Random set of the day: Blacksmith Shop
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6040 Blacksmith Shop, released during 1984. It's one of 10 Castle sets produced that year. It contains 92 pieces and 2 minifigs, and its retail price was US$9.25.
It's owned by 3,189 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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53 comments on this article
Hey! Quit making all that noise down there, you're giving away my position!
What a lovely set. That brown overall piece - Swoon!
Beautifully simple, simply beautiful.
So cool that you can actually forge and assemble each individual part of the wagon, with the wheels, harness, axles, etc. Simple but great play feature.
I picked this up used last month. Should find it and build it.
Oops my bad it was the Armour Shop 6041.
Loved this set. That chimney, Forge and anvil found their way in many childhood MOCS. If I recall correctly this set also included extra instructions for a back of box model as well.
@MeisterDad said:
"I picked this up used last month. Should find it and build it.
Oops my bad it was the Armour Shop 6041."
Sounds like you got the wrong set, I'll help you out and take Armour Shop off your hands, free up space over there :]
Is that blacksmith forging a wooden wheel?
Crazy how far LEGO has come with building techniques. Initially, it was relatively simple builds like this, now it has become complex builds with multiple details like the 21325-1
Medieval Blacksmith. The concept is the same, but nearly 40 years later the builds are completely different.
This is so beautiful I feel as if I could cry.
My brother had this set when we were kids. It was one of his favorites and was used next to his yellow castle.
@CarolinaOnMyMind said:
"Is that blacksmith forging a wooden wheel?"
Wooden wheels like that often had metal parts such as the axle hole. They would also wrap metal around the outside rim so that it held the whole wheel together and reduced the wear on the wood as it rolled along.
I love Blacksmiths. Don't know what it is but, especially in LEGO, they've always captivated me!
Ahh good old 'Modular' Castle sets
This won Favorite Set of 2021? Oof.
@Mr__Thrawn:
Hand-forged lumber is simply the best!
92 pieces for a Blacksmith shop. This is why people love Classic Lego sets. And you get a horse.
A+ set
80's were the best, 90's close second. Today, meh, I guess it works...
I remember wanting but not getting this from my parents.
I'll definitely buy the 21325-1 now.
Sweet little set. And I like it that you can add it to your castelset to make your castel bigger.
Ah the blacksmith or … the executioner as we used him for being that. Great set!
One of the best oldies.
WOOHOO!
Finally, a set I own!
I still have my childhood copy intact, built and displayed. Love this set!
On the forge, I took out the axle and filled it in with a couple plates, so the horse cart can be fully assembled.
I somehow managed to get the brown cape and the instructions of this, but I'm still missing the red slopes and the pitchfork...
It's a bit weird that this is the only 1984 set with the pitchfork, whilst the set with the peasant (6010) didn't come with one.
Also it's the frst set to include a plain yellow torso.
Whoever thinks this is outstanding A++ or whatnot should take their nostalgia glasses off.
Sure, it's a cool set, of an unusual subject, but it's one bearing plate short from being a great toy. As is, if you have only this, or are not willing to alter it, you can't build even the simpliest cart. I don't get it, and I could not explain it to my kid (I want to have a cart, but I don't want to build it different than in the instructions) no matter how hard I tried.
Weirdly enough I'm pretty sure I just found the parts for this in a mixed lot a few days ago. Never heard of it before and now here it is.
Great memories from the first wave of Grey Castle! Some lovely parts in the set some of which were very rare for a long time and that minifigure was completely different to any others when released.
Can never have enough Blacksmiths, apparently...
Loved this set and its modularity as a kid, linking it to other grey castle sets.
I always assumed the blacksmith was placing a heated metal ring around the wheel, which then contracts when it cools to increase the lifespan of the wheel and hold together better. Although the forge looks a bit small to heat this invisible ring, I still love the bright red colour and sloping bricks which where pretty unusual at the time plus you had a bit more wall to defend.
I'd pick this over 21325 any day.
@Gamlebilrokker said:
"Whoever thinks this is outstanding A++ or whatnot should take their nostalgia glasses off.
