Amazing Classic Lego Collection

Istokg

From my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide - Chapter 11 -  Small Model Sets.  Here's the listing I show (in ascending numeric order, and only the 1xxx sets) of all sets from 1980-90... and where they were sold.  I show 1974 as a single "Legoland Triple Pack" without individual sets comprising it...  and also being sold in USA/Canada.  

Unfortunately things don't line up well from a MS Word document....

 

1980-90 LEGO Small Model Sets - Numbering System

___________________________________________________________________

 

Set                                                                               Year                Where

Number           Description                                         Intro               Sold *

___________________________________________________________________

 

#1496   Rally Car Set (in #1509)                                 1987        USA/CAN/AUS

#1497   Rally & Pit Crew Team Set (in #1509)           1987                AUS

#1506   Town Value Pack (has #1528, #1572)            1986                ALL

#1509   Town Value Pack (has #1496, #1497)            1987                ALL

#1515   Town Value Pack (has #1517, #1518)            1989                ALL

#1517   Race Car Set (in #1915)                                  1989           USA/CAN

#1518   Race Car Repair Set (in #1915)                      1989           USA/CAN

#1525   Container Truck Set (Special Offer)               1986       EU/USA/CAN/AS

#1528   Dragster Set (Special Offer)                           1986         EU/USA/CAN

#1572   Super Tow Truck Set (in #1506)                     1986                ALL

#1630   Helicopter Set (Special Set)                            1990                EU

#1631   Black Racer Set (Special Set)                         1990                EU

#1632   Motor Boat Set (Special Set)                          1990                EU

#1633   Loader Tractor Set (Special Set)                     1990                EU

#1967   Value Pack (has #1959,#1969,#1970, #1971)1985                USA

#1974   Legoland Triple Pack                                      1989           USA/CAN

#1976   Town 3 Pack (has #6611, #6628, #6629)       1984    EU/UK/AUS/CAN/AS

#1978   Town Value Pack (has #6611,#6623,#6624)  1983                USA

#1979   Town Value Pack (has #6621,#6628,#6805)  1984                USA

#1997   Town Value Pack (has #6603,#6622,#6633)  1985                ALL

USA = USA
CAN = Canada
EU = Continental Europe
UK = Britain/Ireland
AUS = Australia
AS = Asia
ALL = All locations

Istokg

One other point about Canadian sets I forgot about (which drives me crazy).... is that the parts count don't always match the counts elsewhere (this was also the case for early USA sets before the Samsonte license was revoked in 1972).

Even little sets may vary by a part or two or three.

And then there's the packaging.  In the case of the 1974 set, it appears the same (since both the USA and Canadian sets were produced in Enfield).

But with earlier sets, sometimes they were the same, other times they were not.

The 1980 introduced 722 Universal Set had a styrofoam lining on the inside of the outer box (for strength) for Europe and the USA, and it contained 3 separate trays (2 green ones and one clear one) that the styrofoam held suspended in place.



While the Canadian version had no such styrofoam lining... and the inner tray was a single molded piece that sat on the bottom of the box.




So as I've been learning.... with Canadian sets it is more than just the outer box labeling that can be different!!   :#

MrShinyAndNew

Istokg said:

...the Canadian version had no such styrofoam lining... and the inner tray was a single molded piece that sat on the bottom of the box.

That explains why my memory of certain space sets don't match the pictures @drdesignz posted. Mine had a blue plastic tray instead of the clear one shown. I guess that proves they were the Canadian versions. I kept those trays for years, they made good moon craters or pools, until they eventually fell apart.

drdesignz

I just purchased a scanner and over the next few days will be scanning (in high-resolution) catalogs, books, and promotional material I've found in the collection.  There's at least one that's not on Bricklink, so that's kind of neat.  Here are the first two catalogs:

• Medium US catalog from 1983
• Medium US catalog from 1984

drdesignz

Life got in the way, so it's been quite a while. But I'm back at it:

• Medium US and European catalogs from 1985
• Medium US and European catalogs from 1986

These take a very long time to put together, so I don't have the rest at the moment. But much more to come. I also had time to build the Blacktron I collection and only had to buy Meteor Monitor to complete it. Alienator was included in the Lego bag. That album is here: imgur.com/a/i4o7H

cheshirecat

Why cant LEGO make a castle range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue. Its not rocket science.

natro220

cheshirecat said:

Why cant LEGO make a castle range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue. Its not rocket science.

Because they're busy mashing together core themes to make room for more and more licensed ones.  Space + Castle = Nexo Knights...  Pirates + Ninja = the current Ninjago line.  Trains + Boats + Town + whatever flavor of the month (Volcano, Mining, Arctic, Diving) = City.

drdesignz

Does anybody know anything about the "all systems go" poster on the back of the US 1986 catalog? 

http://i.imgur.com/mLfPe6H.jpg

I can't find it on Bricklink.  Would love to own it.

catwrangler

natro220 said:

cheshirecat said:

Why cant LEGO make a castle range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue. Its not rocket science.

Because they're busy mashing together core themes to make room for more and more licensed ones.  Space + Castle = Nexo Knights...  Pirates + Ninja = the current Ninjago line.  Trains + Boats + Town + whatever flavor of the month (Volcano, Mining, Arctic, Diving) = City.

Hmmmmm. I like Nexo Knights, but it's hard to escape that impression, yes...

SumoLego

cheshirecat said:

Why cant LEGO make a castle range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue. Its not rocket science.

Why can't LEGO make a space range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue.  It's not alchemy.

Bumblepants

SumoLego said:

cheshirecat said:

Why cant LEGO make a castle range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue. Its not rocket science.

Why can't LEGO make a space range as good as that shown in the 86 catalogue.  It's not alchemy.

I wish they made a classic castle alchemy set. Seriously, that would be awesome.