28.0 LEGO SERVICE PACKS & INDIVIDUAL PART SALES ( ).

Transcription

1 28.0 LEGO SERVICE PACKS & INDIVIDUAL PART SALES ( ). The difference between spare parts packs and service packs is that spare parts are found in boxes, and service packs are found in small plastic bags. There are some LEGO Train elements that were spare parts from (in boxes), and switched over to service packs in These are mainly in continental Europe. In Britain and Australia, the service packs and individual sales were always handled by mail order as service packs Denmark - Individual Part Sales ( ). Automatic Binding Bricks, the name used for early LEGO bricks from , were only sold in sets #700/1 thru #700/6. But starting circa 1950 TLG started selling LEGO bricks as individual parts as well as spare parts packs. This was for Denmark only. The first individual parts for sale were slotted bricks in sizes 1x2, 2x2, 2x3 and 2x4 and 10x20 baseplates. The first windows and doors (which were the very thin windows that fit into the slotted bricks) were also available as individual parts. Then in 1954 other new parts became available. LEGO beams in 4 sizes, as well as the 4x4 corner brick were available as individual parts. Also in 1954 a new set of tall classic windows and doors were available as individual parts. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, grandson of LEGO Company founder Ole Kirk Christiansen is seen on this LEGO set box top getting bricks from the same box used by LEGO retailers for individual parts sales. Bricks and windows/doors were simply dumped into a large partitioned wooden box, for Danish children to scavenge through to find the parts they wished to purchase. 1

2 During the early 1950 s, Automatic Binding Bricks were available in many colors (but available in few sizes) for Danish children to purchase individually from their Danish LEGO retailer. Individual parts were packaged in small long cardboard boxes. These boxes were dumped into the large wooden retailer box. When children wanted to buy individual LEGO elements they dug through the big box for the parts they were interested in. These individual part sales must have been a popular item with Danish LEGO retailers because the practice continued until 1965, even while other countries coming online to LEGO sales mainly sold spare parts as parts pack boxes. When Sweden started selling Automatic Binding Bricks in Sweden in 1950, and Norway in 1953, the individual parts sales were not included in those countries (with the exception of large 10x20 baseplates, and 2x12 and 2x14 beams). 2x10 red bricks, known as #700/20, in the box TLG sold to LEGO retailers in Denmark. The bricks in Danish retailer boxes were available in many colors. Some colors were not available in regular LEGO sets, so therefore some brick colors were not found outside of Denmark. Part of a 1954 Danish catalog that shows all the LEGO elements which were available in All of these parts except the 10x20 baseplate and 1x1 round and square bricks could be found as individual parts sales in Danish retailer boxes. 2

