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These are some of the non-LEGO pieces I had in my LEGO collection when I was a child, and I was told they were old LEGO, but any site on the history of LEGO completely failed to show anything like this, so they have to be knock-offs.

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They are likely made in the 60's but it could be earlier. It's compatible with LEGO, except that the studs are higher, so you can't put a thin brick on top of them. The plastic is softer and just slightly translucent. I like their solution for the underside, very neat, and a clever attempt to pass by the LEGO design patents. I don't know the manufacturer, and would appreciate any information.

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    My eagle-eye stepdad noticed there was writing between the studs. Turns out they are dutch and called "MONTINI". Nov 26, 2015 at 11:06
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  • I am from Indonesia, I remember having these bricks when I was like 5-6 years old. That was way back in 1970. I had enough of these plastic bricks to build a house, complete with "glass" door and "glass" windows. The plastic was not shiny like Lego pieces. My sister and I had quite a lot of fun with these Montini bricks. Our mother, who always complained there was "too much stuff" in the house, gave our Montini set away once we outgrew it. Aug 14, 2019 at 15:11
  • I grew up in South Africa and Montini was a huge hit long before I ever heard of Lego. I assumed Lego was the knock-off of Montini blocks. Montini had lots of different bases, bricks, colors, windows, doors, wheels, etc.
    – user17360
    Dec 22, 2020 at 12:09
  • Bought mixed batch off eBay, Lego, Duplo & other, which = Montini, can only join Lego to 1/2 the positions under if not using hollow stud Lego such as windows. Feb 7 at 16:49

1 Answer 1

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As others have pointed out, these are Montini building blocks.

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Montini building blocks were produced by Berco Lux in Tiel, The Netherlands between 1960-1969. The plastic is much softer and the colors are a little different.

In 1969 production was stopped because of the Lego patent.

Montini history and the conflict with Lego ( in Dutch)

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