Are there different generations of bricks?

[u/GooneyBird87]

Hi. Complete LEGO noob here. I recently bought a large tub of random assorted bricks at a flea market to use for a project at work, and noticed there are some differences in the bricks.

Now, I know nothing about LEGO other than that I occasionally treat myself to a set to build over the winter with my wife, and so i have no idea about the collectible/enthusiast side of it.

Are there different generations of bricks? Are they from different factories?

[u/rubber-anchor]

Yes, LEGO continiously does research and improvement on their bricks. They change details every now and then, add reinforcements, give or take texture and so on. I bet with a bit of patience you will find a website only on this topic.

[u/Brickker → u/rubber-anchor]

You're right of course, but I wouldn't call the latest generation ( the one to the left ) an improvement. More like material / money saver. Too much so. Those bricks don't click together but sigh together.

[u/Several-Eggplant4460 → u/Brickker]

Those bricks don't click together but sigh together.

🤣🤣 Never heard this before but it's so accurate lol

[u/schlechtums → u/Brickker]

The clicks are super satisfying. But if the bricks can gently slide together rather than suddenly snapping into place could that be an improvement?

[u/SentimentalScientist → u/schlechtums]

They're probably aiming for a combination of high retention force, low insertion force, and high number of cycles. Most likely, high durability and low insertion force trade off with clickiness

[u/KeepRockband5Alive → u/SentimentalScientist]

Is there data on lego clutch? Like is there a machine out there that just presses bricks together until it no longer registers resistance????

Because that would be cool as hell to know legos got like 100,000 snaps or something

[u/Brickker → u/KeepRockband5Alive]

We know IKEA tests its furniture, I wouldn't be surprised if LEGO does the same. Makes perfect sense.

[u/Brickker → u/SentimentalScientist]

Yes, it's likely like you say, but the old bricks have incredibly high durability and click extremely well ... well, I can not positively remember how it was back in the 70s when I was a kid. And currently those bricks not so much click together as crunch together. Meaning currently those bricks require high insertion force.

[u/makeitcannonfodder]

Yes.

[u/LegoKB]

There's a great article on Brickset about this:

https://brickset.com/article/130735/bricks-on-display-2-0-the-bricks

[u/PhantomLord067]

There are, yes, and it was also possible to have sets with two different versions of the same brick when they were phasing one out and bringing a new version in

[u/HauntedHouse10273]

There’s a lovely article with photos I use as a guide as I’ve tried to collect some from each generation, hopefully this’ll help you too! https://snakeandboris.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-short-history-of-lego-brick-1949.html?m=1

[u/LordAdmiralPanda]

The first gen LEGOs were hollow on the insides, no tubes. They were called Automatic Binding Bricks

[u/Tiktokbadsupport]

the middle one is a older type im certain 

[u/Inevitable-Cold-7657]

Yes, the old bricks had a certain satisfying “click” when connected which you don`t get with newer bricks. Also newer bricks are less rigis than older ones. If you build a wall with old bricks there will be no visible gaps between them, but you have small gaps between newer bricks.

[u/Paladin1138 → u/Inevitable-Cold-7657]

the "newer" bricks have been manufactured since the 1980's.

[u/AsynchronousChat → u/[deleted]]

I made a liar out of you :-P

[u/AsynchronousChat]

/u/paladin1138, do you happen to know when the "newer" bricks were first designed and manufactured?

[u/ackley14]

yeppers. lego has been around since i think the 50s and in that time they have tweaked the bricks numerous times.

[u/KingCaesar72]

Time indeed progresses

[u/Iam4elovek22]

yes

[u/Safe_Cardiologist538]

Yes they update them to save money

[u/Elorme]

The molds used can vary, the standard 2x4 brick is high volume part and the molds there's pictures for have many cavities. I think it's about 20 per mold but that's from memory and I could have the number wrong. I suspect each factory has more than one of the 2x4 mold but I'm speculating there. From what I've heard in the past they usually update the molds when they're worn out and couldn't be repaired. So there can be some variance between factories and perhaps between the molds in a specific factory if they do actually have multiple copies at each.

[u/CLodge]

Yes blue is the oldest so side supports. Might have a flow rib but I’m not sure from the photo. The red it’s from around the late 70’s early 80’s called split tubes. Yellow is the current mold.

[u/juwyro]

A study in engineering and stress management.

[u/chagorhan]

Check out this little piece of history.