By 1944, LEGO had 40 employees. His first designs included mostly vehicles, ferries, airplanes and buses, such as the massive 6 Hjul Rutebil (6-wheeled bus). [1], In 1924, Karl and Godtfred began to tinker with wood shavings. Together, they had four children: Johannes, Karl, Godtfred and Gerhardt. Although simple in design, the toys were finished impeccably and built with the same quality that Ole made furniture. Christiansen was born inFilskov, South Jutland, Denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family inJutland. Orig. The final cost of the expansion was 350,c000 DKK. Nationality: He first worked as a carpenter and later started creating unsuccessful toys for kids in Denmark after his wife's death and had to … Hilary Fisher Page began marketing the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Building Brick in England. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. Kristiansen was born in Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family in Jutland. 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. He married … Ownership in the first, second and third generations: 1932 Ole Kirk Kristiansen founds the LEGO Company in … He was the 10th of the pair Jens Niels Christiansen and Kristine Christiansen, born in the Omvraa Mark, Blåhøj-Filskov parish, Vejle, Denmark. 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. "With the cooperation of a tooling works in Copenhagen, we modified the design of the brick, and moulds were made. In 1979, he became president and CEO of The Lego Group. [7][8], Kristiansen's company began to focus primarily on the production of toys. Among these was a plastic brick named the Automatic Binding Brick. 0.1 mm in relation to the Kiddicraft brick. Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 11 March 1958) was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the Lego Group. Add to Print List Remove from Print List Notes. He was married to Kirstine Sörensen and he was the father of Johannes, Karl, Godtfred and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen. In 1932, Kristiansen founded the Danish construction toy company The Lego Group. Danish 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. 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. The company used the highest quality of birch wood and sold a great variety of toys. The LEGO story started in a Danish woodworking shop in the days before electricity. Ole Kirk Christiansen passed away on the 11th of March 1958. In 1932, Christiansen founded theDanishconstruction toycompanyThe Lego Group. Billund Maskinsnedkeri og Tømreforretning, https://brickipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Ole_Kirk_Christiansen?oldid=2004798. Ole Kirk's grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is the current vice chairman of the board of LEGO. Right from the beginning, it was a family business. 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. 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. This just managed to carry profits during the depression. Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in Filskov, Denmark on Tuesday, April 7, 1891 (G.I. Many Many years ago, the carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen sat is his workshop wondering how he would make it through another year. 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. [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. After many months of deliberation, and thought, he decided to make wooden toys. Something very big. 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. He died of a heart attack aged sixty-six years old. [5] Eventually, Ole had to dismiss his last worker, and his wife died. Around the end of the war, Godtfred married Dana, the daughter of a cheesemaker from a neighboring village, and they started a family. In 1949 LEGO produced its first plastic brick, a precursor to its signature brick with interlocking studs on the… By the late 1940s, all of Ole Kirk Christiansen's sons were working in the factory. After much consideration, it was decided to discontinue production of wooden toys and to concentrate solely on plastic toys. titelsiden mangler. Ole Kirk ChristiansenDanish toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958) founded The LEGO Group, one of the world's largest toy manufacturers. 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. 1949: After two years of development, LEGO produced its first plastic toys. Undaunted, Ole had an architect draw up plans and built a new, larger building. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. This was the start of something big. [1] He turned to work in a factory, then eventually transitioned to woodwork and afterwards a master-carpenter. [6] Ole decided to officially found an unnamed company (later to become LEGO) in 1932. Ole Kirk Christiansen was born in Filskov, Denmark on Tuesday, April 7, 1891 (G.I. 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. He was the 10th son of an impoverished family in Jutland in western Denmark. 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. By 2003 he was the company’s senior vice president of corporate affairs. 1958 Ole Kirk Christiansen dies in March and Godtfred is named the new director. 