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…the Danish toy maker of plastic building blocks. Around the end of the war, Godtfred married Dana, the daughter of a cheesemaker from a neighboring village, and they started a family. The animal models were produced until 1958. The primary income, which was from sales of ladders and ironing boards, was shrinking in demand. A fire broke out consequently. (Godtfred Kirk Christiansen). Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 11 March 1958) was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the Lego Group. Generation generation). At the time, Billund was an obscure village, and Ole Kirk Christiansen was just a simple carpenter with ambition. By 2003 he was the company’s senior vice president of corporate affairs. He appeared in the animated short "The LEGO Story". It was Hilary Fisher Page’s Kiddicraft brick. Hilary Fisher Page began marketing the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Building Brick in England. Right from the beginning, it was a family business. Ole Kirk's grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is the current vice chairman of the board of LEGO. Many Many years ago, the carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen sat is his workshop wondering how he would make it through another year. He turned to work in a factory, then eventually transitioned to woodwork and afterwards a master-carpenter. The studs on the bricks were also flattened on top." He was born in the village of Filskov, located between the towns of Sonder Omme and Give in Central Jutland Denmark. He died on March 11, 1958. [1], In 1924, Karl and Godtfred began to tinker with wood shavings. In 1932, Kirstine died, leaving Ole to raise their four sons alone. 17832347, citing Grene Churchyard, Billund, Billund Kommune, Syddanmark, Denmark ; Maintained by Find A Grave . The new machine cost 30,000 DKK, more than twice the previous year's profits. Find out about entrepreneur Ole Kirk Christiansen: He invented the term Lego, which came from the Danish words leg godt, meaning play well.. born: April 7, 1891, Filskov, Denmark,siblings: Kristian Bonde Christiansen,spouse: Kirstine Christiansen (m. 1916–1932),parents: Jens Niels Christiansen, Kirstine Christiansen… He first worked as a carpenter and later started creating unsuccessful toys for kids in Denmark after his wife's death and had to … In 1916, Ole returned to Denmark and, using his savings, bought the Billund Maskinsnedkeri og Tømreforretning (The Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard). In 1932, Kristiansen founded the Danish construction toy company The Lego Group. This was the start of something big. In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of LEGO, the Kristiansen Family. Maren Ole Christiansdatter Kirk Født 28.Nov.1816 i Halkjær Marie Ole Christiansdatter Kirk Født 18.Nov.1817 i Kirkegaard Christen Ole Christiansen Kirk Født 03.Okt.1818 i Kirkegaard Sidsel Marie Olesdatter Kirk Født 31.Aug.1819 i Kirkegaard Christen Kirk Født 25.Aug.1820 i Kirkegaard Christine Olesdatter Kirk Født 20.Nov.1822 i Kirkegaard He chooses his own entry: LEGO. In 1932, Christiansen founded theDanishconstruction toycompanyThe Lego Group. It was the forerunner of the LEGO brick. The next series of designs, from around 1935, included a number of animal models, including the classic pull-along LEGO Duck.These designs were more complex and often required jig work from a pattern; a pattern that Ole would carefully draft himself. As one of 10 children in a poor family he was put to work as soon as possible. [citation needed], Lego is a shortened form of the Danish words Leg godt, meaning "play well", and the company grew to become The Lego Group. He was chief executive from 1979 until 2004, when Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, a former McKinsey consultant, became the new Chairman of the Board. By the 1950s, LEGO was producing so many different wooden toys that today it would be difficult for even the LEGO Group to catalog them all. He was married to Edith Kirk Christiansen. Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in Filskov, Denmark on Tuesday, April 7, 1891 (G.I. Facts about the Kirk Kristiansen family’s ownership of LEGO A/S. [1] Godtfred became Ole's second-in-command. In 1905, at the age of 14, Ole was apprenticed to his older brother Kristian to l… By the age of six he was tending the family’s livestock. Ole Kirk ChristiansenDanish toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958) founded The LEGO Group, one of the world's largest toy manufacturers. [7][8], Kristiansen's company began to focus primarily on the production of toys. Godtfred Kirk Christiansen is named Managing Director, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen the director of plastics production and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen the director of wood products manufacturing Brickipedia is a FANDOM Movies Community. LEGO celebrates its 25th anniversary. [3] He married the daughter of a Norwegian cheese-maker, Kirstine Sorensen. Library Binding $24.14 $ 24. The modifications in relation to the Kiddicraft bricks included straightening round corners and converting inches to cm and mm, which altered the size of the brick by approx. 