{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O179842"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179842/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O179842","accessionNumber":"B.107:1, 2-2004","objectType":"Building block","titles":[{"title":"Self-Locking Building Blocks","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"The Kiddicraft self-locking brick was patented by Hilary Page in 1939. The interlocking bricks were one example of his range of \"sensible\" toys that explored the versatile uses for plastic, instead of the traditional wooden toy. Plastic became popular in toy design due to its hygienic qualities as well as the range of colours and shapes that could be made. \r\nThese bricks were the first time that building blocks had been given the facility to grip together to create more secure structures. The design for interlocking bricks was later developed further by the Danish company Lego who took over the rights to the design in 1949.","physicalDescription":"Printed cardboard box containing  12 rectangular shaped bricks and 12 smaller square bricks, divided in to 4 colours; yellow, blue, red and bluest bricks are made of formed plastic and are hollow with raised circular forms -studs- on the top and  2 smaller ridges indented down the sides of each brick enabling the bricks to lock together. the larger bricks have 8 raised studs, the square bricks have 4. The set appears to be incomplete with a row of bricks short from filling the box completely.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Kiddicraft Ltd.","id":"A11892"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"cardboard","id":"AAT14224"}],"techniques":[{"text":"formed","id":"AAT53098"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Formed plastic","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"},{"text":"Games","id":"THES48947"},{"text":"Construction toys","id":"THES274373"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR021","id":"THES341293"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"building blocks","id":"AAT211303"}],[{"text":"boxes (containers)","id":"AAT45643"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1945-1950","earliest":"1945-01-01","latest":"1950-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Halina Pasierbska","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Kiddicraft / SELF-LOCKING / BUILDING BRICKS / SUITABLE 2-7 YEARS","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"SET NUMBER 1","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"2-299","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"MADE IN ENGLAND","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Suitable to follow this toy.../ Jigsaw clock threading beads 300 Common Words Kiddicog / always ask for KIDDICRAFT 'SENSIBLE' Toys","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Kiddicraft / SELF_LOCKING BUILDING BRICKS / whole bricks lock on any eight studs. Half bricks lock/ on any four studs. A wonderful toy to hold the interest/ of children from 2-7 yeats - creating animals, houses/ bridges, towers, doll's furniture and a host of imaginative/ structures. The components of all the sets are complementary / to each other. The No.1 elementary set teaches a / young child the first principles of \"interlocking\". /No.2 Set contains 40 whoole bricks 20 half bricks / No.3 \"\" 80\"\"40\"\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Instructions are repeated in French and German."}],"objectHistory":"The Kiddicraft self-locking brick was patented by Hilary Page in 1939. The interlocking bricks were one example of his range of \"sensible\" toys that explored the versatile uses for plastic, instead of the traditional wooden toy. \r\nPlastic became popular in toy design due to its hygienic qualities as well as the range of colours and shapes that could be made. \r\nThese bricks were the first time that building blocks had been given the facility to grip together to create more secure structures. The design for interlocking bricks was later developed further by the company, Lego having taking over the rights to the design in 1949.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Set of plastic inter-locking bricks made in England by Kiddicraft in the late 1940s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.107:1-2004","B.107:2-2004"],"accessionNumberNum":"107","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2004,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","boxes (containers)","building blocks"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-10","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-16","availableToBook":false}}