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I was in Billund last week and was privleged to be allowed into 'the vault'
for research purposes.
As previously mentioned elsewhere, this is a room filled with multiple
copies of everything LEGO has ever produced [1], kept primarily for legal
purposes, I am led to believe.
In the three hours I had in there, I searched for 'System' sets that
www.Brickset.com does not have listed, in the period 1978 onwards. I was
particularly interested in finding any otherwise unknown promotional sets.
To be perfectly honest, you'd need three weeks in there to check everything
properly, there's so much, but in that time I did uncover a few new sets
which you can see at http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?show=New.
Of particular note is what may be a previously unknown space set, number
1526, http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=1526-1. However unlike every
other set in there, this was not complete and looked to be a stapled mock up
of a box. Paperwork in the room listed the set as having been released in
1986, the same year as the date on the box, so it could well be a 'real'
set, that is so rare even LEGO don't have a copy. Or it might just be what I
found: a mock up of a set that was intended to be produced but never was. I
intend to ask the very helpful archivist for more information about it in
due course.
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that, actually, Brickset is
pretty much complete for 'System' sets in the period in which we specialise
(c.1980 onwards), and apart from the space set mentioned above, no real
'gems' were uncovered. I hope one day to go back, maybe with a helper, and
do a more thorough check, and also include the 1970's.
Here are some pictures I took in there, and also in the new 'museum' area
that is being set up in the same building.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79017
Huw
[1] Well, that's the claim. I am not personally convinced that everything is
there, particularly promotional sets from recent years. At least, I am sure
some of the airline promos and other small polybags I have in my collection
are missing. But then, I did only have 3 hours in there, so I probably
missed them...
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Huw Millington wrote:
> I was in Billund last week and was privleged to be allowed into 'the vault'
> for research purposes.
>
> As previously mentioned elsewhere, this is a room filled with multiple
> copies of everything LEGO has ever produced [1], kept primarily for legal
> purposes, I am led to believe.
>
> In the three hours I had in there, I searched for 'System' sets that
> www.Brickset.com does not have listed, in the period 1978 onwards. I was
> particularly interested in finding any otherwise unknown promotional sets.
> To be perfectly honest, you'd need three weeks in there to check everything
> properly, there's so much, but in that time I did uncover a few new sets
> which you can see at http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?show=New.
>
> Of particular note is what may be a previously unknown space set, number
> 1526, http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=1526-1. However unlike every
> other set in there, this was not complete and looked to be a stapled mock up
> of a box. Paperwork in the room listed the set as having been released in
> 1986, the same year as the date on the box, so it could well be a 'real'
> set, that is so rare even LEGO don't have a copy. Or it might just be what I
> found: a mock up of a set that was intended to be produced but never was. I
> intend to ask the very helpful archivist for more information about it in
> due course.
>
> Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that, actually, Brickset is
> pretty much complete for 'System' sets in the period in which we specialise
> (c.1980 onwards), and apart from the space set mentioned above, no real
> 'gems' were uncovered. I hope one day to go back, maybe with a helper, and
> do a more thorough check, and also include the 1970's.
>
> Here are some pictures I took in there, and also in the new 'museum' area
> that is being set up in the same building.
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79017
>
> Huw
>
> [1] Well, that's the claim. I am not personally convinced that everything is
> there, particularly promotional sets from recent years. At least, I am sure
> some of the airline promos and other small polybags I have in my collection
> are missing. But then, I did only have 3 hours in there, so I probably
> missed them...
>
>
So this means that all those people who thought they were Classic Space
complete are now not?
What would be really cool is if TLC allowed instructions for this (and
anything else not public) to go onto www.brickshelf.com :)
One "known to exist but unreleased" set to look for next time is the 6500
Holiday Village
Plus, the mythical 1886 Star Wars Bucket
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
> I was in Billund last week and was privleged to be allowed into 'the vault'
> for research purposes.
>
> As previously mentioned elsewhere, this is a room filled with multiple
> copies of everything LEGO has ever produced [1], kept primarily for legal
> purposes, I am led to believe.
>
> In the three hours I had in there, I searched for 'System' sets that
> www.Brickset.com does not have listed, in the period 1978 onwards. I was
> particularly interested in finding any otherwise unknown promotional sets.
> To be perfectly honest, you'd need three weeks in there to check everything
> properly, there's so much, but in that time I did uncover a few new sets
> which you can see at http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?show=New.
>
> Of particular note is what may be a previously unknown space set, number
> 1526, http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=1526-1. However unlike every
> other set in there, this was not complete and looked to be a stapled mock up
> of a box. Paperwork in the room listed the set as having been released in
> 1986, the same year as the date on the box, so it could well be a 'real'
> set, that is so rare even LEGO don't have a copy. Or it might just be what I
> found: a mock up of a set that was intended to be produced but never was. I
> intend to ask the very helpful archivist for more information about it in
> due course.