1891- Ole Kirk Christiansen is born in Filskov Denmark to an impoverished family 1911-1916- Ole completes his apprenticeship under Kristian Blonde Christiansen and finds work in Germany and Norway. He was one of 10 children of Jens Niels Christiansen and Kirstine (Andersen) Christiansen. She was born in Grønbjerg Mark, Lindeballe parish, Vejle, and died in Billund. The LEGO Group. Although coming from poor families in the economy, he still completed the basic education schools … The initials "G.I." [6] Ole decided to officially found an unnamed company (later to become LEGO) in 1932. Ole's 60th birthday in 1951 and the Christiansen family as seen in The LEGO® Story. 1947 Kiddicraft Godtfred and Edith had three children, Gunhild Kirk Johansen, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen and Hanne Christiansen. Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group.He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in Jutland in western Denmark.Born in Filskov, Denmark, he trained as a carpenter and started making wooden toys in 1932 to make a living after having lost his job during the depression. https://www.brickfanatics.com/the-lego-group-the-kristiansen-familys-company Family Life He was the 10th son born to his parents. His father, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, worked with his grandfather, Ole Kirk Christiansen, in the family business: Lego. Follow the family's story from Denmark where Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard to the company's evolution to the LEGO company. Undaunted, Ole had an architect draw up plans and built a new, larger building. In 1947, he purchased a self-moulding machine and began production of plastic toys. The assembled toys were sealed, sanded, primed and finished with three coats of paint. 1934 — With toys now the primary focus of the business, Ole held a contest for a new name. [9], Kristiansen's company expanded throughout the 1940s and 1950s. This is a timeline of Ole's life 1891- Ole Kirk Christiansen is born in Filskov Denmark to an impoverished family 1911-1916- Ole completes his apprenticeship under Kristian Blonde Christiansen and finds work in Germany and Norway. Ole's 60th birthday, 1951. Danish On 4 February 1960, the LEGO department for wooden toy production was struck by lightning and burned down. March 11, 1958 (Aged 66) 4.3 out of 5 stars 9. Among these was a plastic brick named the Automatic Binding Brick. Nationality: People born on a Tuesday have gr… He took out several loans and built a new, larger 2300-square-metre building on the same grounds as the old workshop. Two years later he named his company LEGO after the Danish phrase leg godt (“play well”). It was the company’s first factory designed for assembly line production. Pictured: three generations of the Christiansen family; Ole (top), Godtfred (middle), and Kjeld (bottom). After all, they had just paid off the 1942 factory and didn’t need to go right back into debt, but Ole simply said "I’ll decide what's to be built - your job is to raise the money!" The shop and the house burned to the ground. Ole Kirk Christiansen(7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was a Danish carpenter. Something very big. [10][11], MIT Lemelson Program, Ole Kirk Christiansen, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/christiansen-ole-kirk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5xLRj035BI, https://astrumpeople.com/ole-kirk-christiansen-biography/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdDU_BBJW9Y, "Lego minifigure creator Jens Nygaard Knudsen dies", https://www.thoughtco.com/ole-kirk-christiansen-lego-1991644, "Inventor of the Week: Ole Kirk Christiansen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ole_Kirk_Christiansen&oldid=994868487, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2019, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 December 2020, at 23:24. Although in poverty, he was able to receive a basic high-school education. Along with the new machine, Ole received several sample parts showing its capabilities. When Ole Kirk Kristiansen imported a newfangled contraption called a plastic-injection-­molding machine to Denmark in 1946, people thought he’d lost his mind. LEGO history dates back to 1932 when Ole Kirk Christiansen (April 07, 1891 – March 11, 1958) founded the Danish company to produce goods for daily use. For the next five years, Denmark would be under German occupation. He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in Jutland in western Denmark. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 Apr 1891–11 Mar 1958), Find a Grave Memorial no. Among these were samples of a toy brick made by Injection Moulders, Ltd. of London. He married (1) Hansine Kristine Sørensen (1892-1932) 1916 in Lindeballe. As a child, he often inspired and tested new model concepts and their building instructions. Over time, Ole expanded the range with more, and more complex, wooden designs. His father, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter, founded LEGO in 1932 out of necessity. He also appeared on many of the company's packages and marketing materials. In 1949 LEGO produced its first plastic brick, a precursor to its signature brick with interlocking studs on the… With virtually no new construction work, Ole turned to making small household items that farmers could afford, such as trestle ladders, step ladders, ironing boards, stools, Christmas tree stands and small toys. They started manufacturing small handmade wooden toys such as cars, trucks, ducklings and piggy banks, to fortify the family during the depression period. His family was quite poor but Ole managed to get a basic high school education. When Knudstorp was named CEO in September 2004, he became the first person from outside the family of LEGO Group founder Ole Kirk Christiansen (or Kristiansen) to hold that position.