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