About LEGO Universal Building Set Basic Set
The LEGO Universal Building Set Basic Sets theme, active from 1966 to 1977, provided a foundation for creative building with a variety of versatile bricks and elements. These sets were designed to encourage open-ended construction and imagination, featuring an assortment of basic bricks, plates, windows, and doors. They allowed builders to create anything from simple structures to more complex models, laying the groundwork for LEGO's emphasis on creativity and versatility. Key sets in this theme include 088 4.5V Super Set, which introduced motorized components powered by a 4.5-volt battery, enhancing the complexity and functionality of LEGO creations.
1969 LEGO Sets
By 1969, LEGO’s continued international expansion and rising sales had increased its workforce in Billund to 843 employees. This year, LEGO revisited the concept of preschool building blocks and developed the fully compatible DUPLO System. Aimed at children from infancy to six years old, DUPLO opened a new market for LEGO, expanding its product offerings beyond traditional construction toys. The name "DUPLO" was derived from the Latin word duplex, meaning "double," as DUPLO bricks were twice the size of standard LEGO bricks in all dimensions. While LEGO pioneered this new system, in the U.S., Samsonite had already entered this market with its Jumbo Bricks in previous years.