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Subject: 
The Ultimate LEGO Book Review....
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.general
Date: 
Tue, 2 Nov 1999 19:12:04 GMT
Viewed: 
612 times
  
I finally bought THE ULTIMATE LEGO BOOK over the weekend.  And here's my
2 cents/pfennig/centimes worth....

This is a book by and about TLG.  It shows many of the models built by
the model shops.  It gives a brief (yes brief) history on LEGO, as well
as when a few of the pieces were first produced.  There are a few
discrepancies that a Classic Collector like myself would find
interesting.

First off, it states that LEGO wheels first came out in 1962.  Then it
shows some of the early LEGO Wheels ---- but with the black slick tires
of the 1970's, and not those old fragile dull grey tires of the 1960's.

It goes on to talk about the Modulex bricks of the early 1960's, but
doesn't mention the short lived Architectural sets and service packs of
1963-65.

An interesting footnote is that it shows the exact same early to
mid-1950's sets that are shown in THE WORLD OF LEGO TOYS (with KKK as a
child).  There are so many interesting and colorful sets of that era,
that it was a pity they didn't show anything new.

The book states that the LEGO SYSTEM OF PLAY started with the Town Plan
in 1955, but that the LEGO Windows didn't start being produced until
1957.  That doesn't sound right to me.  How can there be a Town Plan
town without windows?  Also the Town Plan that is displayed is the one
using the 1960-68 Town Plan board.  They should have shown the 1955-59
board when describing the beginning of Town Plan in 1955.

I really found the models that were used for the LEGOLAND exhibits
interesting.  What was also interesting is that they are using some
bricks (in the Maersk Truck blue color, as well as other rare colors)
that have never been available for sale in any set.  I mean, has anyone
ever seen a 2x4 brick in light blue?  They are using them in their
LEGOLAND exhibits!

The thing that really "frosts my pumpkin" is that LEGO built these
models to inspire builders, and then refuses to sell most of these parts
to the public.  It's like they are teasing us with their models, but we
can forget about ever being able to build any of them, because those
pieces are off limits (in any quantity) to all of us AFOLs.   Is it any
wonder that I won't go to any of their LEGOLANDs!   I would just get my
blood pressure up in doing so.  And this book reinforces that feeling.

Anyway, I won't let my blood pressure or rantings sway me from the fact
that it really is a very interesting book of the talent of LEGO Model
Builders.  It would be even more enjoyable if we were ever allowed to
buy some of these pieces ourselve.

This book and THE WORLD OF LEGO TOYS both are "must have" items in your
LEGO documentation.

What is still needed is a LEGO Lexicon/Encyclopedia that describes the
product (pieces and sets) as opposed to what you can build if you have
unlimited resources.

Hmmmmmm.

Gary Istok



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: The Ultimate LEGO Book Review....
 
(...) Speaking of "frosting pumpkins". I think I recall at one point in the book that they say that they only use standard LEGO bricks/parts in all of the creations for the LEGOLANDs and no "custom parts are created". What frosted me about this is (...) (25 years ago, 2-Nov-99, to lugnet.general)
  Re: The Ultimate LEGO Book Review....
 
The book was made 15 years ago. I can understand where you are coming from in that some of the info didn't seem correct, or at least wasn't presented very well, but considering the amount of knowledge I had regarding Lego 15 years ago, I think its (...) (25 years ago, 3-Nov-99, to lugnet.general)

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