WEBVTT 00:00:02.095 --> 00:00:05.003 You've probably seen one of these, 00:00:05.003 --> 00:00:06.034 a Lego Brick. 00:00:06.034 --> 00:00:08.079 But have you ever wondered how it all started 00:00:08.079 --> 00:00:10.071 and why it's called Lego? 00:00:10.071 --> 00:00:14.019 Actually, the name is much older than this plastic brick. 00:00:14.019 --> 00:00:15.056 Are you curious? 00:00:15.056 --> 00:00:18.021 Let me tell you how it all began. 00:00:18.021 --> 00:00:19.046 Many years ago 00:00:19.046 --> 00:00:24.036 there was a skilled and hard-working carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen. 00:00:24.036 --> 00:00:28.073 Ole was a respected carpenter with his own company, 00:00:28.073 --> 00:00:31.096 but times were hard. So he didn't have much money 00:00:31.096 --> 00:00:34.022 and had to dismiss his last worker. 00:00:39.008 --> 00:00:40.055 Ole: "Come on in". 00:00:40.055 --> 00:00:44.073 Worker: "I have closed down the workshop and packed my things". 00:00:44.073 --> 00:00:48.023 Ole: "Thank you. I suppose I'd better write you a paycheck". 00:00:56.065 --> 00:00:58.038 Ole: "Take care." 00:01:05.075 --> 00:01:08.015 Ole: "Well, that was the last one. 00:01:08.023 --> 00:01:12.020 I just didn't imagine that it would come to this". 00:01:12.029 --> 00:01:19.017 Wife: "I know. It's hard to understand, but at least now it can't get much worse." 00:01:19.028 --> 00:01:23.075 But it did get worse. Shortly after, Ole lost his wife. 00:01:24.028 --> 00:01:26.035 But Ole was a special person. 00:01:26.041 --> 00:01:28.029 He wasn't the type that gave up. 00:01:28.041 --> 00:01:32.078 And with the responsibility of his four sons, he had to think of something. 00:01:33.062 --> 00:01:35.043 Ole had gotten an idea 00:01:35.052 --> 00:01:39.023 and for him, it never took long to put an idea into action. 00:01:41.064 --> 00:01:47.035 Ole's little invention made his boys so happy that he thought maybe he should start making toys. 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:52.005 Ole decided to give it a try. 00:01:52.005 --> 00:01:56.014 Luckily, he had saved up a lot of wood from the carpentry production. 00:01:56.022 --> 00:02:00.039 He could now use it to make toys. 00:02:00.039 --> 00:02:02.000 Time passed by 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:07.025 and even though Ole was a skilled carpenter and had a good eye for quality and detail, 00:02:07.025 --> 00:02:09.074 sales were very slow. 00:02:09.074 --> 00:02:14.079 Luckily, one of his sons, Godtfred, started helping out his dad after school. 00:02:14.079 --> 00:02:18.032 Together, they just barely managed to keep up the production. 00:02:18.032 --> 00:02:26.026 Eventually, word began to spread that the wooden toys of the finest quality were being made from that little workshop in Billund. 00:02:26.026 --> 00:02:28.072 One day, a man drove into town. 00:02:28.072 --> 00:02:31.068 A man who would change Ole's future. 00:02:31.068 --> 00:02:34.034 He was a wholesaler from factory shop. 00:02:34.034 --> 00:02:38.027 'I heard that you are making some very nice wooden toys' 00:02:38.027 --> 00:02:40.022 Ole: 'Well, one does his best'. 00:02:40.022 --> 00:02:44.008 The wholesaler was very impressed with all the wooden toys. 00:02:44.008 --> 00:02:46.040 And placed update order before he left. 00:02:49.018 --> 00:02:52.096 Ole: 'Now there's finally someone who can see the opportunities and what we are doing' 00:02:52.096 --> 00:02:58.081 'Look at this. The wholesaler wants to put a lot of our toys into his store for the holidays 00:02:58.081 --> 00:03:01.064 it's going to be a good Christmas this year 00:03:01.064 --> 00:03:03.084 that will be busy". 00:03:03.084 --> 00:03:06.089 Now, there was a lot to do with the little workshop 00:03:06.089 --> 00:03:09.077 and Ole could rehire his former workers. 