Tell me more ×
LEGO® Answers is a question and answer site for LEGO® and building block enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 24 down vote favorite
3

The basic 2x4 brick has many versions. For example the modern one has thinner walls and funny shaped tubes compared to an early 1980s brick. What were the changes over the years and how did they affect building?

share|improve this question

1 Answer

up vote 13 down vote

I can't provide a list of all the minor changes, but I can at least tell the most significant change made in the history of the basic 2x4 brick (which applies to all other bricks and parts, too):

In general, there are no essential changes made: a brand-new brick still fits together with one from before 1963 as long as the Cellulose Acetate hasn't deformed too much during ageing (which is the main reason they switched to ABS, it's more robust, scratch-proof and doesn't deform so easily).

The main "change" that really affects building is the continuously improving precision in production - this happens all the time, so there's no point on the timeline. The effect is simple: better fitting bricks improve the stability of your construction.

*Transparent bricks consist of Polycarbonate, axles consist of Polyamide

share|improve this answer
1  
You can see from the patent (i.stack.imgur.com/QRwhY.jpg) that the basic design hasn't changed markedly. – Zhaph - Ben Duguid♦ Oct 28 '11 at 15:13
4  
The brick as it stands now hasn't seen structural changes since 1958, which is why LEGO celebrated the 50 years of the brick in 2008. The brick before 1958 didn't have the bottom tubes, which were part of the patent you mention. – Joubarc♦ Oct 28 '11 at 19:53
@Joubarc - Current 2x4 have thinner walls (with vertical "ridges") than earlier 2x4 bricks from around 10-15 years ago. This seems to have more rigidity as well as a reduction in the amount of plastic. I'm not sure if it improves or reduces the clutch power. – Cade Roux Nov 1 '11 at 20:35
@CadeRoux — right, but it's not really a structural change. I think the clutch power should be the same, since they've left plastic on the part of the walls where the studs touch it. But they're less plastic, that's for sure. – Joubarc♦ Nov 2 '11 at 4:56

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.