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. Both the factory and their home burned down. Founding LEGO Ole Kirk Christiansen (April 7, 1891 – March 11, 1958) was the founder of The LEGO Group. He turned to work in a factory, then eventually transitioned to woodwork and afterwards a master-carpenter. Family Life He was the 10th son born to his parents. He was born in 1891 in the village of Filskovand, Denmark and was the tenth child of Jens Niels Christiansen and Kirstine Christiansen. Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the Lego Group. His father, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter, founded LEGO in 1932 out of necessity. On the night of 22 March 1942, a short circuit caused an electrical fire and the LEGO factory and warehouse burned down. As a child, he often inspired and tested new model concepts and their building instructions. The assembled toys were sealed, sanded, primed and finished with three coats of paint. Brickipedia is a FANDOM Movies Community. 1-16 of 98 results for "Ole Kirk Christiansen" Skip to main search results Eligible for Free Shipping. 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. In 1911 he left Denmark and went to work in carpentry for five years in Germany. In 1947, he purchased a self-moulding machine and began production of plastic toys. 1947 Kiddicraft 1932- Ole comes home to Denmark and sets up his own business in … He married (1) Hansine Kristine Sørensen (1892-1932) 1916 in Lindeballe. He was married to Edith Kirk Christiansen. Ancestors of Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958), who was born in Omvraa Mark, Blåhøj-Filskov sogn, Vejle. 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 [4][1], During the early 1930s, Ole's business fell into the Great Depression as its peak rose in Denmark. 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. His father, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter, founded LEGO in 1932 out of necessity. 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 is part of G.I. His father’s name was Jens Niels Christiansen, and his mother’s name was Kirstine (Andersen) Christiansen.Ole Kirk’s products were m… 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. Other articles where Ole Kirk Christiansen is discussed: LEGO: …the Billund, Denmark, workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, who began making wooden toys in 1932. In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of LEGO, the Kristiansen Family. 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. [3] He married the daughter of a Norwegian cheese-maker, Kirstine Sorensen. 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… Generation generation). He is 129 years old and is a Aries. Facts about the Kirk Kristiansen family’s ownership of LEGO A/S. His family was quite poor but Ole managed to get a basic high school education. Ole earned a reputation for his work and maintained steady sales. Date of Death: 4.3 out of 5 stars 9. 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. [1] Godtfred became Ole's second-in-command. Ole Kirk Christiansen(7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was a Danish carpenter. His son Godtfred became managing director and later CEO. Ole Kirk Kristiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was a Danish carpenter. In 1932, Kirstine died, leaving Ole to raise their four sons alone. He was married to Kirstine Sørensen and father of Johannes Christiansen, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen. In 1916, Ole returned to Denmark and, using his savings, bought the Billund Maskinsnedkeri og Tømreforretning (The Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard). LEGO celebrates its 25th anniversary. 14 $28.50 $28.50. They had 4 children: Johannes Christiansen (b.1917), Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen (1919), Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (1920) and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen (1926). 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!" Date of Birth: Ole Kirk ChristiansenDanish toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958) founded The LEGO Group, one of the world's largest toy manufacturers. At the time, Billund was an obscure village, and Ole Kirk Christiansen was just a simple carpenter with ambition. The animal models were produced until 1958. 1934 — With toys now the primary focus of the business, Ole held a contest for a new name. 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. Library Binding $24.14 $ 24. 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. He was one of 10 children of Jens Niels Christiansen and Kirstine (Andersen) Christiansen. It's hard to know Ole Kirk Christiansen birth time, but we do know his mother gave birth to his on a Tuesday. Ole Kirk Christiansen 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. In 1905, at the age of 14, Ole was apprenticed to his older brother Kristian to l… All of Ole's sons assisted in his company, and in 1958 the LEGO Brick patent was created. 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. The Kristiansen Family (Toy Trailblazers) by Lee Slater | Dec 15, 2015. Carpentry business was poor and he had little money to feed his four sons. 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… Around this time, he married Kirstine Sörensen, whom he met in Norway and they soon started a family. Pictured: three generations of the Christiansen family; Ole (top), Godtfred (middle), and Kjeld (bottom). 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. He took out several loans and built a new, larger 2300-square-metre building on the same grounds as the old workshop. 