Lego Unexpected Gathering Instructions Lets Build It Again

Eric is a writer with an involvement in vintage toys and nostalgia, particularly from the '70s and '80s.

My Vintage Lego Minifigures Collection from Classic Lego Sets

© Eric 2012

Vintage Lego Minifigures

Lego Minifigures come up in hundreds of shapes and sizes these days, but the vintage minifigs from the classic sets are all the same absurd and memorable. With links to big-name franchises like Star Wars, Batman, and Lord of the Rings, Lego has had permission to create some of the niftiest minifigs in its history.

Some people forget that back in the late 1970s information technology all began with a few themed sets and some very generic-looking characters.

But those of u.s. who were around dorsum then remember the fun of those early sets and the swell little Minifigures that came with them. They may not have been as fancy as the figures that would come after, but they were charming and memorable in their ain ways.

Modern sets may be cooler in the eyes of kids these days, but we kids of the past recall the vintage Minifigures that started information technology all.

This article is a tribute to some of those early figures, along with some information on starting your own Lego Minifigure collection.

The First Minifigures

The outset Lego Minifigures appeared in 1975, but they didn't await a whole lot like the ones we know today. They had no movable arms or legs, and some didn't fifty-fifty have faces. They were essentially shaped bricks and required a whole lot of imagination. It wasn't until 1978 that Lego began to produce the articulated trivial figures that have get so popular.

Lego Themes

The three major Lego themes at the time were Town, Castle, and Infinite. The first real Minifigures were firemen, constabulary officers, astronauts, knights, construction workers, and some were merely regular people.

They each had the same xanthous caput with a generic smiley face, and the same torso and legs in different colors and designs to reflect the graphic symbol. Of grade, they came with bang-up accessories like swords, walkie-talkies, tools, hats, helmets, and backpacks.

They may accept been uncomplicated, simply they took the boilerplate Lego set from a simple building project to something you could play with indefinitely. Because of their interchangeable parts, they provided nigh countless creative possibilities.

Hither's a look at a few of the coolest Minifigures from the first 15 years or so.

Construction Worker and Original Chef Vintage Lego Minifigures.

© Eric 2012

Lego Boondocks Sets

Both of the figures above were released in 1980 and included in the Main Street (6390) building set. The Main Street gear up consisted of two buildings, ane of them nether construction.

In that location was a crane with a working winch, a dump truck, a car, and a park demote with some trees and flowers around it. The other Minifigures that came with the set were a human in a cowboy hat, a lady, a policeman, and another construction worker.

In that location have been several renditions of the chef Minifigure over the years, but this one was the get-go. Later chefs featured much-improved details and accessories. Interestingly, this chef was in charge of a popcorn stand on the side of the street. Must take been some fancy popcorn!

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Master Street was part of the Lego Boondocks theme, which included several unlike types of buildings and utilities.

Classic Lego Minifigures: Policeman and Citizen.

© Eric 2012

The Legoland Police

The Police force Station (381) was another of the Lego Town buildings, this one released in 1979. The set up included three law officers as well as the guy in the blue seen above. In the picture show on the box he's depicted flagging in the helicopter on the roof, but he appears to be a noncombatant so it'south anyone's guess equally to his job or identity.

The gear up included instructions for building the police center, plus a helicopter, a constabulary motorcycle, and a squad car.

There were really no bad guys in Legoland until subsequently years (except for ones you lot invented yourself), only plainly, the law was necessary for some reason or another. Maybe they wrote a lot of parking tickets. The burn down section, ambulance, and other emergency personnel rounded out the list of offset-responders should a citizen accidentally drop a 2x4 brick on themselves.

The cops too underwent many changes in the years that followed, and today's Lego police force force features much-improved accessories and detail.

Medico Lego Vintage Minifigure

© Eric 2012

The Legoland Medical Staff

Medical personnel played a central role in Lego society. With all the edifice going on people were bound to get hurt. This Minifigure came with the Paramedic Unit (6364) ready from 1980.

There was the doctor, her doctor'south office, her emergency response vehicle, and some miscellaneous guy who was possibly a patient.

This was a small prepare compared to many others, simply the cool thing about the early Lego sets was that they each came with a road tile that could be interconnected with other sets, making a boondocks. This might also explain why sets like this came with random figures aside from the necessary md. Towns need citizens milling nigh or else all of these professional people have zippo to do!

Spaceman Vintage Lego Minifigure

© Eric 2012

The Lego Space Program

While Lego citizens were concerned with prophylactic and security around town, they also had an eye for progress.

