Naturally, he made his living by making furniture but shortly after he entered middle age, in a time of economic turmoil worldwide, he became a toymaker. Ole kirk s shop burns down when a fire ignites some wood shavings. Everyone has played with lego toys, but not many peopl. Ole kirks grandson kjeld kirk kristiansen is the current vice chairman of the board of lego. Ole kirk christiansen founds what becomes the lego group in billund, denmark. In 1949 lego produced its first plastic brick, a precursor to its signature brick with interlocking studs on the top and tubes on the bottom. Ole kirk builds a larger workshop, renting out most of the space, and using the rest for his own shop.
Follow the familys story from denmark where ole kirk christiansen began making. The lego link notes that he used both spellings, and used ch more frequently himself. His family was quite poor but ole managed to get a basic high school education. Aug 29, 2018 the lego story started in a danish woodworking shop in the days before electricity. The short film is first set in denmark and explores the origin and history of lego through the experiences of the kirk kristiansen family. Hailed as the toy of the century, the plastic lego bricks that make up the lego system of play were invented by ole kirk christiansen, a master carpenter, and his son, godtfred kirk. He was chief executive from 1979 until 2004, when jorgen vig knudstorp, a former mckinsey consultant, became the new chairman of the board. In this success story, we are going to share ole kirk christiansen biography.
Ole kirk christiansen was a carpenter who was struggling with his business. This is a timeline of ole s life 1891 ole kirk christiansen is born in filskov denmark to an impoverished family 19111916 ole completes his apprenticeship under kristian blonde christiansen and finds work in germany and norway. Timeline of oles life lego and ole kirk christiansen. Ole kirk christiansen and lego book reports, inventors, legos, books, inspire. Lego history dates back to 1932 when ole kirk christiansen april 07, 1891 march 11, 1958.
A carpenter by training who began making wooden toys during the great depression, christiansen devised the multicolored plastic blocks that could be fashioned into numerous combinations of colors and shapes and which went on to become one of the worlds. Ole kirk christiansen began as a carpenter and a fire destroyed his shop. 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. Lego the name is based on the danish phrase leg godt, play well, and in danish is pronounced leego was founded by ole kirk christiansen in 1932 when his business as a local carpenter failed. Ole kirk christiansen april 7, 1891 march 11, 1958 was the founder of the lego group. Ole kirk christiansen simple english wikipedia, the free. Even during its earliest days in the 1930s, lego faced intense challenges, according to david c. Ole kirk christiansen bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Two years later he named his company lego after the danish phrase leg godt play well. Robertson, the author of brick by brick, a 20 history of lego.
He first worked as a carpenter and later started creating unsuccessful toys for kids in denmark after his wifes death and had to raise four of his children on his own. Dec 03, 2018 complete ole kirk christiansen 2017 biography. Lego history dates back to 1932 when ole kirk christiansen april 07, 1891 march 11, 1958 founded the danish company to produce goods for daily use. Ole kirk christiansen lego in the first half of the 20th century, danish carpenter ole kirk christiansen created one of the most beloved toys of all time, enjoyed all over the world by millions of children and quite a few adults as well. This is a timeline of oles life 1891 ole kirk christiansen is born in filskov denmark to an impoverished family 19111916 ole completes his apprenticeship under kristian blonde christiansen and finds work in germany and norway.
The inventors of lego toys by erin hagar nook book. Find out how lego and its founder ole kirk christiansen found the strength to rebuild over and over again with persistence, purpose, and reinvention. Although in poverty, he was able to receive a basic highschool education. We take a peek into the past to explore the history of lego and why its appeal prevails today. Facts, history and trivia about the universal building toy. They all took significant roles in changing and shaping the danish lego company to be what it is today. A few kilometres outside of billund, denmark a town famous for its connection to the lego name and the original legoland theme park in the grene church cemetery, is the final resting place of ole kirk christiansen. In 1949 lego produced its first plastic brick, a precursor to its signature brick with interlocking studs on the.
Still privately owned by the family of the lego creator, danish carpenter ole kirk christiansen, lego has proved to be the building block of so many childhoods around the world. Subscribe to lego shop emails be the first to hear about brand new sets, exclusive products, promotions and events taking place in lego stores. It started way back in 1932 when a skilled and hardworking carpenter named ole kirk christiansen came up with a unique idea. The story of ole kirk and the lego company origins hasnt ever been told with such charm and accessibility as this new book by duopress. Ole kirk christiansen was the founder of the danish construction toy company the lego group. History of lego wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. This fun and engaging book tells the story of how a danish carpenter and his family turned a.
Ole kirk christiansen was a danish carpenter and creator of one of the most beloved childrens toy companies of all time, lego. Ole kirk kristiansen, master carpenter and joiner, establishes his business in the village of billund, denmark. 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. Dec 25, 1977 one day the carpenter, wriose name was ole kirk christiansen, had an idea. Ole kirk christiansen biography 2017 facts, childhood, wiki.
Enjoy reading a story about inventions, trials and failures, and brilliant success. Ole kirk was born in the filskov village, located between sonder omme and give in central jutland denmark. Ole kirk christiansen passed away on the 11th of march 1958. Sep 19, 2017 even during its earliest days in the 1930s, lego faced intense challenges, according to david c. Ole kirks shop burns down when a fire ignites some wood shavings. Born in filskov, denmark, he trained as a carpenter and started making wooden toys in 1932 to make a living after having lost his job during the depression. Only years later did the name that ole kirk christiansen gave to his line of toys prove eerily prophetic in a universal language. The disastrous backstory behind the invention of lego bricks. The disastrous backstory behind the invention of lego. Lego blocks originated in the billund, denmark, workshop of ole kirk christiansen, who began making wooden toys in 1932. From these small interlocking bricks, which can be connected to assemble an infinite number of designs, lego has evolved into a huge worldwide enterprise. These little toys would range from wooden ducks, cars, walking puppies to yoyos. The lego history timeline ole kirk kristiansen, master carpenter and joiner, establishes his business in the village of billund, denmark.
