Found in an old box in the club second hand stock. Not Lego, although it looks a bit like it, but plastic blocks from the Italian firm Montini.
Digging around the web, it seems that these might date from the 1950s or 60s. They may even pre-date Lego. Someone suggests that the boys from Denmark ripped off Montini because the Italians didn't register the design. If that's true, there is some irony that Lego have since lost a trademark dispute and the world is full of notLegos with are compatible but not the same.
The plastic these are made from is very soft and flexible. The designs aren't great, but then neither were early Lego models. Children had much better imaginations back then.
Montini produced quite a range of kits, these are the bottom end as there were pretty substantial sets too. Sadly, that's all I can deduce from Tinternet. Can anyone add to the story?
On early Lego - we did indeed have to use our imagination more. If you remember the early figures had their arms moulded to the body and the legs were also one piece.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was really young (early 70s) and Lego was really basic I made monorails. Curves were out of the question so all track was straight, and I made the track upside down so the bottom of the train slid along the smooth underside of the blocks. Rails were made from 8x2 and longer blocks. Not bad for a 4/5 year old. Happy days!
I remember the men with hands in pockets and one piece legs. My first Lego figures were like this.
ReplyDeleteOnce you get past building just the model on the front of the box, Lego is the most fantastic toy. All the simple blocks are still available and I bet there are kids still using their imagination - although has Minecraft absobed some of this?
No, we just have Minecraft Lego sets now...
ReplyDeleteI know Montini sounds Italian, but think they were made in Holland - looks like Revell were involved somewhere as well - http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA1OVgxNjAw/z/nvcAAOSwHnFVtBmw/$_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F
ReplyDeleteAnyway, as long as it's mot Lego. Had to buy £4,500s' worth for work the other week and had enough of the stuff!
Ah, Montini, now you're talking! I loved this stuff when I was a kid in the early 60s. It was better than Lego, because the material was a tough polythene that was flexible, so the blocks held together really well. Whereas early Lego was much more rigid and slippery smooth; bricks tending to lose grip after repeated use, so your creations would fall apart easily. Also Montini was much earlier to market with things like roof tiles, clear blocks and blocks with holes for axles, so you could make proper buildings and vehicles.
ReplyDeletePaul
Montini was a clever LEGO copy, but it became legal and in some ways superior to the original. Montini got Crown Copyright in Britain in 1964 as Patent GB976761. It was made in Holland from 1961 to 1968. At that time, being unable to compete against Montini legally, LEGO paid a handsome amount of money to the manufacturers in order to make them stop producing these toy bricks. As far as I know, they simply pocketed the money and went on producing other toys until the late 1970s. The factory still exists but has been making plastic household goods and industrial items ever since.
ReplyDeleteIn Australia - They were called 'Bricko'. I've been trying to track these down for years. They were cheaper than Lego and I loved them. Every now and then I find them but I'd like more.
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to track these down for years! They were sold in Australia as Bricko and were a lot cheaper than Lego. I still have some of my original and over the years I've found some more but I'd love to get a heap so if anyone has any...
ReplyDeleteWe had two large suitcases of blocks as children in South Africa in the 1960s - one filled with Lego and the other with Montini. Our collection was many simple blocks in white and red. The Lego has sharp edges that could cut, the sides were slippery and you hurt yourself pulling them apart. Standing on a hard Lego block left on the floor was a nightmare. In contrast the Montini blocks were a softer plastic and easier to separate. They were much more of a pleasure to play with. If you had asked me which one would be around a generation later and my money would most certainly have gone to Montini and not Lego. Just shows the power of big business!
ReplyDeleteMontini bricks are made in the Netherlands, in the city Tiel. The bricks are from 1960 - 1969. These bricks are the first ripped off bricks in the Lego history.
ReplyDeleteI had Montini blocks in the early 60's lego was twice the price and not as easy to use.
ReplyDeleteI had Montini blocks in the early to late sixties as well. They were the MOST engaging of all my somewhat plentiful toys. As regards Lego, all I can say is that Montini were infinitely superior and certainly not worth the rather poncy "I am a Rolls Royce so I am better" attitude underlying the greater price. Even my Lego-using friends preferred my Montini!!
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ReplyDeleteI have a large box of Montini and Briko all mixed together. With doors and windows and a wide assortment of roof tiles and wheels and floor tiles. If you are still interested.
Today I sat my family (ages 12, 18 and 20) around the table, Montini is still fun. It is a shame that it is not being made, because its is a totally different experience to Lego of which we have about $20,000 worth. It is like the difference driving an Alfa Romeo and a BMW. Montini has a different feel and it is a different experience. It was great that these two products were compatible but is was never relevant. I myself have three brothers, between my brothers and my children when playing with Montini, nobody never ever had the urge to join Montini to Lego, it happened but rarely. It would be like putting Alfa wheels on a BMW.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI still have 4 sets, combined of the Montini block. They were bought around 1965 to 1968 by my mum for me. They are compatible with LEGO. When I am frustrated, I grab the container and build something. They are still in a good condition. Wish I could get some more second hand. Unfortunately it seems everybody threw their blocks away.
They are better than LEGO in one regard, you can use your imagination. LEGO make purpose build kits, eg: a truck, or airplane or tank or boat, and you are stuck with one or five options to build and that is it. Montini gives you millions more options.
Huh? You can build anything out of Lego. Just mix the sets up - all the blocks are compatible with each other.
ReplyDeleteI would love to find more Montini parts. Anyone want to sell?
ReplyDeleteMontini were put out of business following a Court case with Lego over infringed Patents.
ReplyDeleteI also loved Montini toys. They are very rare. I ended up making a 3D model of them. You can check out my free designs at: https://www.thingiverse.com/leftspin/designs
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