks. The park represents the company's expansion into new ventures and its commitment to providing immersive experiences for children, fostering creativity and imagination.

💡Imagination

Imagination is a core value promoted by the Lego brand, as it encourages children to explore and express their own ideas through play. The video emphasizes how Lego bricks can be used to create anything in the world, limited only by a child's imagination, which is a key message in the company's philosophy.

💡Endless Possibilities

The concept of 'endless possibilities' is a recurring message in the video, highlighting the versatility of Lego bricks. It signifies the creative potential that the toys offer, allowing children to build an unlimited number of structures and scenarios, thus fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

Highlights

The origin of the name LEGO predates the plastic brick, with a history rooted in the founder's name and the Danish word for 'play well'.

Ole Kirk Christiansen, a skilled carpenter, founded the company during a period of hardship, including the loss of his last worker and his wife.

Ole's invention of a toy brought joy to his sons, inspiring him to venture into toy production using leftover wood from his carpentry business.

The first significant business opportunity came when a wholesaler from Fredericia placed a large order for the high-quality wooden toys.

A devastating setback occurred when the wholesaler filed for bankruptcy, leaving Ole with an unsold inventory of toys.

Ole's perseverance led him to personally sell the toys, despite being a poor salesman, to ensure a Christmas meal for his family.

The company's name 'LEGO' was chosen for its meaning in Latin 'I put together', which was well received and helped the company to progress.

Gottfried, one of Ole's sons, played a crucial role in improving production and sales, despite a disagreement over cutting costs on lacquer.

A catastrophic fire in 1942 destroyed the LEGO workshop, but Ole was determined to rebuild and continue the business.

The introduction of a plastic molding machine marked a significant shift in LEGO's production, starting with plastic teddy bears and rattles.

The launch of the gray Ferguson tractor as a plastic toy marked the beginning of LEGO's success in the plastic toy market.

Gottfried's personal sales tour across the country helped LEGO recover from a financial crisis due to overstock.

The concept of a 'system' in toys was introduced by Gottfried, aiming to strengthen children's imagination and creativity through LEGO.

The first LEGO system of play allowed children to build houses and learn about traffic safety, a breakthrough in the toy industry.

Gottfried's observation that LEGO bricks with tubes inside had better clutch power led to the development of a versatile construction system.

Ole's passing left Gottfried to lead the company through another fire, which destroyed most of the wood production, but he decided to focus solely on the LEGO system.

The opening of Billund Airport was part of Gottfried's plan to expand LEGO's reach and facilitate global sales.

The creation of LEGOLAND as an amusement park was inspired by the need for a larger space to display LEGO models and attract visitors.

LEGO's philosophy of 'only the best is good enough' has been a guiding principle from Ole's dedication to quality to Gottfried's innovation.

Transcripts

you've probably seen one of these a lego

brick but have you ever wondered how it

all started and why it's called lego

actually the name is much older than

this plastic brick are you curious

let me tell you how it all began

many years ago there was a skilled and

hard-working carpenter named ole kirk

christensen

ole was a respected carpenter with his

own company but times were hard so he

didn't have much money and had to

dismiss his last worker

[Music]

come on in

i've closed down the workshop and packed

my things thank you

i suppose i'd better write you a

paycheck

[Music]

take care

[Music]

well

that was the last one

i just didn't imagine that it would come

to this i know

it's hard to understand

but at least now it can't get much worse

but it did get worse

shortly after oli lost his wife

but ole was a special person he wasn't

the type that gave up and with the

responsibility of his four sons he had

to think of something

oli had gotten an idea and for him it

never took long to put an idea into

action

ole's little invention made his boys so

happy that he thought maybe he should

start making toys

[Music]