00:03:09.077 --> 00:03:12.040 Ole only used the highest quality wood 00:03:12.040 --> 00:03:15.097 which was hand-picked and very carefully prepared 00:03:15.097 --> 00:03:18.078 They worked day and night to get the order finished 00:03:18.078 --> 00:03:23.044 So the wholesaler could get the toys out in stores before Christmas. 00:03:25.029 --> 00:03:27.040 Godtfred: "Is there something wrong, Dad?" 00:03:27.043 --> 00:03:31.011 Ole: "I'm afraid that we are in big trouble". 00:03:31.053 --> 00:03:37.074 In the middle of their work, Ole received a letter saying that the wholesaler had filed for bankruptcy 00:03:37.074 --> 00:03:40.035 and couldn't buy the toys that he had ordered 00:03:40.081 --> 00:03:44.025 Godtfred: "What are you gonna do? What about Christmas? 00:03:44.025 --> 00:03:47.004 Now we can't even afford food?" 00:03:49.062 --> 00:03:50.088 Ole: "I'll do it". 00:03:50.088 --> 00:03:53.065 Godtfred: "What are you gonna do, Dad?" 00:03:53.065 --> 00:03:57.085 Ole: "I'll do it myself. I'll drive around selling the toys" 00:03:58.098 --> 00:04:04.081 There was no time to lose. Ole packed the car with all the toys and drove off. 00:04:05.011 --> 00:04:09.094 Ole was a very good toy-maker but was not a very good salesman. 00:04:09.094 --> 00:04:14.089 He didn't like praising himself or talking about how carefully the toys have been made 00:04:14.089 --> 00:04:16.075 but he had to keep trying 00:04:18.087 --> 00:04:24.002 Ole: "This is going to be a blast. Is there anything you were interested in?" 00:04:24.002 --> 00:04:30.063 'It looks exciting but i don't have a lot of money right now. Maybe we could trade in and call it even.' 00:04:30.063 --> 00:04:33.078 Ole: "Well, i would prefer money" 00:04:33.078 --> 00:04:35.020 'but' 00:04:35.020 --> 00:04:39.071 In the end, he succeeded in selling all the toys. 00:04:39.071 --> 00:04:47.021 He didn't receive as much money as he had hoped. But the family managed and they had plenty of food for Christmas 00:04:47.021 --> 00:04:49.018 Time passed by 00:04:49.018 --> 00:04:52.068 But the toys didn't sell as quickly as they had expected 00:04:52.068 --> 00:04:56.015 Ole thought perhaps the company needed a good name 00:04:57.019 --> 00:05:03.076 'What should it be? It has to be short word. I wanted to convey playing well' 00:05:03.088 --> 00:05:07.099 In Danish, `playing well` is called `LEG GODT` 00:05:08.048 --> 00:05:11.033 'What should it be? What should it be?' 00:05:12.013 --> 00:05:15.092 'If only i could get some sort of a sign' 00:05:19.075 --> 00:05:21.059 'LEGO' 00:05:21.059 --> 00:05:26.022 As you can see, Ole himself ended up finding a very suitable name. 00:05:26.027 --> 00:05:31.011 But what he didn't know was that in latin, the word 'LEGO' means 'I put together' 00:05:31.074 --> 00:05:34.037 The name 'LEGO' was well received. 00:05:34.063 --> 00:05:37.019 And the company slowly started to move forward. 00:05:37.029 --> 00:05:42.065 Godtfred: "We have made 3000 krones this year. And we have models than usual" 00:05:42.065 --> 00:05:48.049 Ole: "Did you say 3000 krones. Then you need to see what i've been looking at" 00:05:48.049 --> 00:05:52.084 Even though Godtfred wasn't comfortable spending money on a milling machine. 00:05:52.084 --> 00:05:57.027 He could see that it was useful and that the quality of the toys improved 00:05:57.027 --> 00:06:00.015 'Could you finish the last batch and get it ready for shipping?' 