Legos in the '70s

Legos For Girls

• Until the 1970s, Legos were marketed mainly as a toy for boys. That changed with the introduction of furniture pieces and dollhouses in 1971. Three years later, The Lego Group added family sets to its product line, which became the biggest seller up to that time. The set featured human figures with movable arms. A miniature Lego person was also created the same year but had no face.

Expert Series

• Another campaign in the '70s targeted an older crowd. In 1975, The Lego Group introduced the "Expert Series," which included more advanced types of Legos. They allowed for the construction of more realistic automobiles, with movable engine parts, gears, levers, cogs and joints. Many children who grew up with Lego sets when they were young could now continue their enthusiasm for the product.

The Space Set

• Another important product event in Lego history was the introduction of the space set in 1979. The first set included spaceships, astronaut minifigures, rockets and lunar rovers. It would go on to become one of the most expansive and successful themes in Lego history, with more than 200 individual sets. The first sets in what would be later termed the "classic space" era included parts with greater details than many other types of sets at that time. "Rocket Base" and "Moon Landing" were popular space sets in the '70s.

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen

• The son of owner Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (the family changed the spelling of its name) became the third generation to get involved in the Lego family franchise in the early '70s. He was responsible for organizing the founding of manufacturing facilities for company, which appeared all over the globe. He also created the research and development department, which was responsible for making sure the reproduction methods were up-to-date. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen became president of The Lego Group in 1979.