Toy Company Brings Production Of Lincoln Logs Back To The U.S.

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With John Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) as its creator and President Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home as inspiration, Lincoln Logs are about as American as they come. It’s fitting, then, that the toy will once again be made in the United States after a stint in China.

K’NEX, the company that holds the product license from Hasbro right now, announced that the wooden toys will be produced entirely at a factory in central Maine, reports the Press Herald, while some of the plastic pieces in certain sets will still be produced in China.

A company called Pride Manufacturing — which makes wooden things like golf tees and cleats, and cigar tips — says the Lincoln Log production will bring about five to 10 jobs to the company of 130, which is a lot of jobs in a town of 1,100 people, a town selectwoman added.

“Five jobs really is a lot when you have a small population,” she explained. “Pride (Manufacturing) is very important to our town. We have so many people, locals that are employed by Pride, and they carry a large percentage of our tax base. We want to do everything we can to help them get the machinery and equipment they need.”

The toys were invented by Wright in 1916, and have always been made from real wood, according to the company website, and made every little kid want to live in a log cabin, according to me.

“We couldn’t be happier to bring these jobs back to the United States and specifically to Maine,” said K’NEX’s senior vice president of operations, Larry Fanelle, according to the Associated Press.

Manufacturing of Lincoln Logs shifts to Maine, and fits nicely [The Press Herald]

Production of Lincoln Logs Toy Returning to US [Associated Press]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist