LEGO
Thinking about the Great Depression commonly evokes images of bread lines, desperate job-seekers, and widespread poverty. So it may come as a surprise that LEGO, one of the world’s most famous toy companies, emerged during this bleak time. Founded by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a Danish carpenter, LEGO revolutionized the global toy market with its brightly colored interlocking plastic bricks.
Today, LEGO has acquired the status of an empire. It was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998 and named Toy of the Century in 2000 by Fortune magazine. But few LEGO enthusiasts are aware of the company’s intriguing early history. Indeed, Ole Christiansen faced a multitude of challenges that could have easily wiped out his entire business. However, his patience, perseverance, and hard work made LEGO into one of the world’s most popular toy brands.
OLE’S EARLY DAYS
Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in 1891 in the village of Filskov, Denmark. At 14, he was apprenticed to his older brother, Kristian, a carpenter. After completing his training, Ole found work first in Germany and then in Norway, where he met his first wife, Kirstine.
In 1916, Ole returned home to Denmark and opened a workshop in Billund, where he built houses, furniture, and made repairs. Unfortunately, in 1924 tragedy struck. One of
