Answers.Body: <p>I can't provide a list of all the minor changes, but I can at least tell the most significant change made in the history of the basic 2x4 brick (which applies to all other bricks and parts, too):</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>1963: <strong>Material changed</strong> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_acetate">Cellulose Acetate</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene">Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)</a>*</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In general, there are <strong>no essential changes</strong> made: a brand-new brick still fits together with one from before 1963 as long as the Cellulose Acetate hasn't deformed too much during ageing (which is the main reason they switched to ABS, it's more robust, scratch-proof and doesn't deform so easily).</p>
  
  <p>The main "change" that really affects building is the continuously <strong>improving precision in production</strong> - this happens all the time, so there's no point on the timeline. The effect is simple: better fitting bricks improve the stability of your construction.</p>
  
  <p>*<em>Transparent bricks consist of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate">Polycarbonate</a>, axles consist of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamide">Polyamide</a></em></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T19:53:18.990Z
Answers.Text: The brick as it stands now hasn't seen structural changes since 1958, which is why LEGO celebrated the 50 years of the brick in 2008. The brick before 1958 didn't have the bottom tubes, which were part of the patent you mention.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-01T20:35:50.090Z
Answers.Text: @Joubarc - Current 2x4 have thinner walls (with vertical "ridges") than earlier 2x4 bricks from around 10-15 years ago.  This seems to have more rigidity as well as a reduction in the amount of plastic.  I'm not sure if it improves or reduces the clutch power.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cade Roux
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-02T04:56:09.440Z
Answers.Text: @CadeRoux — right, but it's not really a structural change. I think the clutch power should be the same, since they've left plastic on the part of the walls where the studs touch it. But they're less plastic, that's for sure.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T15:13:06.567Z
Answers.Text: You can see from the patent (https://i.sstatic.net/QRwhY.jpg) that the basic *design* hasn't changed markedly.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T14:46:57.083Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-28T15:53:21.240Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2011-10-28T15:53:21.240Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: oezi
Answers.Body: <p>This <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/111441268@N03/27152682355" rel="nofollow noreferrer">diagram</a> from <a href="https://%20https://www.flickr.com/photos/111441268@N03/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">WRme2 on Flickr</a> provides a representation of the mold variations from 1949 to 2022:</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ylzoA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ylzoA.png" alt="2x4 evolution diagram" /></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-03-20T15:16:18.710Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-03-20T15:16:18.710Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jncraton
Answers.Body: <ul>
  <li><p>Hollow tube 1958 (2×4 weighing 3g)</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Gets a horizontal ridge called a flowrib &amp; end pips, holds together better (now 2•68g)</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Colours charge &amp; black shine, maybe from being made from ABS instead of CA?</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>ABS 1963</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Flowrib removed (= weight)</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>In USA gets slits in tubes</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>As Pat. Pend. ends, those words get obscured, &amp; stud pips instead of side pips 1974</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>2×3 &amp; 2×4 get cross-members, ribs &amp; thinner walls (2•25g) (sorry I don't get the joke? tubes still round). [2×2 gets ribs]</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>The N° for 2×4, 3001, inside those bricks.</p>
  </li>
  <li><h5>& for the 1×</h5>
  </li>
  <li><p>1×2 1955</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Gets pillars (not for 1×1), 1×6 now has 1 cross-member instead of 2 1959</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Gets full depth cross-members, &amp; 1×6 back to having 2 (but there is also some with just the 1)</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Cross-members on all pillars, &amp; not full depth again</p>
  </li>
  <li><p>Hollow pillars</p>
  </li>
  </ul>
  <p>The 1st using tubes, & 1× sans pillars don't hold together well, okay for buildings. Must be bigger under & smaller studs? Some one wrote that the new thinner bricks don't hold as well on underside. I've 1×2 with notch for wires, hold together okay, even though no pillar, but guess the pillars must help.</p>
  <p>With cross-members & ribs, when I tested using bricks that came just before, holds less well underneath, using 6 studs there holds less well than 4 atop. But better with the 1st using tubes, 4 underneath better than 8 atop. But no better at holding 1 stud under.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-08-31T11:36:48.183Z
Answers.Text: Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us :) But can you please rework the answer to use full sentences and proper words instead of abbreviations and netspeak (i.e. "Some 1 wrote", "&", etc.)? You might want to take a look at other questions and answers to get a feel for the style used on this site if that helps. Normally we'd edit your submission to fit the guidelines, but in this case I see multiple spots where I can't even start to guess your intended meaning (for example "No. 3001 inside"). Thanks!
Answers.UserDisplayName: zovits
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-09-02T21:48:44.363Z
Answers.Text: Sorry, but this answer has a bunch of random text and is unreadable. Could you structure your answer in a different manner and provide additional details in a clear and easy text please?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Alex
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-09-05T12:12:53.530Z
Answers.Text: I could, but not going to, going from what I've noticed mostly, so don't know all date.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Hodson
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Answers.CreationDate: 2022-08-29T16:08:25.787Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-09-25T23:16:00.283Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2022-09-25T23:16:00.283Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Hodson
Body: <p>The basic 2x4 brick has many versions. For example the modern one has thinner walls and funny shaped tubes  compared to an early 1980s brick. What were the changes over the years and how did they affect building? </p>
  
Tags: <manufacturing><history>
Title: How has the basic brick changed over the years?
UserDisplayName: Erik Olson
ThreadText: # How has the basic brick changed over the years?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-25)
  
  The basic 2x4 brick has many versions. For example the modern one has thinner walls and funny shaped tubes compared to an early 1980s brick. What were the changes over the years and how did they affect building?
  