3 The individual LEGO parts sales in Denmark originated with the slotted bricks and windows/doors with wings used with the slotted bricks. When the Town Plan line came into production in 1955, all the new specialty parts (trees/bushes, road signs, Esso Service accessories, etc.) were only sold in spare parts packs, not as individual items. But in Denmark only, individual bricks larger than 1x2 or larger bricks, were only available as individual sales from (except for 1x6 and 1x8 bricks). The windows/doors that were used with the slotted bricks, were available as parts packs #700B (1953) and #700C (1954) in Denmark and Norway, or as individual parts in Denmark only. The only Lego parts that were sold as individual items in Norway and Sweden (starting in 1955) was the #700/24 2x12 bricks, the #700/28 2x14 bricks, and the #700E 10x20 baseplates Danish Individual LEGO Parts - Numbering System for Slotted Hollow Bottom Bricks/ for Hollow Bottom Bricks Part Years Part Number Sold Description #700 B/ Individual 1x4x2 windows (style without glass) #700 B/ Retailer refill box of 1x4x2 windows #700 B/ Individual 1x2x3 windows (style without glass) #700 B/ Retailer refill box of 1x2x3 windows #700 B/ Individual 1x2x2 windows (style without glass) #700 B/ Retailer refill box of 1x2x2 windows #700 B/ Individual 1x2x4 doors (style without glass) #700 B/ Retailer refill box of 1x2x4 doors #700 C/ Individual 1x6x4 (panorama) windows (style with glass) #700 C/ Retailer refill box of 1x6x4 (panorama) windows #700 C/ Individual 1x6x3 (3 pane) windows (style with glass) #700 C/ Retailer refill box of 1x6x3 (3 pane) windows #700 C/ Individual 1x6x3 (shutter) windows (style with glass) #700 C/ Retailer refill box of 1x6x3 (shutter) windows #700 C/ Individual 1x4x3 windows (style with glass) #700 C/ Retailer refill box of 1x4x3 windows #700 C/ Individual 1x3x3 windows (style with glass) #700 C/ Retailer refill box of 1x3x3 windows #700 C/ Individual 1x2x4 doors (style with glass) #700 C/ Retailer refill box of 1x2x4 doors #700 E Individual 10x20 Baseplate #700 H Individual 4x4 slotted corner bricks #700 H Retailer refill box of 50 4x4 slotted corner bricks #700 1/ Individual 1x2 slotted bricks #700 1/ Retailer refill box of 200 1x2 slotted bricks #700 1/ Individual 2x2 slotted bricks #700 1/ Retailer refill box of 100 2x2 slotted bricks #700 3/ Individual 2x3 slotted bricks 3

4 #700 3/ Retailer refill box of 100 2x3 slotted bricks #700 1/ Individual 2x4 slotted bricks #700 1/ Retailer refill box of 100 2x4 slotted bricks #700/ Individual 2x8 slotted bricks #700/ Retailer refill box of 25 2x8 slotted bricks #700/ Individual 2x10 slotted bricks #700/ Retailer refill box of 25 2x10 slotted bricks #700/ Individual 2x12 slotted bricks #700/ Retailer refill box of 25 2x12 slotted bricks #700/ Individual 2x14 slotted bricks #700/ Retailer refill box of 25 2x14 slotted bricks Starting in 1958, Denmark switched to a new numbering system for the new tube bottom bricks. From 1958 until 1965 Denmark continued to sell bricks as individual parts available from the retailer. Other continental European countries sold bricks only in spare parts packs. But Denmark sold the larger bricks as individual parts. Danish retailer individual parts sales were ended in A #221 box of 200 1x2 yellow bricks was sold by TLG to Danish retailers for individual parts sales from Individual Danish parts sales ended in Danish Individual LEGO Parts - Numbering System Part/Box Part/Box Number Number Description of Parts #215 Individual 2x8 bricks -- #215 Refill Box of 2x8 bricks 25 #216 Individual 2x10 bricks -- #216 Refill Box of 2x10 bricks 25 #217 Individual 4x4 corner bricks -- #217 Refill Box of 4x4 corner bricks 50 #218 Individual 2x4 bricks -- #218 Refill Box of 2x4 bricks 100 #219 Individual 2x3 bricks -- #219 Refill Box of 2x3 bricks 100 #220 Individual 2x2 bricks -- #220 Refill Box of 2x2 bricks 200 #221 Individual 1x2 bricks -- #221 Refill Box of 1x2 bricks 200 4

5 28.2 Continental Europe - Retailer Window/Door Boxes ( ) # Continental Europe Retailer Window/Door Boxes ( ). In 1957 TLG started selling classic style LEGO windows and doors from a retailer box that was different from the individual brick sales of Denmark from The LEGO windows/doors retailer box was known as # From this attractive box looked just like the boxes for the #700/1-#700/6 basic sets being sold at that time. From the # box had a different design with all 9 window and 1 door type shown on the box top. The early # Retailer Windows/Doors box. These boxes only came in 3 language versions, German, Danish and Swedish/Norwegian LEGO Retailers # Windows/Doors Individual Parts/Boxes Country Years # Box Top Written Description* Denmark: LEGO Mursten and System i leg Norway/Sweden LEGO Mursten and System i lek Germany LEGO Bausteine and System im Spiel Continental Europe LEGO System (Town Plan Scene) ** Continental Europe LEGO System (Windows/Door Scene) * - All retailer boxes with local language names have the Town Plan scene. ** - In 1958 the Retailer windows/doors boxes still had the local language(s) writing on the sides of the box. 5

