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  The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Since several of you have expressed enjoyment with my blathering about Lego history, I thought I would give you a 1956-65 history on the origins of Lego plates. If anyone has info that contradicts me, please feel free and let me know. Enjoy! Gary (...) (25 years ago, 14-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Gary, How do you feel about letting your material into the LUGNET FAQ? Do you have any copyright or ownership issues you feel might get in the way? Cheers, - jsproat (25 years ago, 14-Jul-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.faq)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Opps, I forgot to mention several people that have helped me (unwittingly) fill in some detail for getting this info together. One is a German collector friend of mine named Kurt Richter, the other is a British collector named Phil Traviss, whom I (...) (25 years ago, 14-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
I remember Gary showing us some of the catalogs he has when we went to lunch. I was ready to bomb TLG (LG for those who don't like TLG) after seeing these. Do us all a favor, produce parts packs again!!!! Or those 2x3x1 clears, ugh! :) Scott Sanburn (25 years ago, 14-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
OK, I went digging thru some of my old Lego plates. I could not find (nor do I ever recall) blue or yellow plates made from Cellulose Acetate. Since Samsonite did not make plates in blue or yellow (in the early Cellulose Acetate years), I'm going to (...) (25 years ago, 15-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) I don't know much about the really early days of Lego, so forgive me if this is an ignorant question, but: Are these what they sound like? Architectural sets with ideas for generic continental European architecture? I had independantly come to (...) (25 years ago, 15-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Eric, (There are no ignorant questions!!) Most people are unaware of the Architectural Sets, which were produced from 1963-65. They are not as exciting as they sound. The sets consist only of plates and bricks - no windows or doors (clear (...) (25 years ago, 15-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Spoken like a man who's never worked in Tech Support. :D (...) I had heard of the Architectural Parts Packs, but not the main Architectural Sets. (...) I'll have to take another look at a terminal where I can change the resolution... or (...) (25 years ago, 15-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Gary, Only one small thing I'd like to add. The early Samsonite 1x2 plates (and I think, but would have to check that i have models with 2x2 cellulose acetate plates and 1x2 ABS plates) had a small rectangular pip on the bottomisde, between where (...) (25 years ago, 21-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Yes. I remember seeing one of those once and thinking it very odd/old. A white one if I'm not mistaken. I'm in the ongoing process of separating my older looking bricks from newer ones as I come across them, so I can use older ones (...) (25 years ago, 21-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Thanks Bill. I noticed those also. I'm going to get a lot of the old plates and check them out for other possible variations. However, I couldn't locate a Jet #348 in the Lugnet Database. Is that the one that has large grey plate(s) with the (...) (25 years ago, 21-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Here's an example of the old style plate: (URL) (25 years ago, 22-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Well I checked some plates covering the last 35 years. And it looks like not only are there the 2 varieties that Bill already talked about, but I've found a more recent variety. It looks like the circular pip type plates have a new variety, (...) (25 years ago, 22-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) I'm not sure if this is a fourth variety (I think it is version four) or if all "Hollow Pip" ones are like this, but a number of 1x2's I've gotten recently have textured surfaces on the bottom. If I remember, I'll look at my 1x2's tonight. (...) (25 years ago, 22-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Tiles have both varieties, and have had them for a while. 1x10 plates also have both varieties, but I'm not sure about other plates. Jeff (25 years ago, 22-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) I typically use those to help in sorting...the plates have had the filled-in pips and the tiles have had the hollow pips. But I think I've noticed plates like that too, now that you mention it. (25 years ago, 22-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) plates (...) and (...) Jet (...) with (...) plates (...) to (...) 