  **Tags:** manufacturing, history
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2011-10-28. Score: 22
  
  I can't provide a list of all the minor changes, but I can at least tell the most significant change made in the history of the basic 2x4 brick (which applies to all other bricks and parts, too):
  
  * 1963: **Material changed** from [Cellulose Acetate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_acetate) to [Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene)\*
  
  In general, there are **no essential changes** made: a brand-new brick still fits together with one from before 1963 as long as the Cellulose Acetate hasn't deformed too much during ageing (which is the main reason they switched to ABS, it's more robust, scratch-proof and doesn't deform so easily).
  
  The main "change" that really affects building is the continuously **improving precision in production** - this happens all the time, so there's no point on the timeline. The effect is simple: better fitting bricks improve the stability of your construction.
  
  \**Transparent bricks consist of [Polycarbonate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate), axles consist of [Polyamide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamide)*
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: You can see from the patent (https://i.sstatic.net/QRwhY.jpg) that the basic *design* hasn't changed markedly.  
  > **username_2**: The brick as it stands now hasn't seen structural changes since 1958, which is why LEGO celebrated the 50 years of the brick in 2008. The brick before 1958 didn't have the bottom tubes, which were part of the patent you mention.  
  > **username_3**: @username_2 - Current 2x4 have thinner walls (with vertical "ridges") than earlier 2x4 bricks from around 10-15 years ago.  This seems to have more rigidity as well as a reduction in the amount of plastic.  I'm not sure if it improves or reduces the clutch power.  
  > **username_2**: @username_3 — right, but it's not really a structural change. I think the clutch power should be the same, since they've left plastic on the part of the walls where the studs touch it. But they're less plastic, that's for sure.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2023-03-20. Score: 2
  
  This [diagram](https://www.flickr.com/photos/111441268@N03/27152682355) from [WRme2 on Flickr](https://%20https://www.flickr.com/photos/111441268@N03/) provides a representation of the mold variations from 1949 to 2022:
  
  [![2x4 evolution diagram](https://i.sstatic.net/ylzoA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ylzoA.png)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2022-08-29. Score: -3
  
  * Hollow tube 1958 (2×4 weighing 3g)
  * Gets a horizontal ridge called a flowrib & end pips, holds together better (now 2•68g)
  * Colours charge & black shine, maybe from being made from ABS instead of CA?
  * ABS 1963
  * Flowrib removed (= weight)
  * In USA gets slits in tubes
  * As Pat. Pend. ends, those words get obscured, & stud pips instead of side pips 1974
  * 2×3 & 2×4 get cross-members, ribs & thinner walls (2•25g) (sorry I don't get the joke? tubes still round). [2×2 gets ribs]
  * The N° for 2×4, 3001, inside those bricks.
  * ##### & for the 1×
  * 1×2 1955
  * Gets pillars (not for 1×1), 1×6 now has 1 cross-member instead of 2 1959
  * Gets full depth cross-members, & 1×6 back to having 2 (but there is also some with just the 1)
  * Cross-members on all pillars, & not full depth again
  * Hollow pillars
  
  The 1st using tubes, & 1× sans pillars don't hold together well, okay for buildings. Must be bigger under & smaller studs? Some one wrote that the new thinner bricks don't hold as well on underside. I've 1×2 with notch for wires, hold together okay, even though no pillar, but guess the pillars must help.
  
  With cross-members & ribs, when I tested using bricks that came just before, holds less well underneath, using 6 studs there holds less well than 4 atop. But better with the 1st using tubes, 4 underneath better than 8 atop. But no better at holding 1 stud under.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us :) But can you please rework the answer to use full sentences and proper words instead of abbreviations and netspeak (i.e. "Some 1 wrote", "&", etc.)? You might want to take a look at other questions and answers to get a feel for the style used on this site if that helps. Normally we'd edit your submission to fit the guidelines, but in this case I see multiple spots where I can't even start to guess your intended meaning (for example "No. 3001 inside"). Thanks!  
  > **username_8**: Sorry, but this answer has a bunch of random text and is unreadable. Could you structure your answer in a different manner and provide additional details in a clear and easy text please?  
  > **username_6**: I could, but not going to, going from what I've noticed mostly, so don't know all date.  
  
  ---
  
  