6 A box of #214/1 large white 1x6x3 Panorama windows ready for installation in a Retailer Windows/Doors box. The larger windows and doors came in long thin cardboard brown boxes that could be inserted into part of the retailer box. The 1x1x1, 1x1x2 and 1x2x1 small windows came in small square boxes. When you removed the top to these cardboard boxes of the larger windows and doors, the parts were neatly stacked in long rows with only their studded top showing. All the larger windows were stored in a single row in the retailer box. The 1x2x2 windows and 1x2x3 doors were stored in a double row. The 3 smallest windows (1x1x1, 1x2x1 and 1x1x2) were loosely stored in small square boxes. A full # box could hold 375 windows. Refills could be reordered by individual #214 numbers or an entire set of refills (without the large retailer box) would be #214 S. The inside of a full # Retailer Windows & Doors box with both red and white windows. Some retailers kept a separate box for each window color, others used the same box for both colors. 6

7 The Retailer Windows & Doors Box Top. Around the sides of the box were written LEGO System in Play in many European languages LEGO Retailers Windows/Doors Individual Parts/Boxes Part/Box Part/Box Number Number Description of Parts # Retailer box filled with windows/doors 375 #214-1 Individual 1x6x3 panorama windows --- #214-1 Refill Box of 1x6x3 panorama windows 25 #214-2 Individual 1x6x2 3 pane windows --- #214-2 Refill Box of 1x6x2 3 pane windows 25 #214-3 Individual 1x6x2 shuttered windows --- #214-3 Refill Box of 1x6x2 shuttered windows 25 #214-4 Individual 1x4x2 windows --- #214-4 Refill Box of 1x4x2 windows 25 #214-5 Individual 1x3x2 windows --- #214-5 Refill Box of 1x3x2 windows 25 #214-6 Individual 1x2x2 windows --- #214-6 Refill Box of 1x2x2 windows 50 #214-7 Individual 1x1x2 windows --- #214-7 Refill Box of 1x1x2 windows 50 #214-8 Individual 1x2x1 windows --- #214-8 Refill Box of 1x2x1 windows 50 #214-9 Individual 1x1x1 windows --- #214-9 Refill Box of 1x1x1 windows 50 # Individual 1x2x3 doors --- # Refill Box of 1x2x3 doors 50 #214 S Refill Refill of 9 different window/1 door refill boxes 375 7

8 The # Windows/Doors retailer box top. This same design was used on the #461 retailer box that replaced it in #451-#461 Continental Europe Retailer Window/Door Boxes ( ). The #214 series of window/door part and set numbers were retired in But the parts and retailer window/door boxes were still available in , but under a new numbers. The numbers are #451-#460 and they match # respectively. A new retailer box was also produced, and is known as #461. The larger windows and doors came in long thin cardboard brown boxes that could be inserted into part of the retailer box. The 1x1x1, 1x1x2 and 1x2x1 small windows came in small square boxes. When you removed the top to these cardboard boxes of the larger windows and doors, the parts were neatly stacked in long rows with only their studded top showing. All the larger windows were stored in a single row in the retailer box. The 1x2x2 windows and 1x2x3 doors were stored in a double row. The 3 smallest windows (1x1x1, 1x2x1 and 1x1x2) were loosely stored in small square boxes, which were also inserted into the large retailer box when the top was removed. Each of these refill boxes had a star stamped on the end of the box in the color of the contents of the box. A full #461 retailer box could hold 375 windows. Refills could be reordered by individual #451-#460 numbers. The new windows/doors retailer box did not last for more than one year. In 1967 all of continental Europe only sold windows/doors in a box of 10 in parts pack #414 (one of each), and the windows/doors retailer boxes were permanently discontinued. However, retailers kept their old retailer boxes on hand until the individual windows/doors were finally sold. Some small town retailers, due to slow sales, managed to keep their windows/doors boxes available on the store shelves for over 20 years. 8