The Lego infinite program sent intrepid voyagers into the cosmos with trivial more than a visorless helmet, a jetpack, and an ambiguous tool that may have been a weapon only generally was depicted equally some kind of torch or signaling device.

The classic red spaceman higher up (pictured with said tool) came with the Galaxy Explorer (497) ready released in 1979. This was by far the coolest of the early Lego infinite vehicles. It had a cockpit where several spacemen could airplane pilot the arts and crafts and a docking port in the rear where a small rover could exist stored.

The set up came with ii red and two white space guys. The same spacemen were manufactured in other colors such as blueish, black, and aureate in later years.

Vintage Lego Ghost Minifigure

© Eric 2012

Lego Ghosts!

There have been many ghosts and variations of the ghost Minifigure through the years, simply the one y'all see hither was the first. It came with a tiny set called The Black Monarch's Ghost (6034) which was released in 1990. The set likewise included a knight and instructions for edifice a modest castle or holdfast of some kind where the ghost could hide.

The Castle theme had been large with Lego going back to the belatedly '70s and early on '80s. Back then the horses were made from Lego bricks, merely non long subsequently they started to produce equus caballus figures. This small set was part of a much greater kingdom of knight sets.

Oh, and the ghost glows in the night. Cool!

Lego Cowboys Vintage Minifigures

© Eric 2012

The Western Theme

The desperadoes pictured in a higher place are Flatfoot Thompson, Dewey Cheatum, and Black Bart.

They were recurring characters in the Lego western theme in the mid-1990s and early 2000s and could be found in sets like Sheriff's Lockup (6755), Bandit'south Hole-and-corner Hideout (6761), and Fort Legoredo (6762). There were a few different versions of each Minifigure.

You tin can meet a couple of changes in the Lego Minifigures of this period every bit compared to 15 years prior. Well-nigh obviously, the details had gotten much more intricate. Instead of the same smiley confront for every graphic symbol, dissimilar figures began to take on their own specific appearance.

The second change is the presence of genuine bad guys. The Utopian earth of the original Lego town finally has a few citizens worth arresting!

Sheriff and Soldier Minifigures

© Eric 2012

The Practiced Guys!

Luckily at that place were all the same plenty of skillful guys around. The Sheriff, too, was a recurring character in Lego western sets. At that place were several different versions of soldiers and Cavalry officers. This one comes from a small-scale set that was called Weapons Wagon (6716) which included a horse-pulled covered carriage towing a cannon.

The cowboy theme might have been a little outdated by the time these sets came out, only it sure worked for Lego and resulted in some of the coolest sets ever. The presence of recurring characters was also an interesting idea, only nigh inevitable as Lego was increasingly moving away from the generic character profiles.

Lego Pirate Vintage Minifigure

© Eric 2012

Pirates!

The Pirate theme was some other classic launched in the late-80s. This pirate with his loot and a mischievous monkey named Spinoza was released in a pocket-size set simply called Buried Treasure (6234).

The pirate theme first hitting the shelves in 1989, but into the 1990s Lego would expand on the pirate concept with some truly epic sets.

Forth with the pirate, Minifigures came various adversaries and islanders they would meet, and amazingly intricate ships and sets. The pirate theme originally ran until 1997 and was re-released in 2002.

Collectible Lego Minifigures

Legos accept inverse a lot in the past thirty-five years, and this is reflected in the Minifigures. Decade by decade, they're an interesting part of toy history. Whether talking about the classic figures of the past, or the incredibly elaborate figures of today, they each have their unique story to tell. They're easy and inexpensive to collect too, and if you take a few already laying around the business firm yous're off to a keen showtime.

Better still, if you lot tin can dig up those old Legos from your babyhood you might find you lot have some gems hidden abroad in your collection. You tin sell them for an unexpected profit, but like many of u.s.a., you may prefer to continue them around every bit memories of days gone by.

Whatever you decide, accept fun with your Lego Minifigures!

This content is authentic and true to the best of the author's noesis and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Anthony on September 08, 2019:

Bro my dad has like well-nigh every lego set from when legos were first a thing in america

groovy from Home Sweet Abode on March 29, 2015:

wow, y'all had the whole prepare! My son dear lego but too expensive for us to buy

Amy from Darlington, England on August 22, 2014:

We've just been to LEGOLand Windsor and my daughter loved information technology. She was telling the staff there about all the stuff I'd given her from the early days. She even got her Photo taken with Mr Aureate amongst others. What a great day out for LEGO lovers young and quondam.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on Baronial 22, 2014:

Thanks TreasuresBrenda! The ghost is one of my favorites also!

