285 Basic Set
General Information
The following information has been collected from original newspapers, catalogs, and magazines, some of which are freely available for reference below. The rest can be found in the site’s gallery. No aggregate catalogs (BrickLink, Brickset, etc.) were used.
Advertised Part Count(s): 285 pieces
First Year Confirmed Available:
1965 (USA)
I’ve written an extensive article about the 1965 wave in particular.
1967 (Canada)
1967 Eaton's Christmas Catalog
Most Likely Retirement Date: 1971 (USA)
The 285 set was a permanent member of the basic set line introduced in 1965 and was in continuous production until the cancellation of the LEGO license. It appears in an idea book used throughout 1970-1971.
1972 (Canada)
While sources drop off at 1971 (because Canadian sources are very limited due to the small size of the market), it is likely this set followed the pattern other Canadian sets did and was last produced in 1972. The below newspaper clipping is a good example that just because a set retired did not mean it immediately stopped appearing on store shelves.
Last Year Seen Available: 1973 (Canada)
Calgary Herald, November 28th, 1973
Aliases: No. 285 Basic Set, Basic Modular Set
Retail Price(s): $6.95 (USA) / $9.49 (Canada)
Discounted Example(s): $5.99 (1967), $5.24 (1970), $4.77 (1970)
Rarity Score (Index): 1/7
Known Box/Packing Variants
As with other US 1965 sets that were produced into 1971, the 285 Basic Set has several box variants. Estimated dates of production are given below to help date examples:
1965-66 will have a drawer/sleeve style box, two patents, and "AGES - 3 TO 8":
Then in ~1967-68 it had a drawer/sleeve style box, two patents, Denver Colorado, and "FOR ALL AGES":
In ~1968-69, it had a drawer/sleeve style box, eight patents, Denver Colorado, and "FOR ALL AGES":
In ~1969-70, it has a tabbed box with gray plastic tray, eight patents, Denver Colorado, and "FOR ALL AGES". 1970 examples will have "Some parts made in Denmark" stickered somewhere on the box.
Then for ~1970-71, it was given the printed disclaimer that some parts were produced in Denmark:
The set had a Canadian release (1967-72), and there are at least two known variants:
A drawer/sleeve style box likely from 1967-70...
...and also a 1971-72 plastic tray box:
The 285 should also have a plain mailer box from JCPenney through 1968-71.
Box/Overview
The 285 Basic Set, releasing in 1965, served as the mid range set in the basic set line—at least in terms of piece count. About the only notable element of the set is that it was bundled with the 001 Gears to make the 005 Discovery Set. The 005 used the 285's inventory and tray.
The 285 Basic Set is one of the more common Samsonite sets:
These are the original sides of the box, they were later updated when the box was given tabs:
And the back features models that can be built with the set:
Contents
As usual, the image shown below is a general guide, not to be taken as law. This particular example comes from 1965-66:
