This is a timeline of Ole's life
1891- Ole Kirk Christiansen is born in Filskov Denmark to an impoverished family
1911-1916- Ole completes his apprenticeship under Kristian Blonde Christiansen and finds work in Germany and Norway.
1932- Ole comes home to Denmark and sets up his own business in Billund, Denmark as a master carpenter. He produces furniture such as ironing boards and wooden toys (which would prove more popular).
1934- The company adopts the name “Lego” or “Leg Godt” in Danish, meaning “Play Well”.
1944- Ole’s factory burns down, losing Ole his life work.
1947- Ole rebuilds his factory, but this time is devoted to building his popular wooden toys.
1948-1949- Ole purchases a plastic molding machine for the company, which is also the first in Denmark.
1949- More than 200 plastic and wooden toys are being produced by Lego, however the popular “Lego Blocks” are still made out of wood, and are only available in Denmark.
1953- The wooden blocks have become plastic, and are marketed to places other than Denmark,
1954- Lego obtains a trademark for the plastic blocks, renamed “Lego Bricks” or "Lego Mursten" in Danish.
1955- Lego officially launches the “Lego System of Play”, which used the Lego bricks to make community buildings and homes which could be rebuilt with each other using the builder’s imagination- all Lego bricks were compatible with each other. The sets also came with pre-manufactured cars of the time to drive around your town.
1958- The “stud and tube locking system” is patented. Ole Kirk dies from a heart attack at age 66. His son Godtfred takes control of the company.