>
> Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that, actually, Brickset is
> pretty much complete for 'System' sets in the period in which we specialise
> (c.1980 onwards), and apart from the space set mentioned above, no real
> 'gems' were uncovered. I hope one day to go back, maybe with a helper, and
> do a more thorough check, and also include the 1970's.
>
> Here are some pictures I took in there, and also in the new 'museum' area
> that is being set up in the same building.
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79017
>
> Huw
>
> [1] Well, that's the claim. I am not personally convinced that everything is
> there, particularly promotional sets from recent years. At least, I am sure
> some of the airline promos and other small polybags I have in my collection
> are missing. But then, I did only have 3 hours in there, so I probably
> missed them...
Dibs on "helper." :o) I've been wanting to make the trek to Billund for almost
30 years now, and being Classic-Space complete, I really need to see that 1526
box up close and personal. Please consider this a serious offer.
I also need to see the STACK of 1593 boxes I saw in Mr. Van Ree's pics a few
days ago. I suppose if Lego ever needs some spare cash, they could always offer
one of two of these rarities up for auction someday!
--Dave
member #95
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Huw Millington wrote:
> [1] Well, that's the claim. I am not personally convinced that everything
> [is
> there, particularly promotional sets from recent years. At least, I am
> sure some of the airline promos and other small polybags I have in my
> collection are missing. But then, I did only have 3 hours in there, so I
> probably missed them...
During our vault trip I've talked to Tormod Askildsen about this and he was
going to take this up with Jake McKee to see if it was possible to try and
fill the gaps on LUGNET/Brickset some day.
--
Jan-Albert van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/brickpiles/
Brick Piles | Santa Fe B-unit
GnuPG key | http://www.vanree.net/~javanree/publickey.asc
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
> I was in Billund last week and was privleged to be allowed into 'the vault'
> for research purposes.
After studying your pictures, I believe security there looks fairly weak. I
think all we need are a couple of "Italian Job" minis and a beautiful woman and
we can make the heist of the century...
Lars
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In lugnet.general, Lars Brandt wrote:
...I believe security there looks fairly weak. I
> think all we need are a couple of "Italian Job" minis and a beautiful woman and
> we can make the heist of the century...
>
> Lars
Here, here!
That'd be mighty tempting, but the thrill would be gone after completing the
heist. I mean, after I open them and add the parts and sets to my collection,
it'd become urban myth. Who could I brag to?
I'd just like to drool around there after hours a little.
-Aaron-
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
>
> I didn't look that closely at sets in the 'normal' number range, figuring
> that we likely knew all there is to know about them already. If there's a
> next time, I'll be sure to check!
>
> Huw
Thanks Huw. Likewise if I get to the bottom of these castle set issues without
visiting the vault, Ill let you and lugnet know about it.
Ben E.
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
<snippage>
>
> I didn't look that closely at sets in the 'normal' number range, figuring
> that we likely knew all there is to know about them already. If there's a
> next time, I'll be sure to check!
>
> Huw
I am just curious to see if this is an actual "official" lego set or
not (it is in the Lugnet Set guide):
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/6500
Thanks...
Ben Medinets
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"Jonathan Wilson" <jonwil@tpgi.com.au> wrote in message news:Hx5y0C.22KG@lugnet.com...
> Huw Millington wrote:
> >
> > In the three hours I had in there, I searched for 'System' sets that
> > www.Brickset.com does not have listed, in the period 1978 onwards. I was
> > particularly interested in finding any otherwise unknown promotional sets.
> > To be perfectly honest, you'd need three weeks in there to check everything
> > properly, there's so much, but in that time I did uncover a few new sets
> > which you can see at http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?show=New.
> >
> > Of particular note is what may be a previously unknown space set, number
> > 1526, http://www.brickset.com/search.aspx?Set=1526-1. However unlike every
> > other set in there, this was not complete and looked to be a stapled mock up
> > of a box. Paperwork in the room listed the set as having been released in
> > 1986, the same year as the date on the box, so it could well be a 'real'
> > set, that is so rare even LEGO don't have a copy. Or it might just be what I
> > found: a mock up of a set that was intended to be produced but never was. I
> > intend to ask the very helpful archivist for more information about it in
> > due course.
>
> So this means that all those people who thought they were Classic Space
> complete are now not?
>
> What would be really cool is if TLC allowed instructions for this (and
> anything else not public) to go onto www.brickshelf.com :)
Give me a few weeks (It'd be a few days, if t weren't for upcoming finals), and I'll have at least something instruction-wise put
together on MLCad.