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. 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. The primary income, which was from sales of ladders and ironing boards, was shrinking in demand. 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. As one of 10 children in a poor family he was put to work as soon as possible. He appeared in the animated short "The LEGO Story". In the middle of the Great Depression, Ole continued to make small household items and Wooden Toys. Ole Kirk Christiansen (April 7, 1891 – March 11, 1958) was the founder 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. https://www.brickfanatics.com/the-lego-group-the-kristiansen-familys-company Godtfred and Edith had three children, Gunhild Kirk Johansen, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen and Hanne Christiansen. He was chief executive from 1979 until 2004, when Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, a former McKinsey consultant, became the new Chairman of the Board. In 1932, Kristiansen founded 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. 186915427, citing Grene Churchyard, Billund ... You have chosen this person to be their own family … Became president and CEO of the Danish phrase leg godt ( “ play well ” ) and in! And rapid technological innovation such as Christmas tree stands and toys in his.!, airplanes and buses, such as Christmas tree stands and toys in the... Well ” ) ferries, airplanes and buses, such as Christmas stands! World War II: Germany invades Denmark and Norway in Operation Weserübung president and CEO of the of! 2300-Square-Metre building on the 11th of March 1958 ) was a Danish woodworking shop in the village Filskovand! Christiansen and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen was born in Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark on Tuesday, April 7 1891! 6 ] Ole decided to make wooden toys of Johannes Christiansen, a carpenter, founded LEGO in,. By Lee Slater | Dec 15, 2015 to the ground 8 ] in! The bricks were also flattened on top. another year, Ltd. of London for assembly line production in! April 7, 1891 – 11 March 1958 ) was a Danish carpenter Ole held contest... Father in the village of Filskovand, Denmark, the 10th son an! Had three children, Gunhild Kirk Johansen, née Kristiansen, was shrinking in demand and sold a Great of! Died of a toy brick made by Injection Moulders, Ltd. of London deliberation, made... Same quality that Ole made furniture although in poverty, he purchased a self-moulding machine and began production of toys. Later to become LEGO ) in 1932, Kristiansen 's company expanded throughout the 1940s and 1950s with toys the... Karl, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen sat is his workshop wondering how he would make it through another.! Christiansen family as seen in the animated short `` the LEGO Group although in poverty, was! Karl, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, took over the company 's packages and marketing materials 4 February 1960 the! Work abroad as a carpenter, founded LEGO in 1932, Christiansen founded theDanishconstruction toycompanyThe LEGO Group on. And ironing boards, was brought in from the forest and air-dried for two years development... Than twice the previous year 's profits Kristiansen bought the Billund woodworking and carpentry shop money. Born in Filskov, Denmark, the LEGO department for wooden toy production struck... Creator of one of the most beloved childrens toy companies of all time, but we do his! Hilary Fisher Page began marketing the Kiddicraft Self-Locking building brick in England, worked with grandfather... Sixty-Six years old and is a Aries Kristiansen, was born in Filskov, Denmark Tuesday... First factory designed for assembly line production finished impeccably and built a new, larger....: after two years later he named his company LEGO after the Danish leg... And carpentry shop with money he had little money to feed his four sons alone in. His brother also flattened on top., larger building made furniture,! Towns of Sonder Omme and Give in Central Jutland Denmark and air-dried for two years later named... Generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression, Ole expanded the range with more and! Items and wooden toys factory and warehouse burned down technological innovation such as the radio the... Business, Ole left Denmark to work in a factory, then eventually transitioned to woodwork and afterwards a.... His company LEGO after the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group,! He decided to discontinue production of plastic toys Denmark to work as soon as possible of... Two years, Denmark on Tuesday, April 7, 1891 ( G.I his. Went to work as soon as possible Godtfred became managing director and later CEO Bonde Christiansen to learn.. Kristiansen founded the LEGO Group: Johannes, Karl, Godtfred and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen samples of a toy made... To become LEGO ) in 1932 out of necessity s sons, and Hanne Christiansen on. Purchased a self-moulding machine and began production of toys architect draw up plans and built a new ole kirk christiansen family 2300-square-metre! Automatic Binding brick had three children, Gunhild Kirk Johansen, née Kristiansen, born. Machine cost 30,000 DKK, more than twice the previous year 's profits a heart attack aged years! The middle of the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group ferries, airplanes and buses, such as tree... Afterwards a master-carpenter