9 LEGO Retailers Windows/Doors Individual Part Boxes Part/Box Part/Box Number of Number Description Parts #451 Individual 1x6x3 panorama windows --- #451 Refill Box of 1x6x3 panorama windows 25 #452 Individual 1x6x2 3 pane windows --- #452 Refill Box of 1x6x2 3 pane windows 25 #453 Individual 1x6x2 shuttered windows --- #453 Refill Box of 1x6x2 shuttered windows 25 #454 Individual 1x4x2 windows --- #454 Refill Box of 1x4x2 windows 25 #455 Individual 1x3x2 windows --- #455 Refill Box of 1x3x2 windows 25 #456 Individual 1x2x2 windows --- #456 Refill Box of 1x2x2 windows 50 #457 Individual 1x1x2 windows --- #457 Refill Box of 1x1x2 windows 50 #458 Individual 1x2x1 windows --- #458 Refill Box of 1x2x1 windows 50 #459 Individual 1x1x1 windows --- #459 Refill Box of 1x1x1 windows 50 #460 Individual 1x2x3 doors --- #460 Refill Box of 1x2x3 doors 50 #461 Retailer box filled with windows/doors 375 After the end of the Danish individual parts sales in 1965, and the continental European retailer windows and door boxes in 1967, there were no more individual parts sales. But starting in 1970 Britain and Australia started (thru British Lego Ltd.) Mail-Order sales of Lego parts. This was followed by service pack type part sales in continental Europe from late Some countries (such as Germany) sold the parts as individual or grouped parts. Other countries, such as Italy and the Netherlands, sold items only as Mail-Order Britain/Australia - Mail Order Service Packs ( ). British LEGO Ltd. was the licensee that sold LEGO in Britain through their Wrexham, North Wales headquarters. Unlike continental Europe, individual part LEGO retailer boxes were never used in Britain. So by the early 1970 s when a need arose for individual parts, it was decided to sell them mail order only. By 1975, there were 36 LEGO parts/part groups sold in this manner. It also appears that many of these same British spare parts were available in Australia. 9

10 UK/AUS LEGO Mail Order Spare Parts for Train/Town Systems Parts Parts Year Number Description Introduced #S1 Plate w/ Steering Control Tongue 1970 #S2 Steering Column for #S #S3 2 2x2 Axle Bricks with Wheels 1970 #S4 4 Small Tires for 1 Stud Wheels 1970 #S5 4 Tires for 4 Stud Wheels 1970 #S6 4 Tires for 12 Stud Wheels 1970 #S7 Caterpillar Tracks for 4 Stud Wheels 1970 #S8A 4 Train Wheels w/notched Axes 1970 #S8B 4 Train Wheels w/un-notched Axles 1970 #S8C 4 Rubber Rims for Train Wheels 1970 #S8T 4 Wheels/Tires w/un-notched Axles 1970 #S9 4 Motor Bushes for Unsealed Motor 1970 #S V Motor Housing Unit 1970 #S V Battery Case 1970 #S12 Spare Connector Cables 1970 #S13 Plate to fit over Motor 1970 #S14 Light Bulb for Lighting Device 1970 #S15 2x2 Lighting Brick 1970 #S16 2 Vertical Hinges 1970 #S16A 2 Vertical Hinges with 8 studs 1973 #S16B 1 Vertical Hinge with 8 & 16 studs #S17 Level Crossing with Barriers 1970 #S18 Battery Box Pole Reverser 1970 #S19 2 TV Antennas 1970 #S20 Wheeled Trolley for Duplo 1972 #S21 2 Each of 4 Sizes of Axles for Gear Wheels 1972 #S22 4 Stopper Bushes for Gear Axles 1972 #S23 2 Motor Drive Shafts 1972 #S24 3 Pair Magnetic Couplings 1972 #S25 Pair of Signals with Automatic Switch for Motor 1972 #S26 2 6x24 Baseplates 1972 #S27 2 6x16 Baseplates 1972 #S28 2 Pair Ball and Socket Couplings 1972 #S x2 Tiles available in 6 colors 1973 #S30 Replacement Switch Panel for Battery Box 1973 #S31 Replacement 4.5V Motor for #S10 (above) 1973 #S32 4.5V Batter Tender for Train & Train Signal 1975 #S33 Wooden Storage Box with 2 Tier Plastic Trays