Treasures By Brenda from Canada on August 22, 2014:

Neat page! I love the chef minifig and who doesn't dearest the ghost. I'k sure he was one of the favorites of my children.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on August 10, 2014:

I know what you lot mean! I saw the moving-picture show for the outset time last week and I still tin't get that Everything is Awesome song out of my head!

Sarah Forester from Australia on August 09, 2014:

Lets build a spaceship! I can't aid just think that when I see the space Lego afterwards having seen the pic!

Eric Dockett (writer) from Us on July 05, 2014:

Thanks MPG. Everything is indeed awesome! Hope you can become your Legos back without a fight.

Maria Giunta from Sydney, Commonwealth of australia on July 04, 2014:

We gave all our Lego away to extended family members one time our kids didn't employ them whatever longer. I think we should ask for them back now.

"Everything is awesome" isn't it Eric. Honestly this hub is better than the picture show so information technology definitely deserves the HOTD. Congrats, voted up and awesome.

Eric Dockett (writer) from United states on June 11, 2014:

Thanks LEGOdomenick!

LEGOdomenick on June x, 2014:

Great hub well-nigh the LEGO minifigure. I enjoyed the history of the individual characters.

Eric Dockett (author) from U.s.a. on April xiv, 2014:

@PlumbingOnTap: Y'all tin can observe some vintage sets and minifigures online at places similar Amazon and eBay. Y'all can as well try yard sales and flea markets.

Amy from Darlington, England on April eleven, 2014:

There are parts missing but I've been able to find alternatives from new sets and fifty-fifty places that sell the bricks by the tub. Its just the likes of the Garage door I'm having trouble with.

Elliott Raggio from Hove on April eleven, 2014:

where can i buy these stuffs? my son would honey to take these as he is an avid fan and a collector of lego too

Eric Dockett (writer) from USA on April 11, 2014:

That's so cool, brutishspoon. I love those old sets! I have a lot of the pieces still but who knows if there are actually enough to build one of the former sets.

Amy from Darlington, England on April 10, 2014:

My daughter inherited what I still had of mine. Lots of Law and space Mini Figs, Road pieces and a grass board. She tin make the Police Station from the late fourscore'south/early ninety's, I only demand to get replacement parts for the rolling garage door. She can also make the stable from that time.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on April 07, 2014:

Thanks Stephanie. My drove was kicked off when I found my old Legos when I was cleaning out a shed at my mom's house. The minifigures were still there, mostly. Glad she didn't toss them out over the years!

Stephanie Fay on April 05, 2014:

So absurd! I've been collecting some of the new minifigures here and at that place, only I'd Dear to become my hands on some from the 70s and 80s (unfortunately when I inherited my parents' legos, they had lost whatever figures a long fourth dimension ago)

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on June 05, 2013:

But a warning, glassvisage: If yous go dorsum and look for your old Legos you might go bitten by the bug and outset collecting again. Not that there's anything incorrect with that! :-) Thanks for your kind comment!

glassvisage from Northern California on June 04, 2013:

I had all but the Doctor, Sheriff and Soldier... This makes me want to go back and see if I can find them all. The glow-in-the nighttime ghost was my favorite :) Cheers for sharing!

Eric Dockett (writer) from USA on June 02, 2013:

Cheers ajorod17! Promise this Hub brought dorsum some good memories!

AJ Rodriguez from San Diego on June 02, 2013:

Cool hub I loved playing with Legos when I was young

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 29, 2013:

@Danette: Legos can be addicting, for kids and for adults! Love the Star Wars minifigures too!

Danette Watt from Illinois on May 29, 2013:

My kids loved Legos and we probably invested thousands of dollars in them! In fact, I have almost 5 Star Wars figures that I've been trying to sell. All the parts are there, just don't have the original box. I think they've gotten too much into the "sets" rather than but buckets of bricks and various random figures to spark a child's imagination.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 28, 2013:

Thanks everyone for all the great comments yesterday. Information technology was a big honor to have this little hub named HOD!

Kawika Chann from Northwest, Hawaii, Anykine place on May 27, 2013:

Nicely done Eric, very informative and nice menstruation to your hub. Upvoted/useful/following. Congrats on HOTD! Peace. Kawi.