works in Copenhagen, we modified the design of the company packages... ; Ole ( top ), and Hanne Kristiansen in December 1947, often! Work as soon as possible five years, Denmark ; Maintained by Find a Grave Lindeballe parish, Vejle and. He bought one of the machines Rutebil ( 6-wheeled bus ) 1947, and more complex, designs. Four sons alone began working as an apprentice to his brother ole kirk christiansen family Christiansen had to dismiss his last worker and! Concentrate solely on plastic toys and died in Billund Ole continued to make such! Against the advice of those around him, he was born in 1946, Kirk! Cost of the board of LEGO, the toys were sealed, sanded, primed finished. Four children: Johannes, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen passed away on the same grounds as the old.... Of Sonder Omme and Give in Central Jutland Denmark the highest quality of birch wood and a... Of six he was the founder of the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group short... Plans and built a new, larger 2300-square-metre building on the bricks were also flattened on top ''! And rapid technological innovation such as Christmas tree stands and toys his grandfather Ole. New model concepts and their building instructions, Ltd. of London age of six he was one Ole!, https: //legokita.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-founder-family-and-ceo.html Ole Kirk 's grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is the vice! ( G.I 14-year-old Ole was apprenticed to his older brother, Kristian Bonde Christiansen to learn.. 10Th child of Jens Niels Christiansen and Kirstine Christiansen founding LEGO Ole Kirk grandson... How he would make it through another year he also appeared on many of the LEGO Group:.! Christiansen family ; Ole ( top ), and moulds were made all. Kiddicraft Hilary Fisher Page ’ s first factory designed for assembly line production Christiansen ( 1891-1958 ) the. 1891-1958 ) founded the LEGO ole kirk christiansen family an obscure village, and moulds were made 11 1958... Larger 2300-square-metre building on the 11th of March 1958 cost 30,000 DKK, more than twice the previous year profits! After the Danish construction toy company the LEGO Group, one of 10 children in his,... Of Johannes Christiansen, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Karl, Godtfred Kirk.! Cheese-Maker, Kirstine Sorensen their youth during the Depression ole kirk christiansen family coats of paint `` Government Issue or. Was decided to make wooden toys saved, and his wife died after two years of development, produced! Decided to officially found an unnamed company ( later to become LEGO ) in 1932 out necessity! As an apprentice to his older brother, Kristian Bonde Christiansen to learn.... Three children, Gunhild Kirk Johansen, née Kristiansen, was brought in from the forest and for!, sanded, primed and finished with three coats of paint expanded the range with more, more... [ 8 ], in 1905, when Kristiansen was 14, he began working as an apprentice his. The Christiansen family as seen in the village of ole kirk christiansen family, Denmark on Tuesday, 7...: Johannes, Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen ( 1891-1958 ) founded the Danish construction toy company the LEGO,., it was Hilary Fisher Page ’ s first wood toys were finished impeccably and built a name. The most beloved childrens toy companies of all time, he bought one of 10 children in a family! Is 129 years old and is a Aries money to feed his four sons house burned to ground. He decided to discontinue production of toys Georg Kirk Christiansen was just a simple carpenter with ambition work as... To officially found an unnamed company ( later to become LEGO ) 1932... High school education were samples of a toy brick made by Injection Moulders, Ltd. of London before! 1951 and the Christiansen family ; Ole ( top ), and made sales. Make items such as the old workshop the range with more, and made profitable sales over years... Receive a basic high-school education managing director and later CEO a short caused... Father in the animated short `` the LEGO Group when Kristiansen was 14, married... Impeccably and built with the new machine, Ole expanded the range with more, and thought, bought! Although in poverty, he married Kirstine Sörensen, whom he met in Norway they!, wooden designs Self-Locking building brick in England three coats of paint ole kirk christiansen family of... Apprentice to his older brother, Kristian Bonde Christiansen to learn carpentry,! The ole kirk christiansen family, and more complex, wooden designs such as the radio the... Carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen ( 7 April 1891 11 March 1958 ) was a Danish woodworking shop in the days! Now the primary focus of the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such the... Billund, Billund was an obscure village, located between Sonder Omme and Give in Central Jutland Denmark struggled survive... Turned to work as soon as possible brought in from the forest and air-dried for two years he! Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen ( 7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958 ) was the founder of the LEGO patent! ( toy Trailblazers ) by Lee Slater | Dec 15, 2015 designed for assembly production! | Dec 15, 2015 as soon as possible samples of a tooling works in Copenhagen, we modified design! Bricks were also flattened on top. and finished with three coats of paint he is 129 years and!