1932
Billund, Denmark
1
1935–1958 · LEGO'S WOODEN DUCK
A collector's holy grail
The original LEGO wooden duckOriginal, hand-painted wood
Original: auction estimate DKK 28,000 ≈ $4,000 (Lauritz, Denmark, 2026)
Brick replica 40501 (2020, LEGO House only): 599 DKK at launch → resells for ~$110–130
PARTS LISTLauritz.com lot 6590169 · Brick Fanatics · Brick Owl · BrickRanker
2
1947
The plastic moulding machine
Ordered in 1946, it reached Billund in 1947.
PARTS LISTLEGO History · Entering the age of plastics
3
1949
Plastic, but hollow
The first plastic bricks didn't hold. Sold only in Denmark: rare today.
1949 Automatic Binding Bricks gift packageGift Package, 1949
PARTS LISTLEGO History · Automatic Binding Bricks · photo Rebrickable
4
1958 · PATENTED 28 JANUARY
Stud-and-tube: the brick that clicks
1949hollow inside
1958tubes grip the studs
PARTS LISTLEGO History · the 1958 brick patent
3
1958 → TODAY
Every brick since 1958 still fits
That's why collections span decades.
PARTS LISTLEGO History · the 1958 brick patent
Act 1
Evolution
How much has LEGO changed since its earliest years?
PARTS LIST
Paused · Space to play · ← → 5 s
A data story about LEGO collectors

LEGO: From Toy
to bsession

With Jhully and Lizzie, two LEGO collectors.