| Revision as of 21:47, 22 February 2009 editLord Voldemort (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,762 edits Fixes.← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 23:12, 31 October 2024 edit undoLuhanopi (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users705 edits Added linkTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit | ||
| (325 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Short description|American children's construction toy}} | |||
| ] | |||
| {{Infobox toy | |||
| {{refimprove|date=February 2009}} | |||
| | name = Lincoln Logs | |||
| '''Lincoln Logs''' are a ] consisting of notched miniature logs, about ¾ inches (1-2 ]) in ]. Analogous to real logs used in a ], Lincoln Logs have notches in their ends so that small ] log buildings can be built. In addition, a Lincoln Logs set has ]s and ]s to make the buildings more realistic. More modern sets also come with figures of humans and animals that match the scale of the buildings.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} | |||
| | image = Lincoln Logs sawmill.jpg | |||
| | image_size = | |||
| | image_upright = | |||
| | alt = | |||
| | caption = A sawmill made from Lincoln Logs | |||
| | othernames = | |||
| | type = Children's construction toy | |||
| | inventor = ] | |||
| | company = Basic Fun, Inc. (under license from ]) | |||
| | country = United States | |||
| | from = {{start date and age|1916}} | |||
| | to = present | |||
| | materials = Wood | |||
| | features = | |||
| | slogan = | |||
| | website = https://www.basicfun.com/lincoln-logs/ | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Lincoln Logs''' are an ] children's ] consisting of square-notched miniature lightweight logs used to build small forts and buildings. They were invented around 1916 by ], second son of well-known architect ].<ref name="knex">{{cite web|url=http://lincolnlogs.knex.com/customer/product.php?productid=16746&cat=|title=K'NEX | Lincoln Logs|publisher=Lincolnlogs.knex.com|date=|accessdate=2011-05-23|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518183749/http://lincolnlogs.knex.com/?XCARTSESSID=49c25f9a63a643bc8a0eada521a68d85|archive-date=2011-05-18}}</ref> Lincoln Logs were inducted into the ] in 1999. They are named after U.S. president ], who once lived in a ].<ref name="Hall of Fame">{{cite web|url=http://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/lincoln-logs |title=Lincoln Logs |website=Toy Hall of Fame |publisher=Strong National Museum of Play |access-date= May 17, 2023}}</ref> | |||
| Lincoln Logs were invented in 1916.<ref>http://lincolnlogs.knex.com/</ref> by ], a son of the notable ] ]. In 1918, they were marketed by the Red Square Toy Company and by John Lloyd Wright, Incorporated of ].{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Lincoln Logs originally came with instructions on how to build ] as well as Lincoln's log cabin.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} | |||
| Starting in 2014, Lincoln Logs were manufactured by ] In late 2017, K'NEX was bought out by Basic Fun, Inc., of Florida. Pride Manufacturing, of ], manufactures Lincoln Logs for Basic Fun, and the rights to the IP are owned by ]. In 2024, Basic Fun filed for ] protection. The company will use bankruptcy proceedings to repay its creditors while remaining in operation.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-28/toy-maker-behind-lincoln-logs-tinker-toys-files-for-bankruptcy?ref=biztoc.com|title= Toy Maker Behind Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys Files for Bankruptcy|date=June 28, 2024|access-date=June 28, 2024|website=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| The ] of the ] basement in ], designed by John's father, which used a unique foundation of interlocking beams to make the structure "earthquake proof", assisted in the designing of the toy logs.<ref>"John Kenneth Lloyd Wright." ''Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 9'': 1971-1975 Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994.</ref> | |||
| == Design == | |||
| The toy can easily produce a structure resembling a log cabin, hence the association with ] ] (who spent his childhood in a log cabin). The toy's name may have been influenced by his father's birth name, which was Frank Lincoln Wright.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} | |||
| The logs measure three quarters of an inch (roughly two ]s) in diameter. Like real logs used in a ], Lincoln Logs are notched so that logs may be laid at right angles to each other to form rectangles resembling buildings. Additional parts of the toy set include roofs, chimneys, windows and doors, which bring a realistic appearance to the final creation. Later sets included animals and human figures the same scale as the buildings.{{cn|date=October 2024}} | |||
| The sets were originally made of |
The toy sets were originally made of ], with varying colors of roof pieces. In the 1970s the company introduced sets made entirely of plastic, but soon reverted to real wood.<ref name=lincolnlogswebsite>{{cite web|title=Lincoln Logs - K'Nex|url=http://www.knex.com/products/lincoln-logs|website=K'Nex|access-date=2014-11-16|archive-date=2016-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906061347/http://www.knex.com/products/lincoln-logs|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
| == History == | |||
| ] | |||
| Lincoln Logs were invented sometime around 1916–1917 when John Lloyd Wright was working in Japan with his father.<ref name=Carlisle/> The mold for the toy was based on the architecture of the ] in ], designed by the inventor's father. The foundation of the hotel was designed with interlocking log beams, which made the structure "earthquake-proof" and one of the few buildings to remain standing after the 1923 ] that crumbled Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/news/the-birth-of-lincoln-logs|title=The Birth of Lincoln Logs|last=Klein|first=Christopher|website=HISTORY|date=29 August 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> | |||
| When he returned to the U.S., John organized The Red Square Toy Company (named after his father's famous symbol), and marketed the toy in 1918.<ref name= DoAB /> Wright was issued U.S. patent 1,351,086<ref name= USPTO /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US1351086/en|title=Toy-cabin construction}}</ref> on August 31, 1920, for a "Toy-Cabin Construction". Soon after, he changed the name to J. L. Wright Manufacturing. The original Lincoln Log set came with instructions on how to build ] as well as Abraham Lincoln's cabin. Subsequent sets were larger and more elaborate.<ref name = "Loewen 2000" /> The toy was a hit, following as it did ], ]s and ] introduced a few years before. Lincoln Logs are believed to be the first toy to be marketed to both boys and girls and appeal to a "simple" type of creativity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/lincoln-logs|title=Lincoln Logs History|website=made-in-chicago|date=2 March 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> | |||