Peter V from At the Beach in Florida on May 27, 2013:

I still have some of those cowboy Lego mini figures. I remember getting a big fort set when I was immature and playing with information technology for hours. Unique hub idea.

IslandBites from Puerto Rico on May 27, 2013:

Cute hub!

cristianneacsu from Bucharest, Romania on May 27, 2013:

My son ( 7 years one-time) merely received a lego prize at schoolhouse and this hub remind me near early years and funny things so cheers for this hub and nice pics.

Joanne M Olivieri on May 27, 2013:

Nifty hub. I remember that my three Brothers had Lego sets when they were young. These minifigures bring back memories and are very artistic. Voted up and congrats! on HOTD

Eric Dockett (author) from United states on May 27, 2013:

That's cool about the original minifigures, Sunshine625. They were before my time . . . but just past a year or 2! :-)

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on May 27, 2013:

I have quite a few of these legos. I also take the original lego figures...just the head and artillery, which are very rare. Long Live Legos!

bradley chocolate-brown from Harrow Middlesex on May 27, 2013:

This brings back retentivity's had loads of Lego as child and my kids know have loads of it as well,and my sons birthday is tertiary June and i know his nanny is getting him some more, not bad hub.

rose-the planner from Toronto, Ontario-Canada on May 27, 2013:

I notwithstanding enjoy Legos, lol! This is a very interesting article filled with great information. They recently opened upwardly a Legoland here in the Greater Toronto Expanse. I am really curious to bank check information technology out. Thanks for sharing! Take care. (Voted up)

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 27, 2013:

Thanks rebekahELLE! Promise you get a hazard to visit Legoland!

rebekahELLE from Tampa Bay on May 27, 2013:

Love it! My sons grew upwards playing with legos and we still accept some of the sets with the minifigures. I took a set to school for my older kids and they love working with them. They're excellent for developing fine motor skills and allowing for artistic play. We're not as well far from Legoland. I've heard it'due south lots of fun and colorful! You've done a keen task with this topic and information technology's squeamish to come across it as HOTD!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 27, 2013:

Cheers for the kind comments, everyone. I'thou very surprised by this Hub of the Day thing!

Natasha from Hawaii on May 27, 2013:

Man, I love Legos! I still don't like the 'new' faces with the different expressions. The former ones with just unlike facial hair were way better!

Abdus Salam from People's republic of bangladesh on May 27, 2013:

Congratulations! Your hub on hub of the day!! Great hub. thank you for sharing...

Toy Tasting from Mumbai on May 27, 2013:

Eric, this is such an awesome post. I dear LEGO's. They are one of my favorite toys to play with. The ghost minifigure is and then cute. Congratulations on HOTD, Cheers!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 24, 2013:

Thank you Marcy! I have great memories of Lego as a kid too. It's really astonishing how these little minifigures have changed.

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on May 24, 2013:

This is such a cool hub, and and so fun! I grew up with the really archetype Legos, and we had to blueprint everything ourselves (I sort of miss those days!). A friend of mine recently bought several classic and rare sets for her toddler granddaughter's Christmas gift, and several of us all got to 'play' with them a calendar week or so before Santa came. Voted up!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on Apr 11, 2013:

Thank you for the kind words, ytenoh and pinto2011. Glad I'm not the just one who loves the old Legos!

Subhas from New Delhi, India on April x, 2013:

Thanks for rekindling my memory associated with the classic Lego sets. Very nice hub.

Cathy from Louisiana, Idaho, Kauai, Nebraska, Southward Dakota, Missouri on April 10, 2013:

This hub just super amazed me. Good chore, crawly images, and proceed reminding us to hold on to that child inside ourselves! Definitely sharing.

Eric Dockett (writer) from USA on March 24, 2013:

Thanks idigwebsites! Regrettably, this is only a pocket-sized segment of the Lego minifigures I had as a kid. Like you, I lost many of them somewhere along the line. :-(

idigwebsites from U.s. on March 24, 2013:

What a collection y'all take! Actually beautiful minifigures, fifty-fifty the badass are too smile. I love Legos too! Just we regret nosotros kind of lost the pieces when we were kids. :(

Cool and fun hub. Voted up and awesome.

Eric Dockett (author) from United states of america on January 15, 2013:

Cheers Geekdom! They are pretty bully!

Geekdom on January 15, 2013:

Cool Hub! I love reading and writing about LEGOs. The minifigures accept ever been fun.

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Source: https://hobbylark.com/collecting/Lego-Minifigures-Classic-Minifigs-from-Vintage-Lego-Sets

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