history: LEGO group timeline 20th century 1960s

for anyone curious about what LEGO has done for about 117 years.here is the time line. taken from wikipedia.

20th century

1960s

1960:February: Another warehouse fire consumes most of Lego inventory of wooden toys.Production of wooden toys is discontinued; the company changes its focus to the plastic building bricks.Lego Finland and Lego Netherlands are established.By the end of the year, the company grows to 450 employees.

1961:The Lego wheel is introduced.Sales start in the United States and Canada through a license agreement with Samsonite Corp.Lego Italy established.

1961–1962: Lego makes an arrangement allowing Samsonite to begin producing and selling Lego products in Canada, an arrangement that would continue until 1988.

1962:Lego sells toys in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Morocco, and Japan.Lego 1/3 elements are introduced.

1963:Cellulose acetate is abandoned in favor of the more stable ABS plastic in making Lego bricks.Samsonite begins producing Lego bricks under license in North America.Lego Austria is established.The Lego Group starts Modulex.

1964:The first Lego sets containing instruction manuals are introduced.Lego sells toys in Lebanon.A production plant, Lego Werkzeugbau GmbH, is opened in Hohenwehenstedt, Germany.

1965:The company in Billund grows to more than 600 employees.

1966:One of Lego most successful series, the Lego train system is released. Initial train sets include a 4.5-volt motor and rails.Lego is now sold in 42 countries.

1967: First Lego hinges.

1968:Train sets with a 12-volt motor are introduced.On June 7, the Legoland Park in Billund is opened, at which 3,000 people visit on the opening day.

image courtesy of perryolf

Lego bricks with magnets are introduced.

1969:The Duplo system, using larger bricks and targeting younger children but also compatible with existing Lego bricks, is released.The company in Billund grows to 843 employees.