| Lego maybe the best known brick on the block, but | | | | Bob Squarepants and even Tomas the Tank Engine |
| it wasn't the first toy of its kind and shared many | | | | all have Lego incarnations. |
| similarities with its predecessors, Meccano and Bayko. | | | | There are also four Lego Land theme parks; in |
| Meccano, a system of metal plates, nuts and bolts, | | | | Denmark, England, Germany and California. Though |
| was very much a boy's toy and its technical basis | | | | each park receives in the region of 1.3 million visitors |
| encouraged the building of structures such as model | | | | annually, they have reportedly struggled to make |
| bridges, cranes and cars, which often required and | | | | money and have not fully maximised their potential |
| fostered knowledge of mechanics and engineering. | | | | ticket sales, though hotels near Lego Land remain |
| Bayko, invented during the 1930s, was also similar to | | | | busy throughout the year and booking ahead is |
| Lego, in that the Bayko system was primarily | | | | advised. |
| intended for the construction of model buildings. | | | | Lego retains an important place in the adult world |
| Meccano eventually acquired the rights to | | | | too; the Guinness book of records is full of block |
| manufacture Bayko in 1960; but while Meccano is still | | | | rocking feats, such as the tallest ever Lego tower |
| manufactured today, Bayko production ceased in | | | | (currently in Toronto at 29.03 metres), the world's |
| 1967 following increasing pressure from competing | | | | longest Lego chain (565 meters long, built in |
| toys. This was despite Bayko models being more | | | | Switzerland), and the world's longest DNA helix |
| realistic architectural reproductions. | | | | molecule. |
| Most of us had at least one type of Lego set as a | | | | Lego also seems to have somewhat of a cult |
| child, and the genius of Lego was their ability to | | | | following with film lovers; known as BrickFilms or |
| appeal to so many different markets. For the | | | | Legomations, many enthusiasts make short movies, |
| toddlers there was Duplo; the great, big oversized | | | | or recreate famous scenes from feature films using |
| bricks, while for the girls there was the home-maker | | | | Lego for the set and cast. |
| set; for boys there was knights and dragons, and for | | | | On a more serious note, Lego Serious Play, is a form |
| technically minded teenagers, Technic Lego, which like | | | | of business consultancy, designed to foster creative |
| Meccano offered the chance to build complex | | | | thinking; participants work though imaginary scenarios, |
| engines, complete with pneumatics, gears and electric | | | | building metaphors of their identities and experiences |
| motors. | | | | using Lego bricks. |
| Then came the collaborations; in an extremely | | | | Lego's ability to keep up with the times, and adapt its |
| shrewd move, Lego struck deals with major film | | | | product to popular themes has been the key to its |
| merchandising companies and began to manufacture | | | | continuing success, and as long as the company |
| Lego versions of popular movies and cartoons; Star | | | | continue to innovate, it's likely that our grandchildren |
| Wars, Harry Potter, Batman, Indiana Jones, Sponge | | | | will still be playing with Lego in the years to come. |