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Build some big money with Lego By Toby Walne
The Danish plastic bricks of Lego have come a long way since they were first put together in 1949 - and what was once just clutter can now fetch hundreds of pounds.
Darren Smith, 31, of Exeter in Devon, has collected more than two
Darren explains that figurines and pricey limited editions tend to be the most collectible. His favourite Lego set is an Airport Shuttle Monorail, which he purchased for £90 in 1990, but is now worth as much as £1,000. The Lego market for Star Wars figurines has seen values at least double in the past five years. Among the most collectible is a Millennium Falcon that Darren paid £80 for in 2000, which is now worth well over £500. Recently, a 2007 Lego metallic gold C-3PO has created a stir, with £10 sets soaring to £200 if they contain a limited edition robot. "It is the Lego sets that are pristine in their original boxes that fetch the big money," says Darren. "I often buy two sets - one to play with and the other to store as an investment up in the loft." In the beginning... Lego founder Ole Kirk Christiansen started the firm in 1932 selling stepladders, ironing boards and wooden toys. Christiansen hit upon the Lego name by combining the Danish phrase 'leg godt' - 'play well' - which in Latin is 'I put together'. But it wasn't until 17 years later that the first plastic Lego bricks came out. These were hollow inside compared to the stud-and-tube style that came out later in 1958. They were also made only in red and white in a matt cellulose acetate that was ditched in favour of tougher ABS plastic in 1963. The older sets were often sold in wooden boxes with sliding lids and can now fetch over £300. Some Lego bricks are quite literally worth more than their weight in gold - even though they are made of the precious metal. These Holy Grail gold bricks were presented to former workers at the Danish factory and Darren believes they would currently fetch more than £1,000 in a Lego enthusiasts' bidding war. The original and best Imitation bricks made by other firms are regarded as worthless junk by most investors and even Lego's own larger Duplo bricks don't hold their value. "If you want to invest in Lego then look at dedicated online Lego trading forum Bricklink, as well as the auction site eBay, to get an idea of prices and what is on the market," advises Darren. "There is also an adult Lego club called Brickish that can offer advice and encourage you to enjoying brick building too." Darren points out that there are now Lego sets that are targeted at adults, including some that have building guidelines for aged 16 and above. But he agrees that the nerdish image is still something every enthusiast must accept. "My wife complains that the house is crammed with Lego, but she knew what she was letting herself in for when I proposed with a Lego-made red rose." However, even Darren drew the line at going to Legoland for the honeymoon. Want to build up a Lego investment portfolio? Adult fans should contact the Brickish Association, at Brickish.org, for advice on investing and having fun. Go shopping on the internet. There is a dedicated Lego trading website - Bricklink.com while online auction website eBay.co.uk also has a huge Lego following. Keep abreast of limited editions and pick up adult kits via the official website, Lego.com. You can also visit the shop at Legoland in Windsor, Berkshire. Enjoy yourself. If you want to make money out of Lego then purchase one set to keep pristine and unopened and another for the family to play with.
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