I came across this video today. I've never seen it so I figured I would post the link.

http://chrysb.fliggo.com/video/fcNuCCJi

Edited November 19, 200915 yr by Badsneaker

I've seen this before but some others may not have, so I guess it may be useful.

I think it was released on Gizmodo as part for the LEGO anniversary a few years ago, or the minifig one?

That's really cool, but is that actually LEGO's property? Or is it a private collector?

plus what was with some of the super old sets being built, did they have more than one set?

  Big Cam said:

That's really cool, but is that actually LEGO's property? Or is it a private collector?

plus what was with some of the super old sets being built, did they have more than one set?

The sets being shown built is filmed in the Idea-House, the small museum in the center of Billund, in the very same buildings where production of wooden toys started the company. The old sets are owned by Lego. When I need a break from work, I may stroll down in the idea house, and have a look at some of our old products on display, and using that history as a reference for my work.

Front aka Erland

  Front said:

The sets being shown built is filmed in the Idea-House, the small museum in the center of Billund, in the very same buildings where production of wooden toys started the company. The old sets are owned by Lego. When I need a break from work, I may stroll down in the idea house, and have a look at some of our old products on display, and using that history as a reference for my work.

Front aka Erland

You work for LEGO?!?!?!!

  Big Cam said:

You work for LEGO?!?!?!!

Yes, I work in down town Billund, trying to mess up as little as possible

The museum is not open to the public, but you may have a walk through it with an employee. I know a lot of AFOL have been in the Idea-House.

I actually have not seen the area with all the old sets stored away. I tend to focus on future products instead.

nope, this is not the secret vault, but the VIP-vault. I think if you go to brickshelf, you can find quite a few photos of this particular vault. I've been there a few times as well, as several other people on EB and other sites. Nor does it contain all sets. There is quite a lot, but i remember there were quite a few sets missing as well.

I'm pretty sure Lego has a second archive with every set ever produced in it, but who knows where that is... that may be even on the private property of the family that still owns the company. In any case, i don't expect people to get in there...

  snefroe said:

I'm pretty sure Lego has a second archive with every set ever produced in it, but who knows where that is... that may be even on the private property of the family that still owns the company.

Jorgen Vik Knudsdorp was handed down the remains of Lego in 2004 by the Christiansen family.

...

Are you saying they still own it?

  Captain M said:

Jorgen Vik Knudsdorp was handed down the remains of Lego in 2004 by the Christiansen family.

...

Are you saying they still own it?

Jørgen was installed as CEO, the head of the company. He did not buy anything back then, other than a hot seat in a company that was really not doing great. He has been a great CEO for Lego, turned the company into a success.

The place where all the sets ever made is attually under the main offices. I saw a small clip of it a couple of years ago that turned up on lego's site

  Front said:

Jørgen was installed as CEO, the head of the company. He did not buy anything back then, other than a hot seat in a company that was really not doing great. He has been a great CEO for Lego, turned the company into a success.

Very cool story. I would like to visit this vault, just to see the early years of Bionicle and the rest of the sets from 2001-2002

Secret Vault!

Better get a GPS, a crowbar, and John Dillinger!

  snefroe said:

nope, this is not the secret vault, but the VIP-vault. I think if you go to brickshelf, you can find quite a few photos of this particular vault. I've been there a few times as well, as several other people on EB and other sites. Nor does it contain all sets. There is quite a lot, but i remember there were quite a few sets missing as well.

I'm pretty sure Lego has a second archive with every set ever produced in it, but who knows where that is... that may be even on the private property of the family that still owns the company. In any case, i don't expect people to get in there...

I'm pretty sure they don't have an archive besides this one (with the older sets). A lot of the sets that are present in the actual VIP vault were bought back from customers and dealers. Something you wouldn't do if you were keeping a real archive. The VIP vault has a lot of boxes with heavy shelfwear or even opened! Mostly older and rare boxes. This also tends to prove the 'foreign' origin of those boxes.

I had once a discussion with one of the guys who worked on the Collector's Catalog (and it was going about the enormous lack of information and the errors in that 'ultimate' book). It appeared clearly that even if they worked closely together with TLC, the company was just unable to give enough information. Why? Well because until the late 90s, they didn't keep an archive at all. No sets, no molds, no part inventories, no instruction originals, no piece evolution history, nothing. So it seems that it is just about 'guessing', 'remembering' and 'analyzing old catalogs'.

Now - if - they have a secret batcave guarded by a squadron of Templar Knights with atleast one version of every single set, I would be glad if they hired someone to make a decent pictural inventory of the boxes, an inventory of all produced sets and maybe even a correct inventory of release years... I could be wrong of course, but I can't beleave TLC would prevent collectors from this kind of precious information.

Edited November 21, 200915 yr by Karto

I´ve been to the vault a bunch of times, with snefroe also , and the main use for those sets are as reference for the legal department. Why? Well when a crappy copycat company (no name ) might launch a product that´s looks to much like the original TLG set, they go down and bring the set as evidence that they were first. If that means ripping up a box - well then they´ll do it!

The vault in the video should be the real "keepers" vault.