LEGO Duck 2011

Sometimes LEGO creates a set and gives out to internal employees only. These sets are not available to the public.

The theme of the sets are usually related to the LEGO company in some way.

There’s a video of the story about how the LEGO company started making toys that can be viewed here.

It begin as a company doing carpentry but changed to making toys. The first toy they made was a wooden duck made during the 1930’s.

To commemorate this, the LEGO group made the duck into a set out of bricks. This set is the LEGO Duck made in the year 2011.

It is similar to the original wooden duck and comes with a long string to be pulled around.

In the instruction booklet, there is a short message to the employees in many languages. It explains the reason behind the LEGO duck and how it symbolise the values of the company.
 

The 2011 LEGO employee gift is a reproduction of the original wooden LEGO duck in LEGO elements.
 
On August 10th 2012, the LEGO Group will celebrate it’s 80th anniversary. Five years ago, the LEGO Duck was used as the icon of the 75th anniversary because it symbolizes our heritage and the core values of the LEGO Group. Now, five years later, our core valies are just as relevant and it is as important as ever that all employees know and appreciate our company’s rich heritage.
 
Originally designed and developed by the founder of the company, Ole Kirk Kristiansen, under his well-know motto ‘Only the best is good enough’, the wooden duck was introduced to the market during the mid-1930’s and was in different versions a very popular and well-known LEGO product untill 1960.
 
Ole-Kirk firmly believed that high quality products would practically sell themselves and therefore he insisted on delivering products of the highest quality. His son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, learned this the hard way.
 
Once Godtfred took an order of wooden ducks to the train station in Billund for dispatch and proudly told his father that he had saved the company money. “How did you do that?” Ole Kirk asked his son. “I thought this customer was less important, so I coated the ducks only twice instead of the three times we usually do.” Godtfred answered. His father’s response however was swift and to the point. “Go get the ducks immediately, give them the third coat, repack them and bring them back to the station- and do it all by yourself, even if it takes you all night!” Godtfred took the lesson to heart and never forgot to do his best to live up to his father’s motto.
 
The duck therefore represents the attitude and commitment to quality that we must never forget and which now, almost 60 years later, is a key reason why children of all ages from all over the world continue to love the LEGO brand.
 
This is why the duck was chosen as a gift for you and we wish you happy building.
 
Signed
Jorgen Vig Knudstorp       Kjelg Kirk Kristiansen

Came across the above picture on flickr. Very nice way to illustrate the instructions and parts to build the LEGO Duck. Maybe you could attempt to build one from existing parts using the picture above.

Depending on your age, some people may remember having a wooden duck or one that’s made of plastic with a pull string when young. This is a classic toy and it’s cool to have one made of LEGO bricks.

The LEGO Duck 2011 is a rare set and will make a great gift for the LEGO fan.

Year Released: 2011
Year Discontinued: 2011
Minifigures: 0
Pieces: 91
Retail Price: LEGO Exclusive. Not available to public.