… He was married to Kirstine Sørensen and father of Johannes Christiansen, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen. The shop and the house burned to the ground. Introduction The company LEGO officially began in 1932 in Denmark by the skilled hands of the carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, with the help of his son Godtfred, when he was only 12 years old. His Billund Woodworking and Carpentry Shop, which built houses in the summer season and furniture during the winter, was severely affected by the Great Depression. In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of LEGO, the Kristiansen Family. On a Sunday afternoon in 1924, while Ole and Kirstine were napping, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen (then 5 years old) and Godtfred Kirk Christiansen were playing in the shop and set fire to some wood shavings with a glue smelter. Godtfred Kirk Christiansen was one of Ole Kirk’s sons, and worked with his father in the early days of LEGO. The company used the highest quality of birch wood and sold a great variety of toys. As a result, two of the brothers; Karl Georg and Gerhardt decided to leave the LEGO company and start their own separate business, BILOfix. In 1947 he was visited by a salesman from Hull who represented a British machine-tool company trying to find new markets for their injection molding equipment. It's hard to know Ole Kirk Christiansen birth time, but we do know his mother gave birth to his on a Tuesday. The LEGO workshop before fires 1930 (left) and 2005 (right) after three fires and lightning strokes. Ancestors of Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958), who was born in Omvraa Mark, Blåhøj-Filskov sogn, Vejle. Other articles where Ole Kirk Christiansen is discussed: LEGO: …the Billund, Denmark, workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, who began making wooden toys in 1932. Carpentry business was poor and he had little money to feed his four sons. Managing Director (1960) Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (July 8, 1920 – July 13, 1995) was the third son of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder of the LEGO Group. 14 $28.50 $28.50. He was born in 1891 in the village of Filskovand, Denmark and was the tenth child of Jens Niels Christiansen and Kirstine Christiansen. [1] Kristiansen bought the Billund Woodworking and Carpentry Shop with money he had saved, and made profitable sales over the years. [4][1], During the early 1930s, Ole's business fell into the Great Depression as its peak rose in Denmark. Find out about entrepreneur Ole Kirk Christiansen: He invented the term Lego, which came from the Danish words leg godt, meaning play well.. born: April 7, 1891, Filskov, Denmark,siblings: Kristian Bonde Christiansen,spouse: Kirstine Christiansen (m. 1916–1932),parents: Jens Niels Christiansen, Kirstine Christiansen… He is 129 years old and is a Aries. This just managed to carry profits during the depression. He was the 10th of the pair Jens Niels Christiansen and Kristine Christiansen, born in the Omvraa Mark, Blåhøj-Filskov parish, Vejle, Denmark. 0.1 mm in relation to the Kiddicraft brick. In addition to the many car, truck and animal models there were also sailboats, tractors, cranes, farm implements, coat hangers, doll buggies, sewing machines, bagatelle games, traditional wooden blocks, chalkboards, board games, and an abacus. By 1944, LEGO had 40 employees. All of Ole's sons assisted in his company, and in 1958 the LEGO Brick patent was created. Ole Kirk Christiansen On the night of 22 March 1942, a short circuit caused an electrical fire and the LEGO factory and warehouse burned down. Ole’s first wood toys were large and simple in construction. Ole Kirk Kristiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was a Danish carpenter. His first designs included mostly vehicles, ferries, airplanes and buses, such as the massive 6 Hjul Rutebil (6-wheeled bus). In 1905, 14-year-old Ole was apprenticed to his older brother, Kristian Bonde Christiansen to learn carpentry. Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in Filskov, Denmark on Tuesday, April 7, 1891 (G.I. The building, which would be known for its large dormer and two lions flanking the front door, is now part of the LEGO Group and is one of only a few of Ole’s buildings that still exist. Ole earned a reputation for his work and maintained steady sales. Ole Kirk Christiansen 1891 – 1958 ... //www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (8 Jul 1920–13 Jul 1995), Find a Grave Memorial no. He married … Ole Kirk Christiansen (or OKC as he was later known within the company) was born 7 April 1891 in Filskov, a small village in the farming and dairy country of central Jutland. 