11 British Mail-Order spare parts as seen in the 1972 British LEGO Catalog Continental Europe/Britain/Australia - Service Packs ( ). Although spare train parts continued to be sold thru mail order in Britain and Australia in the late 1970 s, in several continental European countries they started being sold directly from the LEGO retailer. As the LEGO train system got more complex in the 1970 s, TLG decided to sell individual parts in a similar way that they sold individual windows and doors from retailer boxes in the late 1950 s and early1960 s. That was by way of a retailer box of spare parts. These retailer boxes were wooden boxes with about 20 compartments for the different spare parts. These boxes were (as was the case with the window/door retailer boxes) only used in continental Europe. The LEGO retailer would have the box either behind the counter, or underneath the LEGO rack. Most of the parts in these boxes were related to trains, but some Technic parts were included, as were some sloped bricks, round bricks, construction equipment (steam shovel and bulldozer parts), airplane/helicopter parts, hinges, ship keels, car/truck tires and lighting bricks. 11

12 This box is a mock up of a German Retailer Train/Spare Parts Box of circa The sale of items from these retailer boxes started about late Originally the parts were not packaged, but by 1980 they were sold in plastic flat packs with a 4 digit part number. The individual parts had 1-2 digit numbers. By the early 1980 s these same parts were produced in a clear plastic flat pack (with a hole for hanging in a display rack). These early 1980 s 4 digit pack numbers were #1101 thru #12xx Some continental European countries such as Italy and the Netherlands only sold spare parts thru mail order, similar to Britain and Australia. Many times the retailer themselves put these loose parts into small plastic bags, labeled them, and stored them in the wooden retailer boxes. This was probably to reduce theft of small individual parts. In some continental European countries, such as Italy and the Netherlands, there were no loose part sales. All spare parts were only available thru Mail Order. One of the more unusual items found in the British catalog service pack listings in the 1970 s was this large empty wooden box with 2 levels of plastic trays. 12

13 This is the first service parts page from the 1978 German LEGO Catalog. This is the second service parts page from the 1978 German LEGO Catalog. 13