--
Markham Carroll
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In lugnet.general, Lars Brandt wrote:
> In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
> > I was in Billund last week and was privleged to be allowed into 'the vault'
> > for research purposes.
>
>
> After studying your pictures, I believe security there looks fairly weak. I
> think all we need are a couple of "Italian Job" minis and a beautiful woman and
> we can make the heist of the century...
>
> Lars
I've been there in Marz, und I have to disappoint you. The trip from 'outside'
to 'inside' is very well pass-protected. And some quite difficult doors too.
And this beautiful woman won't help too.... the archivist is married.... a married woman! :-) :-)
Klaas
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
> Here are some pictures I took in there, and also in the new 'museum' area
> that is being set up in the same building.
>
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79017
Hi Huw -
I'm surprised they allowed you to take (and post) pictures. When I was there in
2002, I was asked to put my camera away.
I only spent a little time inside. It was only one part of a perhaps hour-long
personal tour of the Idea House. It must have been great to spend several hours
investigating!
-Tim
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I never knew this vault existed. Wow. That is the coolest room ever. I assume
most, if not all, of those sets are unopened.
Seeing that stack of monorail sets made me envious . . . .
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
> I was in Billund last week and was privleged to be allowed into 'the vault'
> for research purposes.
>
> As previously mentioned elsewhere, this is a room filled with multiple
> copies of everything LEGO has ever produced [1], kept primarily for legal
> purposes, I am led to believe.
Huw, many thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed looking at the photos.
Calum
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"Benjamin Medinets" <bmedinets@excite.com> wrote in message
news:Hx9JCq.1IL7@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
>
> <snippage>
>
> >
> > I didn't look that closely at sets in the 'normal' number range, • figuring
> > that we likely knew all there is to know about them already. If there's • a
> > next time, I'll be sure to check!
> >
> > Huw
>
> I am just curious to see if this is an actual "official" lego set or
> not (it is in the Lugnet Set guide):
>
> http://guide.lugnet.com/set/6500
>
> Thanks...
> Ben Medinets
I didn't see it, but then I wasn't specifically looking for it.
It appeared in the 1996 dealer catalogue, but was presumably shelved before
its release date.
Huw
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"Tim Courtney" <lego@SPAMCAKE.timcourtney.net> wrote in message
news:Hx9puy.F2G@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
>
> > Here are some pictures I took in there, and also in the new 'museum' • area
> > that is being set up in the same building.
> >
> > http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79017
>
> Hi Huw -
>
> I'm surprised they allowed you to take (and post) pictures. When I was • there in
> 2002, I was asked to put my camera away.
>
> I only spent a little time inside. It was only one part of a perhaps • hour-long
> personal tour of the Idea House. It must have been great to spend several • hours
> investigating!
Photos in the idea house were not allowed, but I specifically arranged to go
to the vault for Brickset research purposes, and confirmed that photographs
were permited beforehand.
I didn't mention that while I was in there I was interviewed and
photographed by the LEGO Life [1] reporter, so if you get to see that, look
out for me in a future issue! I was asked to pick a favourite set with which
to be photographed with. I chose one of the Maersk truck sets...
Huw
[1] LEGO's in-house staff magazine
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
>
> "Tim Courtney" <lego@SPAMCAKE.timcourtney.net> wrote in message
> news:Hx9puy.F2G@lugnet.com...
> > In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
> >
> > > Here are some pictures I took in there, and also in the new 'museum' area
> > > that is being set up in the same building.
> > >
> > > http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79017
> >
> > Hi Huw -
> >
> > I'm surprised they allowed you to take (and post) pictures. When I was there in
> > 2002, I was asked to put my camera away.
> >
> > I only spent a little time inside. It was only one part of a perhaps hour-long
> > personal tour of the Idea House. It must have been great to spend several hours
> > investigating!
>
> Photos in the idea house were not allowed, but I specifically arranged to go
> to the vault for Brickset research purposes, and confirmed that photographs
> were permited beforehand.
I was allowed to take photos in the upper level of the Idea House, with the mock
toy store, original molds, and 1950s toy store museum (which you have photos
posted of). Also, I took them in the basement outside of the vault, with
clone/counterfeit displays, but was not allowed to inside the fault itself.
I saw all but the main floor, which I was told had the next year's products out
on display. I would have gladly signed an NDA to see them, but that wasn't an
option.
> I didn't mention that while I was in there I was interviewed and
> photographed by the LEGO Life [1] reporter, so if you get to see that, look
> out for me in a future issue! I was asked to pick a favourite set with which
> to be photographed with. I chose one of the Maersk truck sets...
Cool! I'll keep a lookout :-)
-Tim
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