1932- Ole comes home to Denmark and sets up his own business in … Undaunted, Ole had an architect draw up plans and built a new, larger building. In 1951 Ole suffers a stroke, beginning the decline in his health. April 7, 1891 Gender: As orders for new work dwindled, Ole struggled to survive. Together, they had four children: Johannes, Karl, Godtfred and Gerhardt. Hailed as the “Toy of the Century,” the plastic Lego bricks that make up the Lego System of Play were invented by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a master carpenter, and his son, Godtfred Kirk. Both the factory and their home burned down. The Great Depression reached Denmark in 1930; agriculture was the first sector to be hit and the effect was devastating for the farmers around Billund. His father, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter, founded LEGO in 1932 out of necessity. Ole Kirk Christiansen (April 7, 1891 – March 11, 1958) was the founder of Lego in 1949.. Christiansen was born on April 7, 1891 in Filskov, Denmark. Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in 1890s. Wood, typically birch, was brought in from the forest and air-dried for two years, then kiln-dried for three weeks. He is 129 years old and is a Aries. In 1934, he carved his father’s motto, “Only the best is good enough”, and hung it up on the workshop wall. As before, Ole rebuilt and carried on. Although simple in design, the toys were finished impeccably and built with the same quality that Ole made furniture. Ole Kirk ChristiansenDanish toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958) founded The LEGO Group, one of the world's largest toy manufacturers. He died of a heart attack aged sixty-six years old. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. The Kristiansen Family (Toy Trailblazers) by Lee Slater | Dec 15, 2015. [1] Date of Birth: Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. Christiansen was born inFilskov, South Jutland, Denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family inJutland. Founding LEGO. Although in poverty, he was able to receive a basic high-school education. [1], Kristiansen was born in Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family in Jutland. Generation generation). After many months of deliberation, and thought, he decided to make wooden toys. Ole Kirk Christiansen is part of G.I. They had 4 children: Johannes Christiansen (b.1917), Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen (1919), Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (1920) and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen (1926). [5] Eventually, Ole had to dismiss his last worker, and his wife died. Sales of both the wooden and plastic toys continued to go well and in 1952 Ole decided to expand the factory, an expansion much larger than what was needed. Ole Kirk was born in the Filskov village, located between Sonder Omme and Give in Central Jutland Denmark. Notable: Add to Print List Remove from Print List Notes. Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the Lego Group. Kristiansen was born in Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family in Jutland. In 1979, he became president and CEO of The Lego Group. [1], On 11 March 1958, Kristiansen experienced a heart attack and died at the age of 66, and his third son Godtfred promptly took over the company until his death in 1995. In 1911, Ole left Denmark to work abroad as a carpenter, first in Germany, then in Norway. Ownership in the first, second and third generations: 1932 Ole Kirk Kristiansen founds the LEGO Company in … The LEGO story started in a Danish woodworking shop in the days before electricity. In the middle of the Great Depression, Ole continued to make small household items and Wooden Toys. He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in Jutland in western Denmark. The same year, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen began working with his father in the business, and the two expanded their line of toys; the 1932 price list shows no less than 28 different designs. In 1911 he left Denmark and went to work in carpentry for five years in Germany. Ole Kirk Christiansen (April 7, 1891 – March 11, 1958) was the founder of The LEGO Group. Billund Maskinsnedkeri og Tømreforretning, https://brickipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Ole_Kirk_Christiansen?oldid=2004798. After his death, his third son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, took over the company. He was married to Kirstine Sörensen and he was the father of Johannes, Karl, Godtfred and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen. Against the advice of those around him, he bought one of the machines. This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. The final cost of the expansion was 350,c000 DKK. [1] He turned to work in a factory, then eventually transitioned to woodwork and afterwards a master-carpenter. Around this time, he married Kirstine Sörensen, whom he met in Norway and they soon started a family. "With the cooperation of a tooling works in Copenhagen, we modified the design of the brick, and moulds were made. https://legokita.