00:06:00.015 --> 00:06:01.027 'I will' 00:06:04.073 --> 00:06:08.066 'Dad.... dad, i received a lot of money for the company today' 00:06:08.066 --> 00:06:10.068 Ole: "Really? how?" 00:06:10.097 --> 00:06:15.049 Godtfred: "I figured we could save money in the locker. It's like only coated the duck twice instead of three times" 00:06:16.086 --> 00:06:18.043 Ole: "You what?" 00:06:18.043 --> 00:06:22.093 Unfortunately, Godtfred's idea didn't go over well with Ole. 00:06:22.093 --> 00:06:25.096 Ole made Godtfred unpacked all the ducks himself 00:06:25.096 --> 00:06:30.018 gave them the last layer of letter and bring them back to train station. 00:06:30.018 --> 00:06:34.056 Ole believes in high quality and not cheating his customers 00:06:34.065 --> 00:06:39.090 when Godtfred returned, Ole explained that wasn't the way to create a good brand. 00:06:39.090 --> 00:06:45.064 This little lesson opened Godtfred's eyes to the fact that every detail matters 00:06:45.064 --> 00:06:48.044 and only the best is good enough. 00:06:48.044 --> 00:06:54.040 In the late 1930s, LEGO was making a profit even when the second world war broke out. 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:57.058 They tried to make the best out of a difficult time. 00:06:57.058 --> 00:07:00.023 It seemed nothing could go wrong. 00:07:00.023 --> 00:07:04.053 But a stormy night in 1942 changed their luck. 00:07:09.076 --> 00:07:13.040 'There's a fire. The workshop is on fire.' 00:07:15.078 --> 00:07:20.002 But when the firemen arrived, they were unable to save the workshop 00:07:20.002 --> 00:07:25.067 it burned to the ground and all the drawings and models were destroyed. 00:07:25.067 --> 00:07:27.089 Ole was beginning to lose hope. 00:07:27.089 --> 00:07:32.087 All that he had worked for was gone and he almost lost his company 00:07:32.087 --> 00:07:38.060 but being responsible for his children and workers inspired him to rebuild LEGO 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:41.057 A new factory was constructed 00:07:41.057 --> 00:07:44.085 Soon the production of the wooden toys started again 00:07:44.085 --> 00:07:48.053 The little company fought it way back into the market 00:07:48.053 --> 00:07:55.007 Gradually, the LEGO factory began to run smoothly and Ole started looking for new challenges 00:07:55.007 --> 00:08:00.092 One day, he went to Copenhagen to look at a new machine that had just arrived in Denmark. 00:08:00.092 --> 00:08:06.037 It was a plastic moulding machine and Ole was very excited about it 00:08:06.037 --> 00:08:11.065 Ole: "Should we buy it? i'm sure it's a good bargain and it would give us a lot of opportunity" 00:08:11.065 --> 00:08:15.078 Godtfred: "Well, it does sound interesting but it is a lot of money" 00:08:15.078 --> 00:08:20.092 Ole: "I'll take that as a Yes" 00:08:20.092 --> 00:08:27.087 When the plastic moulding machine finally arrived, Ole started making little plastic teddy bears and letters. 00:08:27.087 --> 00:08:31.080 But he still had the plastic brick that he had received at the fair. 00:08:31.080 --> 00:08:35.055 There was something about that he couldn't stop thinking about. 00:08:35.055 --> 00:08:38.049 And even though no one else could see the potential in them. 00:08:38.049 --> 00:08:43.022 Ole decided to redesigned and put them into production. 00:08:45.001 --> 00:08:52.052 But it was when LEGO first launched the great Ferguson tractor, that the plastic toys became a success. 00:08:52.096 --> 00:08:56.025 Unfortunately the sales were dropped during the summer 00:08:56.025 --> 00:08:58.091 and the company had too many toys in stock. 00:08:58.091 --> 00:09:05.015 Godtfred: "This can't be right. Of course, our products can be sold the whole year, not only for Christmas" 00:09:05.042 --> 00:09:09.074 Godtfred decided that he would go out and sell the toys himself. 00:09:09.074 --> 00:09:15.008 Godtfred brought his wife as a company and moral support 00:09:15.008 --> 00:09:19.095 "If you can't ### We need butter and eggs" 00:09:21.049 --> 00:09:23.024 Well, it wasn't that bad. 00:09:23.024 --> 00:09:23.524 Godtfred was a success in his trip around the country which helped LEGO to get out of its financial crisis. 