Sure, it's a cool set, of an unusual subject, but it's one bearing plate short from being a great toy. As is, if you have only this, or are not willing to alter it, you can't build even the simpliest cart. I don't get it, and I could not explain it to my kid (I want to have a cart, but I don't want to build it different than in the instructions) no matter how hard I tried. "
old sets was surely simple, but was TOYS. You could pay a lil money for a lil toy, and later connect it with your big castle. This was like a cheap modular part for your bigger medieval scene.
Now you have an expensive masterpiece (like the new blacksmith, 150€!)... or a facade, like the new city sets (please compare old legoland police HQ from '86 with the new 2022 version...)
PS: I didn't got this specific set (so, I don't have any pink glasses), but when I see an old RSOD from LEGOLAND ERA I always fall in love!
Another post here saying how good the blacksmith was as a minifig. Like others said we used him as an executioner and gave him a big axe.
Instructions did indeed have an alternate build. Have to have 2 of these classics to complete the foundry.
80s castle = cheap small sets with horses and figures, thats whats missing from 2021 blacksmith/3-in-1 which obviously allow much bigger builds if you build horizontally in 80s style.
So no, not just nostalgia.
@madforLEGO said:
"Ahh good old 'Modular' Castle sets "
Yes indeed, while this system of connecting walls still exists in harry potter and sets like the 2022 ninjago dojo+training ground, lego doesnt really have small castle sets in terms of figs/horses (especially after 2014)
Xtra had a shark/pirate polybag, a horse polybag with a saddle and some knight armor/weapons would go a long way
This set is so good I always remember it as a SPACE! set.
@pazza_inter said:
old sets was surely simple, but was TOYS. You could pay a lil money for a lil toy, and later connect it with your big castle. This was like a cheap modular part for your bigger medieval scene.
Now you have an expensive masterpiece (like the new blacksmith, 150€!)... or a facade, like the new city sets (please compare old legoland police HQ from '86 with the new 2022 version...)
PS: I didn't got this specific set (so, I don't have any pink glasses), but when I see an old RSOD from LEGOLAND ERA I always fall in love!]]
Well, a toy that gives you a horse cart with one wheel is kind of crappy. And cheap is relative, in 1984 this was 26 Dollars in today’s money.
Your last paragraph is exactly what I mean, you are fond of this set because you are fueled by nostalgia.
And again, it’s cool, but nowhere near A++ or what…
^
Set came with 2 wheels.
@Gamlebilrokker said:
" @pazza_inter said:
"old sets was surely simple, but was TOYS. You could pay a lil money for a lil toy, and later connect it with your big castle. This was like a cheap modular part for your bigger medieval scene.
Now you have an expensive masterpiece (like the new blacksmith, 150€!)... or a facade, like the new city sets (please compare old legoland police HQ from '86 with the new 2022 version...)
PS: I didn't got this specific set (so, I don't have any pink glasses), but when I see an old RSOD from LEGOLAND ERA I always fall in love!"
Well, a toy that gives you a horse cart with one wheel is kind of crappy. And cheap is relative, in 1984 this was 26 Dollars in today’s money.
Your last paragraph is exactly what I mean, you are fond of this set because you are fueled by nostalgia.
And again, it’s cool, but nowhere near A++ or what…
"
I was born more than a decade later, so you can't pull out the nostalgia card on me. I still think this set is way better than modern sets, simply because the premise behind this set is that it provides a base for your imagination.
Nowadays the sets are so detailed and with many tiny, curved tiles that they no longer leave much room for imagination - they are a whole package that you put on display and be done with it.
Even kids today when they build something of their own, they don't use these detailed parts. They just use basic plates and bricks.
@bue_car said:
[[ @MeisterDad said:
[[I picked this up used last month. Should find it and build it.
Oops my bad it was the Armour Shop 6041.]]
Sounds like you got the wrong set, I'll help you out and take Armour Shop off your hands, free up space over there :]]]
Appreciate the offer. Doubt you could afford the shipping and handling fee…
I've gathered all the parts to build this except that elusive and exclusive brown "cape". It's rather expensive since it never showed up in anything else in that color :/
I always loved how the old classic castle sets could all be connected together. Simple and effective.
@Mr__Thrawn said:
"So cool that you can actually forge and assemble each individual part of the wagon, with the wheels, harness, axles, etc. Simple but great play feature."
