Biography by Nicholas Zizka
Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder of Lego, is a man who rose from being a bankrupt master carpenter to form one of the largest and most famous toy manufacturers in the world. Born April seventh 1891 in Filskov Denmark, Ole Kirk lived in an impoverished family that had been hit hard by World War One and the depression that followed. He went to school up until high school, and then went to work for his brother Kristian Bonde Christiansen at age fourteen to earn his apprenticeship. Once he finished his apprenticeship, he worked in Germany from 1911-1912, and in Norway from 1912-1914. After a period of unemployment, in 1932 Ole set up his own shop in Billund, Denmark as a master carpenter, making wooden products such as ironing boards, stepladders and (what would become his specialty) wooden toys. Two years later, he adopted the company name “Lego” or “Leg Godt” in Danish, meaning “Play Well”. Later on, in 1944, his factory burned down, losing Ole his plans and current products. However, this event was the cause of Kirk's transition into one of the biggest toy manufacturers ever known.
In 1947, Ole rebuilt his factory, but there was a major shift in his products; he now was devoted to creating his more popular wooden toys instead of furniture. Yet this was not his only product advancement. In 1948, he purchased Lego’s first plastic molding machine, which was also the first in Denmark. With this new machine, by 1949, the company was producing more than two hundred different plastic and wooden toys, though the popular Lego blocks were still made out of wood, and only available in Denmark. In 1953, things began to change even more; now the focus was on the molding machine. The now plastic Lego blocks were marketed to places other than Denmark. In 1954, Ole Kirk obtained a trademark for the plastic blocks, now renamed “Lego Bricks” or “Lego Mursten” in Danish. With these new blocks, and their trademark, Lego really took off, and became a lot closer to what we recognize today. In 1955, Lego launched “The Lego System of Play”, consisting of interlocking Lego Bricks that could all fit together to make different models. The main series in this line was the “Town Plan” series, which was composed of pre-manufactured trees and cars of the time, and houses and community stations with instructions on how to build them using Lego Bricks. Finally, in 1958 the company obtained the patent for the famous “Stud and Tube” locking system that is known throughout the world today.
By the time of his death at age 66, Ole had a very large and very effective company. The Lego Company continues to produce more products each year, and is ever searching for new product ideas that still hold true to Ole’s merits. This goes to show how much of an impact a strong person can have on society. Not everyone has to be born to a wealthy or influential family to do something amazing in this world. Ole Kirk Christiansen rose from humble beginnings in poverty, and more than one failed business, to create one of the most long-lasting toy manufacturers in the world. The Lego Group still believes in what Ole based the company on; fun!
Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder of Lego, is a man who rose from being a bankrupt master carpenter to form one of the largest and most famous toy manufacturers in the world. Born April seventh 1891 in Filskov Denmark, Ole Kirk lived in an impoverished family that had been hit hard by World War One and the depression that followed. He went to school up until high school, and then went to work for his brother Kristian Bonde Christiansen at age fourteen to earn his apprenticeship. Once he finished his apprenticeship, he worked in Germany from 1911-1912, and in Norway from 1912-1914. After a period of unemployment, in 1932 Ole set up his own shop in Billund, Denmark as a master carpenter, making wooden products such as ironing boards, stepladders and (what would become his specialty) wooden toys. Two years later, he adopted the company name “Lego” or “Leg Godt” in Danish, meaning “Play Well”. Later on, in 1944, his factory burned down, losing Ole his plans and current products. However, this event was the cause of Kirk's transition into one of the biggest toy manufacturers ever known.
In 1947, Ole rebuilt his factory, but there was a major shift in his products; he now was devoted to creating his more popular wooden toys instead of furniture. Yet this was not his only product advancement. In 1948, he purchased Lego’s first plastic molding machine, which was also the first in Denmark. With this new machine, by 1949, the company was producing more than two hundred different plastic and wooden toys, though the popular Lego blocks were still made out of wood, and only available in Denmark. In 1953, things began to change even more; now the focus was on the molding machine. The now plastic Lego blocks were marketed to places other than Denmark. In 1954, Ole Kirk obtained a trademark for the plastic blocks, now renamed “Lego Bricks” or “Lego Mursten” in Danish. With these new blocks, and their trademark, Lego really took off, and became a lot closer to what we recognize today. In 1955, Lego launched “The Lego System of Play”, consisting of interlocking Lego Bricks that could all fit together to make different models. The main series in this line was the “Town Plan” series, which was composed of pre-manufactured trees and cars of the time, and houses and community stations with instructions on how to build them using Lego Bricks. Finally, in 1958 the company obtained the patent for the famous “Stud and Tube” locking system that is known throughout the world today.
By the time of his death at age 66, Ole had a very large and very effective company. The Lego Company continues to produce more products each year, and is ever searching for new product ideas that still hold true to Ole’s merits. This goes to show how much of an impact a strong person can have on society. Not everyone has to be born to a wealthy or influential family to do something amazing in this world. Ole Kirk Christiansen rose from humble beginnings in poverty, and more than one failed business, to create one of the most long-lasting toy manufacturers in the world. The Lego Group still believes in what Ole based the company on; fun!