00:09:30.038 --> 00:09:34.007 They reached home just in time for Ole's birthday party. 00:09:34.007 --> 00:09:39.872 Ole turned 60 and the whole family was gathered to celebrate with him. 00:09:42.057 --> 00:09:45.232 Ole: "Well, it isn't ####" 00:09:45.232 --> 00:09:50.944 "Hey, I got an idea. Eh, listen. Listen. What about a picture with the three generations" 00:09:50.944 --> 00:09:57.678 Everyone thought that was a good idea. And we were placed on the sofa with all the presents and flowers around us. 00:09:58.616 --> 00:10:04.497 On a business trip to England, Godtfred met the head of a big shopping center on his way home. 00:10:04.497 --> 00:10:10.891 They discussed the toy industry. And the conversation would be very important to the future of LEGO. 00:10:10.891 --> 00:10:15.279 "Damn that industry. I just think that toys are no good nowadays" 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:18.569 Godtfred: "What do you mean? I think they are working very well". 00:10:18.569 --> 00:10:22.934 "Oh, they work fine. Sure, but there's no system in anything" 00:10:22.934 --> 00:10:26.198 Godtfred: "System?". 00:10:26.198 --> 00:10:30.424 Godtfred: "System? Hmm. There isn't any system". 00:10:30.424 --> 00:10:33.367 Ole: "What in the world are you doing, Godtfred?" 00:10:33.367 --> 00:10:35.237 Godtfred: "There isn't any system. 00:10:35.237 --> 00:10:38.767 The toys need an idea and a system built around it. 00:10:38.767 --> 00:10:44.850 I want to put system in the play. Children have only been offered ready-made solutions. 00:10:44.850 --> 00:10:49.773 They need something different that will strengthen their imagination and creativity". 00:10:49.773 --> 00:10:54.742 Ole: "So, you are trying to put LEGO into a system? Interesting". 00:10:54.742 --> 00:11:00.146 That same year, LEGO started producing the first LEGO system of play. 00:11:00.146 --> 00:11:03.089 Children could now build houses from the LEGO bricks. 00:11:03.089 --> 00:11:09.806 The town planned gave play a realistic town setting and with this, children learned about traffic safety. 00:11:09.806 --> 00:11:13.705 My sister and I could play with the new LEGO system for hours. 00:11:13.705 --> 00:11:16.974 Some people said we were the luckiest children in the world. 00:11:16.974 --> 00:11:19.587 Because we grew up in a toy factory. 00:11:19.587 --> 00:11:21.711 It was a huge breakthrough. 00:11:21.711 --> 00:11:25.626 And Godtfred decided to try selling it outside of Denmark. 00:11:25.626 --> 00:11:30.641 The system of play was so popular that they managed to sell it to many countries. 00:11:32.564 --> 00:11:34.855 "Look what I just built". 00:11:34.855 --> 00:11:37.072 "That is really nice, Cal". 00:11:37.072 --> 00:11:43.109 Even though LEGO was meant for only building houses, there was still a lot of opportunities. 00:11:43.109 --> 00:11:45.074 There was just one problem. 00:11:45.150 --> 00:11:50.090 "Hmm, I can't lift it up. It keeps falling apart". 00:11:50.290 --> 00:11:56.818 That made Godtfred wondered. He wanted to find a way to make the LEGO bricks stick together. 00:11:56.818 --> 00:11:59.206 But that was easier said than done. 00:11:59.206 --> 00:12:04.778 Godtfred noticed that the LEGO bricks got a better clutch powers with tooth inside. 00:12:04.778 --> 00:12:11.063 Now, it was no longer just bricks but a whole construction system with endless possibilities. 00:12:11.063 --> 00:12:14.298 This was ground breaking for the LEGO product. 00:12:14.298 --> 00:12:21.001 With a child's imagination, LEGO could be anything in the world over and over again. 00:12:21.001 --> 00:12:23.675 The imagination is the limit. 