Couple Questions About Late '70s Set

lordzarak

I recently acquired several sets from the late 70s and early 80s. One of the sets is #542. While researching the set, I noticed that the set is supposed to have 1x1 round bricks with solid studs. However, my studs have holes in them. I am confident these are the bricks to the set as I acquired the previous owners entire stash and these pieces were not part of any other set. Is this a transitionary set much like sets that were released during the release of bluish gray elements?

Next question... My instructions have the set number cut out. Someone on BL mentioned their instructions also have the set number cut out. Was this common practice for proof of purchase or something? Thanks!

Pitfall69

I don't know exactly when Lego went with the hollow stud. Sometimes during a run of a set, it can go through several changes. Although, the Street Crew was only produced from 1979-1980. I will pull some of my older sets and see if I can narrow it down.

Tazakk

lordzarak said:

Next question... My instructions have the set number cut out. Someone on BL mentioned their instructions also have the set number cut out. Was this common practice for proof of purchase or something? Thanks!

In at least the 90s, some of the various LEGO clubs worldwide would include special offers if you sent in a portion of the instruction manual as a proof of purchase. They had specific triangular portions to cut out, but if a similar system existed in the 70s and 80s, maybe members were asked to just cut out the set numbers from the manual.

Pitfall69

According to my research the hole in the stud appeared about 1977 and was in response to product-safety regulations. I question the accuracy of the date though. I pulled 3 of my older sets and all had hollow studs, but they were produced from 1981- .

lordzarak

Thanks for checking! 1977 seems early to me. I also have #556 from 1979 but that set does have 1x1 round bricks with solid studs. I'm wondering if those bricks were interchangeable in that era before their solid stud supply ran out.

oldtodd33

@lordzarak I would agree with @Pitfall69 here. I have 2 copies of set #7730 from 1980. That set is supposed to come with 3 yellow cones without axle hole. One of my sets has the axle hole the other doesn't and I'm very sure both sets have their original pieces.

You also have to remember BL isn't always right. In this case I would say both are correct.

luckyruss

Not an answer to your specific question, but the same sort of thing is happening at the moment, for example with the jumper plates (1x2 plate with single stud). There are three versions which still seem to be in circulation (without groove, with groove, and the ones with the new underside (confined to white and light blue grey in sets I've seen so far))

My assumption is that at the factory they have a big tray with the parts in, which may never be emptied but as/when topped up it is with the new part style, meaning for a while sets can have both or either (which will also create differences between geographies). Now today this might work its way through over a period of months but given the volume and technology used 30+ years ago, it seems perfectly plausible that this would take much longer to evolve.

I've certainly had a few sets over the last year or so with jumpers with a mix of with/without grooves, and where i've bought multiples to part out this has been different across boxes. It's actually pretty annoying if you have to line up a mix because it ruins the line! As another example, the PAB wall near me has them in yellow and this is a mixture of with and without groove.

lordzarak

Good information all around regarding the change in brick styles. Thanks, all! Regarding the set number cut out from the instructions, I can definitely see a club or proof of purchase being the reason. I'm just a little thrown off by the fact that that one set is the only one where this happened. None of my other instructions from the transaction have cut up instructions.