| In 1999, Lincoln Logs and John Lloyd Wright were entered into the ].<ref name="Hall of Fame" /> In September 2014, the manufacturer announced the return of production from China to the U.S.;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newser.com/story/196051/again-made-in-usa-lincoln-logs.html|title=Again Made in USA: Lincoln Logs|first=Polly Davis|last=Doig|date=18 September 2014}}</ref> however, Lincoln Log sets with the Basic Fun logo and a copyright date of 2021 or later are now entirely manufactured in China again.{{cn|date=October 2024}} | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| {{Reflist|refs= | |||
| <references /> | |||
| <ref name=Carlisle>{{ cite book | editor-last = Carlisle | editor-first = Rodney | title = Encyclopedia of Play in Today's Society, Volume 1 | year = 2009 | publisher = ] | isbn = 978-1412966702 | page = 362 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jLqXM3U_pzEC&dq=lincoln+logs+red+square+toy+company&pg=PA363 }}</ref><ref name=DoAB>"John Kenneth Lloyd Wright". ''Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 9: 1971-1975''. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994.</ref> | |||
| <ref name=USPTO>{{Cite web|url=https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/landing.html|title=Patent Public Search | USPTO|website=ppubs.uspto.gov}}</ref> | |||
| <ref name = "Loewen 2000">]. '']''. ]: ], 2000, 169.</ref> | |||
| }} | |||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
| * {{Commons category-inline}} | |||
| * | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| {{Hasbro}} | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:12, 31 October 2024
American children's construction toy A sawmill made from Lincoln Logs | |
| Type | Children's construction toy |
|---|---|
| Inventor(s) | John Lloyd Wright |
| Company | Basic Fun, Inc. (under license from Hasbro) |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 1916; 109 years ago (1916)–present |
| Materials | Wood |
| Official website | |
Lincoln Logs are an American children's construction toy consisting of square-notched miniature lightweight logs used to build small forts and buildings. They were invented around 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, second son of well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Lincoln Logs were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999. They are named after U.S. president Abraham Lincoln, who once lived in a log cabin.
Starting in 2014, Lincoln Logs were manufactured by K'NEX Industries Inc. In late 2017, K'NEX was bought out by Basic Fun, Inc., of Florida. Pride Manufacturing, of Burnham, Maine, manufactures Lincoln Logs for Basic Fun, and the rights to the IP are owned by Hasbro. In 2024, Basic Fun filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company will use bankruptcy proceedings to repay its creditors while remaining in operation.
Design
The logs measure three quarters of an inch (roughly two centimetres) in diameter. Like real logs used in a log cabin, Lincoln Logs are notched so that logs may be laid at right angles to each other to form rectangles resembling buildings. Additional parts of the toy set include roofs, chimneys, windows and doors, which bring a realistic appearance to the final creation. Later sets included animals and human figures the same scale as the buildings.
The toy sets were originally made of redwood, with varying colors of roof pieces. In the 1970s the company introduced sets made entirely of plastic, but soon reverted to real wood.
History
Lincoln Logs were invented sometime around 1916–1917 when John Lloyd Wright was working in Japan with his father. The mold for the toy was based on the architecture of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, designed by the inventor's father. The foundation of the hotel was designed with interlocking log beams, which made the structure "earthquake-proof" and one of the few buildings to remain standing after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake that crumbled Tokyo.
When he returned to the U.S., John organized The Red Square Toy Company (named after his father's famous symbol), and marketed the toy in 1918. Wright was issued U.S. patent 1,351,086 on August 31, 1920, for a "Toy-Cabin Construction". Soon after, he changed the name to J. L. Wright Manufacturing. The original Lincoln Log set came with instructions on how to build Uncle Tom's Cabin as well as Abraham Lincoln's cabin. Subsequent sets were larger and more elaborate. The toy was a hit, following as it did Meccano, Tinkertoys and Erector Set introduced a few years before. Lincoln Logs are believed to be the first toy to be marketed to both boys and girls and appeal to a "simple" type of creativity.
In 1999, Lincoln Logs and John Lloyd Wright were entered into the National Toy Hall of Fame. In September 2014, the manufacturer announced the return of production from China to the U.S.; however, Lincoln Log sets with the Basic Fun logo and a copyright date of 2021 or later are now entirely manufactured in China again.
See also
References
- "K'NEX | Lincoln Logs". Lincolnlogs.knex.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- ^ "Lincoln Logs". Toy Hall of Fame. Strong National Museum of Play. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- "Toy Maker Behind Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys Files for Bankruptcy". Bloomberg. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- "Lincoln Logs - K'Nex". K'Nex. Archived from the original on 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
- Carlisle, Rodney, ed. (2009). Encyclopedia of Play in Today's Society, Volume 1. SAGE Publications. p. 362. ISBN 978-1412966702.
- Klein, Christopher (29 August 2018). "The Birth of Lincoln Logs". HISTORY. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- "John Kenneth Lloyd Wright". Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 9: 1971-1975. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994.
- "Patent Public Search | USPTO". ppubs.uspto.gov.
- "Toy-cabin construction".
- Loewen, James. Lies Across America: What Our Historic Markers and Monuments Get Wrong. New York: The New Press, 2000, 169.
- "Lincoln Logs History". made-in-chicago. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- Doig, Polly Davis (18 September 2014). "Again Made in USA: Lincoln Logs".
External links
Media related to Lincoln Logs at Wikimedia Commons