40 (...) Samsonite (...) from (...) many (...) on (...) older (...) Gary - I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read about your nearly infinite supply supply of parts, (...) (25 years ago, 22-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) it might be of interest that i found one of the architecture lego boxes a while ago. that one had only the 1x2 plates with rectangular pips. i'm quite sure now that they do not come in other than the architecture sets. have fun, rufus t. (25 years ago, 23-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Thanks for the info Rufus. I can verify that this weekend. I have some Cellulose Acetate 1x2 green plates (USA Samsonite only - hence not from an Architectural Pack). Gary Istok (25 years ago, 23-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Gary Istok (gistok@umich.edu) wrote: : Rufus T. Falkenstein wrote: : > : > it might be of interest that i found one of the architecture lego boxes : > a while ago. that one had only the 1x2 plates with rectangular pips. i'm : > quite sure now that (...) (25 years ago, 23-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Yes, and I checked my Samsonite green plates. They also have those pips. I tend to think that all 1x2 plates from the 1960's have that pip. Also, on another note. I can now say with certainty that Cellulose Acetate plates were indeed produced (...) (25 years ago, 26-Jul-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Well, I've done a lot of digging, and I've encountered more Cellulose Acetate bricks and plates than I thought I would find. First of all the 751 Architectural set I purchased from a gentleman in Belgium earlier this year contains all Cellulose (...) (25 years ago, 4-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) collectible in (...) the 1960's. (...) 1960's, and (...) Somewhere in my collection I've seen a 1x2 plate with a square pip on the bottom. I'd like to look through and find any Cellulose Acetate bricks. How can I tell them from ABS? Naji (25 years ago, 4-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) I sometimes have a hard time telling the difference. The pips on the 1x2 aren't a good indicator, because I have ABS 1x2 plates with that pip. Here is an overview of telling the difference: On new or hardly used pieces it is much easier. The (...) (25 years ago, 4-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Ooops, I forgot clear bricks (Ben Rochow reminded me). See below. Gary Istok (...) Clear - Only the regular clear bricks were produced. The CA clear bricks have a yellow hue to them (probably yellowed over the years). Warping is common. The ABS (...) (25 years ago, 4-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes: <snip> (...) There are definitely two different shades of clear ABS brick that have been circulating over the last few years. For example, I'm currently looking at my 9365 Dacta Community Vehicles set and the (...) (25 years ago, 5-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) they'll turn that color. But one thing I did notice is that the clear 1x2 plates from the 1960's Architectural parts packs are indistinguishable from those of the Lear Jet (1970's). That means that both are ABS, or they had a lot of CA plates (...) (25 years ago, 5-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) like (...) I have a translucent white TV antenna from the late 1970s. It appears in the 374: Fire Station picture (URL) other sets. Other than this one piece, the only other translucent white I've seen is the in the new glow-in-the-dark (...) (25 years ago, 5-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Gary Istok <gistok@umich.edu> wrote in message news:37A9A4D6.6336A9...ich.edu... (...) years (...) left over (...) is (...) generalization like (...) what (...) I can't say for certain, but I'd swear that the few (very chewed and manbled) 1x2 (...) (25 years ago, 5-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Hey Mark, you are correct!! Set 725 - Town Plan (the later 1962-64 version) had over 100 clear bricks, in brick sizes 1x1, 1x2, 1x6, 1x8, 2x2, 2x3, 2x4 and 2x2 quarter circle (macaroni). No clear plates or slopes in this set. Keep those clear (...) (25 years ago, 5-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Gary Istok <gistok@umich.edu> wrote in message news:378CB428.51D8C5...ich.edu... (...) The blueprints I have pictures of at: (URL) been dated as 1965 by Phil Trivass. On at least one of them: (URL) are referred to as 'slimbricks', and this (...) (25 years ago, 6-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) Very interesting. This London Bus has 29 white windows (18 - 1x4x2, 7 - 1x3x2, and 4 - 1x2x2) versus the later (1975) London bus we are all familiar with which had 22 red windows (10 -1x4x2, 11 - 1x3x2 and 1 - 1x2x2) as well as 2 - 1x1x1 (...) (25 years ago, 6-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
(...) I've been wondering about this for decades) show the tires off-center on the hubs, such that they are expanded in diameter by the wheel edge on one side? Some show them put on correctly, so I guess there's nothing weird in the shape of the (...) (25 years ago, 6-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)
 
  Re: The History of LEGO Plates - Part 1.
 
Don't forget that another valuable source of data on this is box images and instruction "pictures" that show actual pieces. Virtually every clear brick I have from the 70's is yellowed to some extent, except for the bricks in my 404, which are (...) (25 years ago, 8-Aug-99, to lugnet.general)

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