Answers.Body: <p>The full-base 1x1 round bricks were produced from 1955 until 1963, during the period when LEGO pieces were made from cellulose acetate (CA) plastic, but were sold until about 1966. According to Gary Istok's <em>Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collector's Guide</em> the solid-stud full-base 1x1 round brick was only ever made from CA plastic. After the supply of them ran out, a new design was adopted with the "tapered" bottom and made from ABS plastic. (Chapter 51, p. 3)</p>
  
  <p>The reason for the change may have had something to do with the fact that the old full-bottom bricks did not grip very well. Also, the tapered-bottom bricks not only fit over a regular stud but fit in between top studs, making them more versatile than the older style.</p>
  
  <p>The hole in the stud appeared about 1977 and was in response to product-safety regulations. Other cylindrical pieces like minifig heads were also given stud holes. This was because it was thought cylindrical pieces were more likely to completely plug a nostril or throat. The solid-stud minifig head has made a comeback recently, however, as these regulations have changed.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-04-02T18:44:56.097Z
Answers.Text: Thanks, that's very informative, but why would having a lip improve grip compared to full-bottom bricks ("The reason for the change may have had something to do with the fact that the old full-bottom bricks did not grip very well.")?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Gnubie
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-04-05T19:27:42.787Z
Answers.Text: The poor gripping power may have been what prompted them to look for a new design is what I meant, and during that process they decided to make the bottom of the 1x1 round more like the standard tube on the bottom of most bricks. It may also have been the switch to ABS plastic that prompted the design change. The trend in piece design in the 60s and 70s was to add functionality and increase the gripping strength - adding slots in the round corners, changing the 1x1 round base, adding tubes to hollow bricks, getting rid of the "waffle bottom" plates, etc.
Answers.UserDisplayName: 62Bricks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-04-01T03:15:14.203Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-04-01T03:15:14.203Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: 62Bricks
Body: <p>The first 1x1 round bricks had no lip, just like most bricks:</p>
  
  <p><strong><a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3062old" rel="noreferrer">Brick, Round 1 x 1 Old - No Bottom Lip</a></strong></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/R7sq8.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>A lip was then added:</p>
  
  <p><strong><a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3062a" rel="noreferrer">Brick, Round 1 x 1 Solid Stud</a></strong></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8CEEb.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>Why?</p>
  
  <p>Later, a hole was added in the stud:</p>
  
  <p><strong><a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3062b" rel="noreferrer">Brick, Round 1 x 1 Open Stud</a></strong></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FdEC6.gif" alt="http://img.bricklink.com/P/1/3062b.gif"></p>
  
  <p>Was that to prevent choking, as in some minifig heads?</p>
  
Tags: <piece-information>
Title: Why was the 1x1 round brick changed?
UserDisplayName: Gnubie
ThreadText: # Why was the 1x1 round brick changed?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-01)
  
  The first 1x1 round bricks had no lip, just like most bricks:
  
  **[Brick, Round 1 x 1 Old - No Bottom Lip](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3062old)**
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/R7sq8.png)
  
  A lip was then added:
  
  **[Brick, Round 1 x 1 Solid Stud](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3062a)**
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/8CEEb.png)
  
  Why?
  
  Later, a hole was added in the stud:
  
  **[Brick, Round 1 x 1 Open Stud](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=3062b)**
  
  ![http://img.bricklink.com/P/1/3062b.gif](https://i.sstatic.net/FdEC6.gif)
  
  Was that to prevent choking, as in some minifig heads?
  
  **Tags:** piece-information
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-04-01. Score: 15 | Accepted answer
  
  The full-base 1x1 round bricks were produced from 1955 until 1963, during the period when LEGO pieces were made from cellulose acetate (CA) plastic, but were sold until about 1966. According to Gary Istok's *Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collector's Guide* the solid-stud full-base 1x1 round brick was only ever made from CA plastic. After the supply of them ran out, a new design was adopted with the "tapered" bottom and made from ABS plastic. (Chapter 51, p. 3)
  
  The reason for the change may have had something to do with the fact that the old full-bottom bricks did not grip very well. Also, the tapered-bottom bricks not only fit over a regular stud but fit in between top studs, making them more versatile than the older style.
  
  The hole in the stud appeared about 1977 and was in response to product-safety regulations. Other cylindrical pieces like minifig heads were also given stud holes. This was because it was thought cylindrical pieces were more likely to completely plug a nostril or throat. The solid-stud minifig head has made a comeback recently, however, as these regulations have changed.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thanks, that's very informative, but why would having a lip improve grip compared to full-bottom bricks ("The reason for the change may have had something to do with the fact that the old full-bottom bricks did not grip very well.")?  
  > **username_1**: The poor gripping power may have been what prompted them to look for a new design is what I meant, and during that process they decided to make the bottom of the 1x1 round more like the standard tube on the bottom of most bricks. It may also have been the switch to ABS plastic that prompted the design change. The trend in piece design in the 60s and 70s was to add functionality and increase the gripping strength - adding slots in the round corners, changing the 1x1 round base, adding tubes to hollow bricks, getting rid of the "waffle bottom" plates, etc.  
  
  ---
  
  