What is the difference between Primo and Duplo?

Primo was aimed at babies and younger toddlers, with larger, rounder pieces. Duplo is the next step up for small children.

How many pieces does the Jumbo Building Tub have?

The Jumbo Building Tub (2004-1) from 1996 has 50 pieces.

When was the last Primo set released?

The theme's sets run up to 2005.

Primo

Sets: 137
Since: 1995
Newest set: 2005

Before children were ready for Duplo, there was Primo. The range ran from 1995 to 2005 and produced 137 sets aimed at babies and toddlers.

Sets per decade

Sets per year

137 sets

2000s

About Primo

What made Primo different

Primo pieces are chunky and rounded, designed to be grabbed, stacked and pulled apart rather than assembled into detailed models. The range mixed simple building elements with figures and little vehicles. Turtle Wagon (2107-1) from 1999, with 31 pieces, is a typical example. Several sets put learning in the name, such as the Medium Stack 'n' Learn Set (1192-1) from 1999 and Baby Stack 'n Learn (Explore) (5434-1) from 2002, which came out under the Explore banner. The idea was to start children on building long before they could handle smaller bricks, with Duplo as the natural next step.

Bags, tubs and boxes

Piece counts stay low across the whole theme. The largest set is the Jumbo Building Bag (2003-1) from 1998 with 78 pieces. Next come the Jumbo Building Tub (2004-1) from 1996 with 50 and two sets with 40 each: the Baby Gift Item (1166-1) from 2001 and the Medium Stack 'n' Learn Set. Building Fun (2019-1) has 29 pieces and the Large Bulk Box (2009-1) 25. Containers of loose elements clearly outnumber themed play sets at the top of the list. For a range aimed at babies this makes sense: a few large elements are easier to handle, and to keep track of, than many small ones.

Identifying hand-me-down sets

Primo pieces often survive in mixed boxes passed between families, and with 137 sets over eleven years, telling one set from another is not easy. Each set page shows its complete inventory, so you can match what you have against the original contents and see what is missing. Condition matters more than usual with Primo. Toys for babies tend to be handled, chewed and washed a great deal, so check photos carefully before buying.

FAQ

What is the difference between Primo and Duplo?: Primo was aimed at babies and younger toddlers, with larger, rounder pieces. Duplo is the next step up for small children.
How many pieces does the Jumbo Building Tub have?: The Jumbo Building Tub (2004-1) from 1996 has 50 pieces.
When was the last Primo set released?: The theme's sets run up to 2005.