ole decided to give it a try luckily he

had saved up a lot of wood from the

carpentry production he could now use it

to make toys

time passed by and even though olay was

a skilled carpenter and had a good eye

for quality and detail sales were very

slow luckily one of his sons gottfried

started helping out his dad after school

together they just barely managed to

keep up the production

eventually word began to spread that

wooden toys of the finest quality were

being made in the little workshop in

billund

one day a man drove into town a man who

would change olay's future

he was a wholesaler from fredericia i've

heard that you're making some very nice

wooden toys

well one does his best the wholesaler

was very impressed with all the wooden

toys and placed a big order before he

left

now there's finally someone who can see

the opportunities in what we're doing

look at this

the wholesaler wants to put a lot of our

toys into his store for the holidays

it's going to be a good christmas this

year

but we'll be busy

now there was a lot to do in the little

workshop and olleh could re-hire his

former workers olay only used the

highest quality wood which was

hand-picked and very carefully prepared

they worked day and night to get the

order finished so the wholesaler could

get the toys out in stores before

christmas

is there something wrong dad

i'm afraid that we're in big trouble

in the middle of their work olay

received a letter saying that the

wholesaler had filed for bankruptcy and

couldn't buy the toys that he had

ordered

but what are you gonna do

what about christmas

now we can't even afford food

[Music]