Huh. I had this set and a kid, and I don't think it ever occurred to me that you could assemble the blacksmith's parts into a working cart, plow, or whatever you would call a harness with two wheels. Seems so obvious now! I have a feeling my horse went directly into knight duty and didn't stick around the blacksmith shop for long, thus why I may have never combined so those parts together.
This reminds me of the extra piece of wall for Helm's Deep in the 'Uruk Hai Army' set. Those 80's Castle sets were pioneers! My deepest admiration.
@Gamlebilrokker said:
"Well, a toy that gives you a horse cart with one wheel is kind of crappy. And cheap is relative, in 1984 this was 26 Dollars in today’s money.
"
mmmh... no: this was an expansion set! You had got the big grey castle for your birthday or Xmas and could buy a month later this lil set with your allowance... like trains (the many wagons or level passages) or pirates or space...
now you have to spend big money for medium and independent sets, sometimes real masterpiece (like new blacksmith), but nearest to an art piece than a playable toy: I still play with my Airport Shuttle or Metroliner, but I can't play with new sets... only exhibition!
@Gamlebilrokker said:
"Whoever thinks this is outstanding A++ or whatnot should take their nostalgia glasses off.
Sure, it's a cool set, of an unusual subject, but it's one bearing plate short from being a great toy. As is, if you have only this, or are not willing to alter it, you can't build even the simpliest cart. I don't get it, and I could not explain it to my kid (I want to have a cart, but I don't want to build it different than in the instructions) no matter how hard I tried. "
Don't see why you can't build a cart from the parts in this set. Two wheels, and two plates with stub axles included.
The set has two wheels and two axle-pieces AND an alternative instruction included for a CART and a watchtower. It is an A+ set.
It is important to remember some of these old castle sets were designed to be modules that connected with each other. "Expansion set" is definitely an apt phrase. Sets such as 6040, 6041, 6061, 6062, 6067, 6073, 6074, and 6080 (6081 also had a connection point) all had similar height grey wall sections and could thus be connected with each other to form a large walled town/castle setup (here is a good example: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KorMD1EIDvE/TlQrMg3Jj3I/AAAAAAAAAP4/UjFwEc9NOSY/s1600/modul07.jpg). This modularity is part of the reason why these castle sets are looked upon so fondly; each set helped to expand your walls further!
Ayyy I have this one
@LordDunsany said:
"It is important to remember some of these old castle sets were designed to be modules that connected with each other. "Expansion set" is definitely an apt phrase. Sets such as 6040, 6041, 6061, 6062, 6067, 6073, 6074, and 6080 (6081 also had a connection point) all had similar height grey wall sections and could thus be connected with each other to form a large walled town/castle setup (here is a good example: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KorMD1EIDvE/TlQrMg3Jj3I/AAAAAAAAAP4/UjFwEc9NOSY/s1600/modul07.jpg). This modularity is part of the reason why these castle sets are looked upon so fondly; each set helped to expand your walls further!"
Thank you so much for explaining this! I had no idea that these smaller sets could all be linked up with the larger castles. I am so impressed! LEGO should bring back this type of modular set design, since it allows even small sets to contribute to a larger assembly.
@shirhac said:
"The set has two wheels and two axle-pieces AND an alternative instruction included for a CART and a watchtower. It is an A+ set."
No, in it’s original form one axle plate is a part of the fireplace, which leaves you with a one wheeled cart. And yes, I get that you can replace it with something else, but that’s not the point.
This was before my time, but when I discovered it existed, I thought it was amazing—certainly better than the Castle sets I had in the early 90s. I loved how all these sets could be combined together, and there were so many neat expansions. (Especially 6067 Guarded Inn!) They became so much more than their parts.
@Gamlebilrokker ha detto:
" @shirac ha detto:
"Il set ha due ruote e due assi E un'istruzione alternativa inclusa per un CARRELLO e una torre di guardia. È un set A+." ]]
No, nella sua forma originale una piastra dell'asse è una parte del camino, che ti lascia con un carrello a una ruota. E sì, ho capito che puoi sostituirlo con qualcos'altro, ma non è questo il punto. " ]]
era una funzione comune a quei tempi: ad esempio in "6390 Main Street" bisognava "cannibalizzare" la gru per finire l'albergo