I actually believed him and wanted to know more about the difference.
Shame he was lying :(

Maybe he means Mechano
( Master Of Turnips. Only gays and morons believe in ghosts., Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:12, archived)

haha
"Although studless beams have been present in Technic sets for many years, the change from primarily studded to primarily studless construction represented a major paradigm shift and has been quite controversial."

Controversy!
(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:15, archived)

Read the Wiki
it says the name changed to Lego Technic in 1984.
I was playing with the stuff in the LATE 1970's
When it was called Technical LEGO
I suspect the other name given on the site here, is an Americanism.
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:15, archived)

lego: serious business

( manolith - six seasons and a movie, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:16, archived)

I'm pretty certain it was never called expert builder over here, certainly
in any case it's Wikipedia. It's not like there's the slightest proof it's correct.
( the mighty badger is a FANTASTICALLY gay horse, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:17, archived)

It it were that unreliable someone would be editing in a bit about technical lego right now

( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:18, archived)

well, no
because most people don't care. Wikis are unreliable resources.
( the mighty badger is a FANTASTICALLY gay horse, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:19, archived)

And ?
Hands up all those ages between 35 and 40, who remembers a product called "Expert Builder"
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:21, archived)

you'd be a much happier adult if you played with capsela as a child

( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:23, archived)

There was a German product that I cant remember the name of
and I always wanted that as a child. I felt that it was more superior.
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:25, archived)

fischertechnik

( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 12:06, archived)

You're old.

( Master Of Turnips. Only gays and morons believe in ghosts., Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:24, archived)

why are you lying about lego

( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:17, archived)

I'm not

( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:19, archived)

also why didn't you take the time to edit wikipedia before you started lying

( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:22, archived)

Why Am I lying ?
I'm just telling you what I remember having as a child.
I don't think you were there, so what the fuck do you know ?
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:26, archived)

I don't know why you're lying.
Won't you please stop lying?
(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:28, archived)

lego was there
they weren't selling any products called "technical lego"
( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:30, archived)

He's mighty upset over being so wrong :-(

(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:31, archived)

everyone needs to step back and remember
lego is shit
( mongychops handbrake?, that's not how i roll, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:34, archived)

I liked capsela

( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:35, archived)

I found this
cgi.ebay.co.uk/philips-PHILFORM-technical-lego-330-SET-sealed-NEW_W0QQitemZ180328182001QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090212?IMSfp=TL090212122002r23866

It doesn't have any sort of lego branding. It has a lot of philips branding though
( gronkpan, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:34, archived)

b3ta.turb0t.net/talk/5976995
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:34, archived)

I'm pretty sure this is something that should be filed under the heading
of "Not Worth Getting in Such a Tizzy About".
( Comma, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:19, archived)

You forget where you are.

( Master Of Turnips. Only gays and morons believe in ghosts., Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:21, archived)

I used to work at the LEGO theme park
We were taught a history of LEGO and I've never heard of what you're talking about.
( I'm dreaming of a SexFace Christmas Just like the ones all filled with hoes, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:20, archived)

that's because it was erased from history
due to persecution of minorities by Lego in the late 70s. TECHNICAL DENIERS!

seriously, I have no idea why there isn't any evidence, but I'm pretty sure Turbot is right. That or both our memories are destroyed by 20 years of drink and drugs. Actually, that's more likely.
( the mighty badger is a FANTASTICALLY gay horse, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:23, archived)

Evolution didn't happen
Lego just appeared one day, thus and so.
( Firkinfedup was right in the middle of a fucking reptile zoo, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:57, archived)

OK, I checked the LEGO website, the history section, any they say, for 1977:
"Selected Product News 1977
LEGO TECHNIC
DUPLO doors, windows and "symbol" figures without arms and legs"

YOU FAIL
(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:20, archived)

And this is also inconsistent with the Wiki about LEGO
so we have two trails of "proof" here both telling different stories.

I still have all the construction guides. I'll scan the cover of one tonight.
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:23, archived)

Nobody cares except you.

(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:26, archived)

Not even called anything.
Just LEGO.
( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:27, archived)

I'd go with this as an answer
However, back in the days of the LATE 70's, "people" used to go into "toy shops" and ask to buy "Technical LEGO".
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:30, archived)

That might be why they eventually branded it "LEGO Technic".
"Technical LEGO" really just sounds like a description.
It seems like all of the older sets have been retrospectively branded for official purposes.
( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:32, archived)

here's an Expert Builder set though:
www.lugnet.com/img.cgi?pause/expert/tech950.jpg
( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:33, archived)

404

( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:36, archived)

That's odd. It's definitely there.
Here's the list it's linked from:
www.lugnet.com/pause/expert.html

It seems you're right though, Technic was only called Expert Builder outside of Europe.
( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:38, archived)

People still do. They always have called it that.
I know I did.
(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:32, archived)

So why are you calling me a liar if you called it that ?

( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:33, archived)

Because there was never a Technical LEGO product.
Also, it's no fun if we can't wind someone up into a sweary rage over something crap like LEGO.

Thanks for playing.
(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:35, archived)

So there was never such a thing as "Technical LEGO" as far as branding is concerned.
It was simply something that some people used to call it.

Just as for some Chris Evans will be remember as "that ginger cunt".
( I'm dreaming of a SexFace Christmas Just like the ones all filled with hoes, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:36, archived)

You're Wrong
He has the Registered ^TM for that name.
Even Google searches will show up as Chris Evans if you search for "that ginger cunt"
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:39, archived)

LEGO ANGER!
I bet you've all got detachable haircuts and head nipples.
( Donkey Gums @mattcomedy, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:23, archived)

And perfect wank hands

( clendrix has received NO requests to share Al as BFF, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:25, archived)

I have, and it's spinning with rage!

(Dave Trouser aHR0cDovL3Rpbnl1cmwuY29tLzdrazM1amE, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:25, archived)

In America
This was called "Erector"
( turb0t, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:31, archived)

guide.lugnet.com/set/?q=850_1&v=z
( Donkey Gums @mattcomedy, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:34, archived)

That appears to be
exactly the same as Expert Builder set 950.
( Moon Girl Technologies don't take my word for anything, Thu 5 Mar 2009, 11:42, archived)