Legos History and Meaning

 

Growing up as a kid in the 90's have always given me fond memories of the past of how kids used to live their lives. Back then we would play, like actually play outside or have actual things to do in the house that would allow our imaginations go wild. Not to say kids don't do that nowadays, but it is completely different than how millennials grew up. One fond memory I have is playing with Lego's. Building and creating things with these colorful cubes allowed for us to physically piece together something that was on our creative little minds. 

 But have you ever stopped to wonder what are they made out of? What is the history of this toy? And some interesting truths about these little bricks? Well let's take a closer look. 

Legos were invented in 1932 by a Danish carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen. Originally, the company produced wooden toys, but in 1949, they began producing the plastic interlocking bricks we know today as Lego. The iconic Lego brick design, which is still used today, was patented on January 28, 1958. The name "Lego" is derived from the Danish words "LEG GODT," which means "PLAY WELL."

Legos are made out of plastic, a combination of chemicals known as A.B.S. (Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, Styrene). 

Acrylonitrile is a liquid chemical and very volatile, it smells like garlic and onions and is not safe to handle on its own, you need proper PPE handling this chemical. 

Butadiene is a colorless gas that is very flammable. It is used to make polymers such as rubber and plastic. Finally, we have 

Styrene which is another liquid chemical that smells sweet. It is very dangerous, but it gives the LEGO its signature look and shine. 

Now these chemicals mixed together in a stable facility to create the Lego is safe and not harmful. But it's funny that these dangerous chemicals were used to create a harmless creative toy that millions of kids played and still play with to this day. 

Fun Fact! LEGO sets can be passed down generations without losing their snap due to their molds of the ABS. Therefore, these bricks can be put together from different eras. For instance, Lego pieces from the 1960's can still fit perfectly with Lego pieces of present times. However, do not get them wet, as prolonged exposure to water can create mold in them. 

The Strength of these bricks is also an interesting fact. ABS is very strong chemical mixture that one study proved that a single Lego brick is able to withstand 950 pounds of force. Meaning if an Elephant stepped on top of one of these bricks, it would not break! 

Many people from kids to adults, play, collect and make many wonderful works of art with these Lego bricks. There are movies such as the Lego Movie, video games that have been inspired by Lego from different themes such as Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Harry Potter and many more. There's even Lego Land theme parks all around the world, 10 of them to be exact. 

There's even a Lego League that you can join and get into a competition and be named a champion Lego builder!

 Link to website: Home Page | FIRST LEGO League

With its high popularity all around the world we can see how impactful this toy has been to all of us personally and even in pop culture, through the years and for the future to come. 

 So, remember to have fun, let your imagination thrive and enjoy this awesome toy that the Danish created and LEG GODT!