Ole kirk christiansendanish toymaker ole kirk christiansen 18911958 founded the lego group, one of the worlds largest toy manufacturers. Nice childrens book about lego developers and where the omnipresent. Hailed as the toy of the century, the plastic lego bricks that make up the lego system of play were invented by ole kirk christiansen in. This includes ole kirk christiansen, godtfred kirk christiansen and kjeld kirk kristiansen. At the time, billund was an obscure village, and ole kirk christiansen was just a simple carpenter with ambition. However, the bricks that we know of today didnt come about until 1958, after ole kirk christiansen had died and his son. He was looking for new ways to make money and to make his kids happy.
Living in billund, a little town in denmark along with his four sons, ole made tiny little toys for his sons. Ole kirk christiansen and the history of lego thoughtco. In 1916, christiansen purchased a woodworking shop in billund, which had been in business since 1895. The history of the lego group, part i 19321969 ole kirk christiansen 18911958, the founder of lego as doing business as the lego group, was a carpenter in billund, denmark. He was born in 1891 in the village of filskovand, denmark and was the tenth child of jens niels christiansen and kirstine christiansen. Christiansen and his sons godtfred, karl, and gerhardt purchase a machine that makes plastic toys, and create the lego brick, and his grandson kjeld kirk kristiansen expands to legoland. Ole kirk christiansen biography, inventions and facts.
He was born in the village of filskov, located between the towns of sonder omme and give in central jutland denmark. The lego story started in a danish woodworking shop in the days before electricity. Follow the familys story from denmark where ole kirk christiansen began making wooden toys in his billund carpentry shop and lumberyard to the companys evolution to the lego company. Ole kirk okc was born into poverty in the farming community of. In this success story, we are going to share ole kirk christiansen biography and the history of lego. Ole kirk christiansen biography 2017 facts, childhood. Another fire occured later in 1942 and yet again in 1960 the lego company was forced to rebuild all three times. In this success story, we are going to share ole kirk christiansen biography and the history of lego, a great danish toy company that he founded. He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in jutland in western denmark. The lego group began in the carpentry workshop of ole kirk christiansen in billund, denmark. Ole kirk christiansen family, childhood, life achievements, facts, wiki and bio of 2017. Long before the quality initiatives that are so prevalent today existed, lego encouraged its employees to ensure the highest possible quality during. Jan 28, 2020 ole kirk christiansen, the man behind lego.
Ole kirk christiansen invented lego ole kirk christiansen was a danish carpenter and creator of one of the most beloved childrens toy companies of all time, lego. Ole kirks son godtfred kirk christiansen 19201995 patents the stud and tube interlocking brick. Ole kirk christiansendanish toymaker ole kirk christiansen 18911958. Ole kirk christiansen developed a value statement for the lego group that it has maintained for many years, which is det bedste er ikke for godt, translated the best is never too good. Hagars history lesson begins at the turn of the 20th century with ole kirk christiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by kjeld kirk kristiansen. One day the carpenter, wriose name was ole kirk christiansen, had an idea.
Company profiles for students, edited by donna craft and. The inventors of lego toys is a must read for your child. Christiansen combines and abbreviates two danish words, leg godt play well, into lego. Ole kirk christiansen lego and ole kirk christiansen.
The lego group was founded in 1932 by ole kirk kristiansen. By 1947, christiansen began to make toys using plastic instead of wood. The inventors of lego toys by erin hagar goodreads. Christiansen was born in filskov, south jutland, denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family in jutland. He first worked as a carpenter and later started creating unsuccessful toys for kids in denmark after his wifes death and had to.
Ole kirk christiansen biography with images history of lego, kirk. In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of lego, the kristiansen family. The beloved toys were the brainchild of a danish carpenter, ole kirk christiansen, wh hagar and garrison explain the lego backstory to readers who cant envision a time before the interlocking. Other articles where ole kirk christiansen is discussed. May 11, 2019 the history of the lego group, part i 19321969 ole kirk christiansen 18911958, the founder of lego as doing business as the lego group, was a carpenter in billund, denmark. In 1932, christiansen founded the danish construction toy company the lego group. Ole kirk christiansen and the history of lego ole kirk christiansen and the history of lego hailed as the toy of the century, the plastic lego bricks that make up the lego system of play were invented by ole kirk christiansen, a master carpenter, and his son, godtfred kirk.
Ole kirk christiansen wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Two years later he named his company lego after the danish phrase leg godt play. He produces furniture such as ironing boards and wooden toys. Bruce pascal, author of hot wheels prototypes the inventors of lego toys, tells the history of this toy in a wonderful way that children of all ages, and even the parents, will not want to put the book down. Electronic books history juvenile works juvenile literature. Company profiles for students, edited by donna craft and amanda quick, volume 1, gale, 1999. Lego, plastic buildingblock toys that rose to massive popularity in the mid20th century. In the first half of the 20th century, danish carpenter ole kirk christiansen created one of the most beloved toys of all time, enjoyed all over the world by. He was married to kirstine sorensen and father of johannes christiansen, karl georg kirk christiansen, godtfred kirk christiansen and gerhardt kirk christiansen.
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