LEGO sets 1224 & 1224/A (1955 /57- Dk;S)
     
SET 1224 (Named beams)- Denmark 1955/56
     
   

This is an old Danish set from 1955 or 1956. It should have eight beams, of which only five remain. These are all version vs 01 of the 1x6 or 1x8 beams and thus are coherent with the year but their authenticity cannot be guaranteed.

The interior and bottom of the inner drawer of the box do not have any decoration. Both box tops are identical.

     
    SET 1224 (Named beams)- Sweden 1955/56
   
   

This is the equivalent Swedish set from 1955 or 1956. It should have ten beams, of which only nine remain. These all use version vs 01 of the 1x6 or 1x8 beams and thus are coherent with the year but their authenticity cannot be guaranteed as I am not sure of the history of this set.

However, the box is original. The inner drawer is identical to the Danish version and it is interesting to remark that "hotel" was maintained against the Swedish "hotell", presumably to cut costs, suggesting that the Swedish boxes were also printed in Denmark. But the price (Kr 1.95) identifies it as Swedish, because that was the price of the set in Sweden, while it cost 2.00 Crowns in Denmark.

Again, the interior and bottom of the inner drawer of the box do not have any decoration. Both tops are identical.

Two of the beams are specifically not Danish ("HOTELL" and "TAXI") while the remaining might also be used in Denmark.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the beam "POST" is printed in gold, a colour I have not seen before.

This set includes a leaflet in Swedish, shown below.

     
  SET 1224/1 (Named beams- 2nd set)- Denmark 1956/57
 
 

This interesting set was only sold in Denmark. The tops of the inner drawer have the new design that must have started in 1956 and was used from then on. Note the Danish price: Kr 2.00. The inner has the decorated bottom that complemented the redesigned drawers (see above) illustrating the beams "MEJERI", "KØBMAND", "TEATER" and "BAGER" in use. But the outside of the box is of the type used in 1955 and 1956 which would date this box as a 1956 vintage.

Only seven beams are present, while in 1956 the box should contain 8. All beams are printed on vs01 1x8 or 1x6 bricks, except the "bager" beam which is printed on a vs02 1x8 brick (see the bottom view at right) which, to my knowledge, was not introduced before 1957. So, either this beam is an anachronism, or the box top is!

Besides the interest of the several exclusively Danish beams, this group is curious for the three beams printed in green, a colour rarely used.

 
  SET 1224 (Named beams- 2nd version)- Denmark 1957/58
 
   

This set is from the short period around 1957 when this new outer box design was used in Denmark. Notice that the decorated underside of the inner drawer is marked "226/1224" meaning that it was also used e.g. in Germany and Portugal at this time. Notice that the only beam clear in the underside drawing is "HOTEL", one of general use, while "TAXA" does not show the last character, so that it will be understood as "TAXI" in other countries, and all other beams are darkened and practically illegible.

Again, the price (Kr.2.00) identifies the inner drawer as part of a Danish set. There are eight beams, which is the correct number for 1957, according to the contents of a Nr.226 set bought in Lisbon in 1957/58.

 
João Manuel Mimoso, November 03, 2009
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