Burn the Wood, Bet the Brick

"In 1960 – at that time there were 450 employees at LEGO – the wood warehouse burned down. Until then, LEGO had continued the production of wooden toys. The day after the fire, Godtfred made a far-reaching decision. He discontinued the production of wooden toys. This would give Godtfred and everyone at LEGO the freedom to focus all resources on the internationalization of LEGO bricks."

"The focused commitment to LEGO bricks alone meant, among other things, that LEGO spent 5 million kroner on advertising in 1960 – more than the total advertising budget in all the years since the LEGO brick was developed. Godtfred believed it was necessary to unfold the potential of the LEGO system:"

"His two brothers, Karl Georg and Gerhardt, who also worked at LEGO, did not agree with the decision. It ended with Godtfred buying them and younger brother Johannes out of the company they had inherited together."