i'll do it

what are you gonna do dad

i'll do it myself

i'll drive around selling the toys

there was no time to lose ole packed the

car with all the toys and drove off

olay was a very good toy maker but was

not a very good salesman

he didn't like praising himself or

talking about how carefully the toys had

been made

but he had to keep trying if he was

going to sell anything

this is going to be a blast

is there anything you're interested in

it looks exciting but i don't have a lot

of money right now maybe we could trade

and call it even

well

i would prefer money

but

in the end he succeeded in selling all

the toys

he didn't receive as much money as he

had hoped but the family managed and

they had plenty of food for christmas

time passed by but the toys didn't sell

as quickly as they had expected

ole thought perhaps the company needed a

good name

what should it be

it has to be a short word i want it to

convey playing well in danish playing

well is called lie gut

what should it be what should it be

yeah if only i could get some sort of a

sign

lego as you can see olay himself ended

up finding a very suitable name but what

he didn't know was that in latin the

word lego means i put together

the name lego was well received and the

company slowly started to move forward

we have made three thousand crowns this

year and we have more orders than usual

did you say three thousand crowns

then you need to see what i've been

looking at

even though gottfried wasn't comfortable

spending money on a milling machine

he could see that it was useful and that

the quality of the toys improved could

you finish the last batch and get it

ready for shipping i will

dad dad i saved a lot of money for the

company today really

how

i figured we could save money in the

lacquer so i only coded the ducks twice

instead of three times

you what

unfortunately gottfried's idea didn't go

over well with olei oli made gottfried

unpack all the ducks himself give them

the last layer of lacquer and bring them

back to the train station ole believed

in high quality and not cheating his

customers when gottfried returned olli

explained that that wasn't the way to

create a good brand this little lesson

opened gottfried's eyes to the fact that

every detail matters and only the best

is good enough in the late 1930s lego

was making a profit even when the second

world war broke out they tried to make

the best out of a difficult time it

seemed nothing could go wrong

but a stormy night in 1942 changed their

luck

there's a fire the workshop is on fire

but when the firemen arrived they were

unable to save the workshop

it burned to the ground and all the

drawings and models were destroyed

ole was beginning to lose hope all that

he had worked for was gone and he almost

lost his company but being responsible

for his children and workers inspired

him to rebuild lego

a new factory was constructed

soon the production of wooden toys

started again

the little company fought its way back

into the market

gradually the lego factory began to run

smoothly and ole started looking for new

challenges

one day he went to copenhagen to look at

a new machine that had just arrived in

denmark it was a plastic molding machine

and ole was very excited about it

should we buy it it sure is a good

bargain and it will give us a lot of

opportunities

well it does sound interesting but it is

a lot of money i'll take that as a yes

when the plastic molding machine finally

arrived ole started making little

plastic teddy bears and rattles

but he still had the plastic bricks that

he had received at the fair there was

something about them that he couldn't

stop thinking about and even though no

one else could see the potential in them

ollie decided to redesign and put them

into production

but it was when lego first launched the

gray ferguson tractor that the plastic

toys became a success

unfortunately the sales were dropping

during the summer and the company had

too many toys in stock this can't be

right of course our products can be sold

the whole year not only for christmas

godfrey decided that he would go out and

sell the toys himself

godfrey brought his wife edith as

company and moral support

if you can't get cash then

we need butter and eggs

well it wasn't that bad

gottfried was a success in his trip

around the country which helped lego to

get out of its financial crisis

they reached home just in time for ole's

birthday party ole turned 60 and the

whole family was gathered to celebrate

with him

well i guess it was a long trip around

the country

hey i got an idea uh listen listen what

about a picture with the three

generations everyone thought that was a

good idea and we were placed on the sofa

with all the presents and flowers around

us

on a business trip to england gottfried

met the head of a big shopping center on

his way home they discussed the toy

industry and the conversation would be

very important to the future of lego

damn this industry i just think that

toys are no good nowadays

what do you mean i think they're working

very well oh they work fine sure but

there's no system in anything

system

system

hmm

there isn't any system what in the world

are you doing girlfriend there isn't any

system the toys need an idea and a

system built around it

i want to put system into play

children have only been offered

ready-made solutions they need something

different that will strengthen their

imagination and creativity

so you're trying to put lego into a

system

interesting

that same year lego started producing

the first lego system of play children

could now build houses from the lego

bricks the town plan gave play a

realistic town setting and with this

children learned about traffic safety my

sisters and i could play with the new

lego system for hours

some people said we were the luckiest

children in the world because we grew up

in a toy factory

it was a huge breakthrough and gottfried

decided to try selling it outside of

denmark the system of play was so

popular that they managed to sell it to

many countries

[Music]

look what i just built that is really

nice kell even though lego was meant for

only building houses there was still a

lot of opportunity

there was just one problem hmm

i can't lift it up it

it keeps falling apart

that made gottfried wonder he wanted to

find a way to make the lego bricks stick

together

but that was easier said than done

gottfried noticed that the lego bricks

got a better clutch power with tubes

inside

now it was no longer just bricks but a

whole construction system with endless

possibilities

this was groundbreaking for the lego

product with a child's imagination lego

could be anything in the world over and

over again

the imagination is the limit look dad

now i can build everything

unfortunately olay never got to see how

successful the little brick actually

became

gottfried was left on his own and he had

to go through another fire at lego that

destroyed most of the wood production

just like his father gottfried knew that

he had to try to get the best out of any

situation and never give up

gottfried took the hard times with his

head held high

as sales grew the company also got

bigger

he had to think ahead and he decided not

to resume the production of wooden toys

and to only focus on the lego system

it turned out to be a great decision

many new models were built and lego got

stronger in the toy industry

sir which one of these do you think is

the best

um

ah that one even though it got busier at

lego godfrey still had bigger plans now

he wanted to build an airport so it

would be easier to sell his toys to the

whole world

like father like son it didn't take long

to put his idea into action

only three years later billand airport

was open

the many guests and business connections

who visited the company always wanted to

see the modeling department

gradually it got so crowded that it was

hard for the employees to keep up their

work i think we better wait a while

gottfried could see that something had

to be done

he needed a bigger place to display the

lego models

uh i don't want to interrupt so i'll

just put this package of our new lego

train uh on the table

just put it there

train

the idea grew quickly from an exhibition

room to an amusement park

and then we could have a tower so you

could look over the whole park from

above the whole town

it will be a land made out of lego

legoland

well it looks interesting but how many

visitors are you actually counting on

well i guess um

200

300 000 300 000

even though it sounded like a lot my dad

was actually pretty far off the mark

there were six hundred thousand guests

the very first year

my family and i were there to greet the

guests we've kept up this tradition ever

since

now you know how it all began

lego wouldn't be what it is today if it

hadn't been for my grandfather's sense

of quality and search for perfection

my father firmly believed in the endless

possibilities of the lego system i seek

to take the lego idea even further

encouraging children to explore

experience and express their own world a

world without limits

and we are still convinced that only the

best is good enough because children

deserve the best

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you