Subject: Re: Lego Purchases 
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> Lego distributors will not sell me individual parts. I have tried to get
> the people answering the phone to put me into contact with someone who will
> or has the authority to do so...to no avail. 

Have you spoken to LEGO Dacta (800-527-8339)?  While they do not sell
-individual- parts, they sell "spare parts" which are relatively
fine-grained plastic-bagged parts assortments.

> Through the grapevine I have 
> heard that MIT buys lego parts in quantity and type of MIT's choosing? Is 
> this true and is there some way I can do the same for my laboratory here
> at the University of xxxxxx?

This is true, but we enjoy a fairly unusual relationship with LEGO
Denmark.  They have endowed a multi-million dollar research chair, and
have funded annual research contracts with our research group for the
past six or so years.  For supplying our course, they encourage us to
order as much as possible from the Dacta parts line, and they
individually pick (and donate) other parts for us from the Denmark
factory.

Your best bet is the spare parts assortments via LEGO Dacta.  Also
contact LEGO Retail's "Shop At Home" service for other selections of
bagged parts.

	-Fred