1968 Newspaper Clippings
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Note: This article was composed when I was simply gathering evidence for the archive, far before I'd began proper research or committed facts to page. I've left it generally as is, as it is an excellent reflection of my mindset as well as our ground up approach to information on the site, wherein we let the evidence lead us to the conclusion rather than lead the evidence to our conclusion.
Also note this is not nearly all the newspaper clippings we have onsite. The rest can be accessed via the Gallery.
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I'm sad to announce that the 1961 image, which made regular appearances for six consecutive years, did not appear in any 1968 newspapers. At least that I know of, as it reappears as late as 1974.
The Times Herald, September 13th, 1968. There are, of course, still uses of the older LEGO System logo, as seen here:
Hawaii Tribune Herald, November 27th, 1968. LEGO System is still occasionally seen, check out this paper from Hawaii. I've not yet identified what sets these might be...
Honolulu Star Bulletin, November 21st, 1968. Speaking of, Hawaii is still home of the hand drawn box art, seen no where else:
Honolulu Star Bulletin, November 27th, 1968. I grabbed this one not only because of the steep discounts but also because I'd like to identify which pre-school set this is:
Garden City Telegram, November 8th, 1968. This Kansas newspaper published press photos of European style sets 331 Dump Truck and 335 Transport Truck next to a Samsonite 205 set:
Chicago Tribune, November 24th, 1968. Yet another appearance of European style boxes, as evidenced by the serif "111" on the side of this 111 Starter Train Set:
Evansville Courier and Press, March 25th, 1968. Another Question/Answer column. While the first one is silly and unrelated, the second is an interesting record of the 002 Motor Pak breaking. Whether or not it truly was like that when opened on Christmas(as this is being published in March) is up for thought:
The Akron Beacon Journal, December 6th, 1968. This is the first appearance I found of the 005 Discovery Set in a regular ad, not in a store catalog or a special pamphlet. Interestingly it is only referred to by its set number, but at least we can confirm it is still available in 1968:
The Sunday Oregonian, September 29th, 1968. This one is interesting as it has a 93 piece "Starter Set", what I believe to be the previously unidentified origin 093 Special Set. Also a "Treasure Chest" set in a Samsonite case, though I'm unsure exactly which set this is. I've since explored it further here: The 1968 Parade Magazine Promotion:
The Windsor Star, November 28th, 1968. This contains an image of an open box 450 Deluxe Basic Set from 1966, interestingly containing an older idea book with all the 1961-65 sets:
Fort Lauderdale News, December 10th, 1968. I chose this one as I'm beginning to notice LEGO being marketed as a pre-school commodity in some places:
Iowa City Press Citizen, January 8th, 1968. I clipped this one as it definitively proves the 502 Deluxe Set was not an exclusive to any store, even withholding last years "test market" run:
The Akron Beacon Journal, January 21st, 1968. The 042 Jumbo Brick Pull Toy is still around despite its relatively short run in the US:
The Cincinnati Post, November 20th, 1968. This one advertises a 402 piece train set that I have not identified(113 Motorized Train Set):
The Calgary Albertan, March 27th, 1968. An unidentified 125 piece set(125 Beginner's Set):
Florida Today, December 11th, 1968. Don't trust everything you read in the paper, this editor's finger slipped and misspelled Shwayder...also Shwayder Brothers rebranded into Samsonite in 1965:
Democrat and Chronicle, November 11th, 1968. Supposedly a nine foot tall LEGO elephant appeared in the United States for at least a short time:
Fort Collins Coloradoan, January 30th, 1968. Job ad for Loveland:
The Los Angeles Times, December 15th, 1968. Another ad but this one to be a toy designer:
The next three are devoted to Samsonite Loveland expansions.
Fort Collins Coloradoan, August 11th, 1968:
Fort Collins Coloradoan, September 11th, 1968.
Fort Collins Coloradoan, December 29th, 1968:
The Daily News Journal, April 28th, 1968. Samsonite posts their earnings:
The last three are various promotions/restructurings of the company. These will be useful in constructing a timeline. From Fort Collins Coloradoan, December 12th, 1986:
Medina County Gazette, April 11th, 1968:
National Post, January 27th, 1968:
