Samsonite was an American manufacturer of LEGO sets in North America (US and Canada) that for many years starting in the early 1960s had exclusive distribution rights. A licensing dispute ended the arrangement in the United States in 1972, but Samsonite remained the distributor of LEGO in Canada until 1988.
1969 LEGO Sets
With increased international expansion and sale increases, by 1969 the number of people employed by LEGO in Billund reached 843. In 1969 LEGO revisits the pre-school block and develops the fully compatible DUPLO System. It was the basis of a complete line of toys for a market previously untapped by the company: newborns through 6 years old, however in the US Samsonite entered this market with their Jumbo Bricks in previous years. LEGO also introduced a new series of red train wheels with spokes, increasing their new train systems. 1969 brought with it numerous new sets, to date, one of the largest set releases thus far, still, the primary driver of new sets was the Trains theme.