00:12:24.413 --> 00:12:27.712 "Look, Dad. Now, I can build everything" 00:12:27.712 --> 00:12:34.678 Unfortunately, Ole never got to see how successful the little bricks actually became. 00:12:34.678 --> 00:12:42.776 Godtfred was left on his own and he had to go through another fire at LEGO that destroyed most of the wood production. 00:12:42.776 --> 00:12:50.004 Just like his father, Godtfred knew that he had to try to get the best out of any situation and never give up. 00:12:50.004 --> 00:12:53.782 Godtfred took the hard times with his head held high. 00:12:53.782 --> 00:12:56.985 As sales grew, the company also got bigger. 00:12:56.985 --> 00:13:05.826 He had to think ahead and he decided not to resume the production of wooden toys and to only focus on the LEGO system. 00:13:05.826 --> 00:13:12.932 And it turned out to be great decision. Many new models were built and LEGO got stronger in the toy industry. 00:13:12.932 --> 00:13:17.787 Staff: "Sir, which one of these do you think is the best?" 00:13:17.787 --> 00:13:21.161 Godtfred: "Hmmm, Err, that one". 00:13:21.161 --> 00:13:25.806 Even though it got busier at LEGO, Godtfred still had bigger plans. 00:13:25.806 --> 00:13:28.220 Now, he wanted to build an airport. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:32.307 So, it would be easier to sell his toys to the whole world. 00:13:32.307 --> 00:13:34.430 Like father, like son. 00:13:34.430 --> 00:13:37.323 It didn't take long to put his ideas into action. 00:13:37.323 --> 00:13:41.843 Only three years later, Billund airport was opened. 00:13:41.843 --> 00:13:48.733 Then many guests and business connections who visited the company always wanted to see their modeling department. 00:13:48.733 --> 00:13:53.935 Gradually, it got so crowded that it was hard for the employees to keep up their work. 00:13:53.935 --> 00:13:56.362 Godtfred: "I think we'd better wait a while". 00:13:56.362 --> 00:13:59.241 Godtfred could see that something had to be done. 00:13:59.241 --> 00:14:04.207 He needed a bigger place to display the LEGO models. 00:14:05.853 --> 00:14:12.772 Employee: "Er, I don't want to interrupt. So, I'll just put this package of our new LEGO train on the table". 00:14:12.772 --> 00:14:14.819 Godtfred: "Jut put it there". 00:14:15.681 --> 00:14:20.716 The idea grew quickly from an exhibition room to an amusement park. 00:14:20.716 --> 00:14:31.705 Godtfred: "And then, we could have a tower so you could look over the whole park from above, the whole town. It would be land made out of LEGO, LEGO land". 00:14:31.705 --> 00:14:36.365 "Well then, it looks interesting. But how many visitors are you actually counting on?" 00:14:36.365 --> 00:14:40.964 "Well, i guess eh two hundred three hundred thousand". 00:14:40.964 --> 00:14:43.070 "Three hundred thousand?" 00:14:43.070 --> 00:14:48.456 Even though it sounded like a lot, my dad was actually pretty far off the mark. 00:14:48.456 --> 00:14:52.927 There were six hundred thousand guests the very first year. 00:14:52.927 --> 00:14:56.026 My family and I were there to greet the guests. 00:14:56.026 --> 00:14:59.576 We've kept up this tradition ever since. 00:15:02.930 --> 00:15:05.938 Now, you know how it all began. 00:15:06.030 --> 00:15:13.315 LEGO wouldn't be what it is today if it hadn't been for my grandfather's sense of quality and search for profession. 00:15:13.502 --> 00:15:18.243 My father firmly believed in the endless possibilities of the LEGO system. 00:15:18.243 --> 00:15:21.263 I seek to take the LEGO idea even further. 00:15:21.263 --> 00:15:29.002 Encouraging children to explore, experience and express their own world, a world without limit. 00:15:29.002 --> 00:15:36.485 And we are still convince that only the best is good enough because children deserve the best.