14 LEGO Retailer/Mail Order Spare Parts for Trains/Technic/Town.* EU EU UK/AUS Parts Year Retailer Mail Order Mail Order Description Intro Part # Part # Part # 4.5 V Replacement Motor 1977 #1 #S.1 #Sp V Motor Bushes 1977 #2 #S.2 #Sp V Motor Battery Box 1977 #3 #S.3 #Sp V Motor Battery Cables 1977 #4 #S.4 #Sp.4 2 Treads 1977 #5 #S.5 #Sp V Battery Train Wagon 1977 #6 #S.6 #Sp.6 Train Signal with Ties 1977 #7 #S.7 #Sp.7 Magnetic Train Couplers w/plates 1977 #8 #S.8 #Sp.8 Magnetic Train Couplers 1977 #9 #S.9 #Sp.9 Locomotive Wheels 1977 #10 #S.10 #Sp.10 Locomotive Traction Tires 1977 #11 #S.11 #Sp.11 Wheel Bearings for Locomotives 1977 #12 #S.12 #Sp.12 Train Motor Plate with Buffers 1977 #13 #S.13 #Sp.13 Train Motor Plate with Coupler 1977 #14 #S.14 #Sp.14 2x2 Lighting Brick 1977 #15 #S.15 #Sp.15 Length of Chain Links 1977 #16 #S.16 #Sp.16 Technic Axles with Connectors 1977 #17 #S.17 #Sp.17 1 Ship Keel 1977 #18 #S.18 #Sp.18 2 Locomotive Piston Assemblies 1977 #19 #S.19 #Sp.19 2 Cross Country 42mm Tires 1977 #20 #S.20 #Sp.20 Propellers, Wheels & Rotors 1977 #21 #S.21 #Sp.21 Horizontal Hinges 1977 #22 #S.22 #Sp.22 Ball/Socket Coupling/Joint 1977 #23 #S.23 #Sp.23 Digger Bucket 1977 #24 #S.24 #Sp.24 Steam Shovel/Plates with Holes 1977 #25 #S.25 #Sp V Motor 1977 #26 #S Train Contact Bricks 1977 #27 #S Track Contact Plate with Cables 1977 #28 #S V Technic Motor 1977 #29 #S.75 #Sp.26 2 Small Turntables/Gear Racks 1977 #30 #S.76 #Sp.27 Technic Univ. Joint/Connectors 1977 #31 #S.77 #Sp.28 Textile Bag with Draw Strings #Sp.29 Wooden Box /2 Tier Plastic Trays #Sp. B Small Tire, Large Tire 1977 # Small/Large Red Spoked Wheel 1977 # x2 Sloped Convex Corner Bricks 1977 # Motor Case with Screws 1977 # Small Tractor Tires 1977 #

15 Small Technic Wheels 1977 # x1 Open Stud Round Bricks 1977 # Motor Gearbox 1977 # x2 Axle Brick with Small Wheels 1977 # Train Wagon Wheels in Red 1977 # Motor Case/Upper Part 1977 # * - EU = Continental Europe UK = Britain AUS = Australia Some continental European countries (such as Italy and Netherlands) sold spare parts thru Mail Order only, while other countries (such as Germany) sold the parts directly from the retailer. British Mail Order service pack list from the 1977 Catalog 15

16 Dutch Mail Order service pack list (above and below) from the 1978 Catalog 16

17 28.5 USA - Mail Order Service Packs ( ). From 1973 until 1979 there were no spare parts packs available in the USA. The first spare parts came out in 1980 and were mail-order service packs, similar to those spare parts sales in continental Europe. Unlike USA, continental Europe, Britain and Australia, Canada did not sell service packs in the 1970 s or early 1980 s. USA LEGO Mail Order Service Packs ( ). Parts Parts Year Number Description Introduced #1 25 Chain Links 1980 #1 50 Bulldozer Chain Links 1982 #2 Digger Bucket Assembly 1980 #2 2 Large Tires & Hubs 1982 #3 Doors & Fences 1980 #4 Propellors & Wheels 1980 #5 Hinges 1980 #6 LEGO Motor Wires 1980 #7 4.5 V Battery Box 1980 #8 Replacement 4.5 V Motor 1980 #9 Trees & Flowers 1980 #10 Cypress Tree & Signs 1980 #11 Police Accessories Pack 1980 #12 Blue Space Elements 1980 #13 Gray Space Elements 1980 #14 Expert Builder Parts 1980 #14 Space Mini-Figures 1982 #15 Castle Mini-Figures 1984 #16 Transparent Bricks

18 The service packs in the 1982 USA LEGO catalog. The castle Minifigs and transparent bricks would come into production as #15 and #16 in Chapter 28 Image Credits: Eric Strand - Texas USA, Dave Shifflett - California USA, Kurt Richter - Bavaria Germany, Phil Travis - Yorkshire England, Gary Istok - Michigan USA. 18