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-founder-family-and-ceo.html Follow the family's story from Denmark where Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard to the company's evolution to the LEGO company. Ole Kirk Christiansen (born April 7th, 1891- March 11, 1958 died at the age of 66 years) is the founder of the Danish toy company called Lego Group. Ole Kirk Christiansen. Ole Kirk Christiansen was a Danish carpenter and creator of one of the most beloved childrens toy companies of all time, LEGO. After much consideration, it was decided to discontinue production of wooden toys and to concentrate solely on plastic toys. Godtfred protested the new expansion. Male Born in Filskov, Denmark, he trained as a carpenter and started making wooden toys in 1932 to make a living after having lost his job during the depression. 1949: After two years of development, LEGO produced its first plastic toys. Hailed as the “Toy of the Century,” the plastic Lego bricks that make up the Lego System of Play were invented by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a master carpenter, and his son, Godtfred Kirk. His son Godtfred became managing director and later CEO. His father’s name was Jens Niels Christiansen, and his mother’s name was Kirstine (Andersen) Christiansen.Ole Kirk’s products were m… Ole Kirk Christiansen passed away on the 11th of March 1958. 1-16 of 98 results for "Ole Kirk Christiansen" Skip to main search results Eligible for Free Shipping. He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in Jutland in western Denmark. Ole was able to make items such as Christmas tree stands and toys. [2], In 1905, when Kristiansen was 14, he began working as an apprentice to his brother. Free Shipping by Amazon. Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group.He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in Jutland in western Denmark.Born in Filskov, Denmark, he trained as a carpenter and started making wooden toys in 1932 to make a living after having lost his job during the depression. Developing a Product Leaflet. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". He was chief executive from 1979 until 2004, when Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, a former McKinsey consultant, became the new Chairman of the Board. He was one of 10 children in his family. titelsiden mangler. In 1932, Kristiansen founded the Danish construction toy company The Lego Group. 1940 — World War II: Germany invades Denmark and Norway in Operation Weserübung. Ole Kirk's grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is the current vice chairman of the board of LEGO. On a Sunday afternoon in 1924, while Ole and Kirstine were napping, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen (then 5 years old) and Godtfred Kirk Christiansen were playing in the shop and set fire to some wood shavings with a glue smelter. Date of Death: His third son (Godtfred Kirk Christiansen) soon took over the company. The new building was much larger than he could afford so Ole and his family lived in a single apartment next to the shop in the back and rented the other rooms out. 1958 Ole Kirk Christiansen dies in March and Godtfred is named the new director. Ole Kirk Christiansen was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group. Gunhild Kirk Johansen, née Kristiansen, was born in 1946, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen in December 1947, and Hanne Kristiansen in 1949. Founding LEGO Ole Kirk Christiansen (April 7, 1891 – March 11, 1958) was the founder of The LEGO Group. His Billund Woodworking and Carpentry Shop, which built houses in the summer season and furniture during the winter, was severely affected by the Great Depression. 186915427, citing Grene Churchyard, Billund ... You have chosen this person to be their own family … He was married to Kirstine Sørensen and father of Johannes Christiansen, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen. 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In Grønbjerg Mark, Lindeballe parish, Vejle, and Hanne Kristiansen in 1949 terminology referring to `` Government ''. Ole suffers a stroke, beginning the decline in his family ( 1891-1958 founded... With ambition toy production was struck by lightning and burned down military terminology referring to Government... Mother gave birth to his brother the expansion was 350, c000 DKK Sonder... High-School education worker, and Kjeld ( bottom ) ferries, airplanes and buses, such the! Much of their youth during the Depression `` with the same grounds the. Died of a toy brick made by Injection Moulders, Ltd. of.. Leg godt ( “ play well ” ), typically birch, was brought in from the forest and for. Design ole kirk christiansen family the Kristiansen family named the Automatic Binding brick obscure village, located Sonder! Years ago, the LEGO Group produced its first plastic toys and lightning strokes 1911 left... Page began marketing the Kiddicraft Self-Locking building brick in England discontinue production of wooden toys and wooden.... Old and is a Aries toy production was struck by lightning and burned down quite but. Birch wood and sold a Great variety of toys made profitable sales over the 's... Never miss a beat kiln-dried for three weeks the next five years, Denmark on Tuesday, 7. The previous year 's profits and in 1958 the LEGO Group Copenhagen, modified...