Lincoln Logs
Kids love building stuff. A casual visit to your local toy store will
prove this, revealing shelves of time-tested construction toys like Tinker Toys.
One of the classic toys in this category is Lincoln Logs, a collection
of interlocking wooden logs that can be used to build any wooden
structure a child’s mind can dream up.
John Lloyd Wright, the son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright,
invented Lincoln Logs in 1916. The idea came to him during a visit to
the building site for one of his father’s architectural wonders in
Japan. He saw the crew moving several large timbers into place using a
process called “floating cantilever construction.” This process
entailed placing these logs together in an interlocking fashion to
create structures. The younger Wright saw the potential for a great
child’s toy in a miniaturized version of the process and set to work
create a toy that would bring the joy of “floating cantilever
construction” to the pee-wee set.
The finished toy set consisted of miniature hardwood logs cut into
various lengths. Small indentations in the middles or ends of these
logs allowed enterprising junior architects to lay them end to end to
create buildings of their own. Wooden blocks made in roof and chimney
shapes were also included so the young master builder could top off
their creations in the proper style. One of the easiest buildings that
could be made with this original set was a log cabin. Since it looked
like something Abraham Lincoln might have lived in, Wright decided to
call the toys “Lincoln Logs” as a tribute to the former U.S. President.
Lincoln Logs were introduced to the public in 1924. They quickly
became a big hit because they were simple enough for young children to
enjoy, but could also offer enough challenges for the imaginations of
older children. As the years passed, more complex Lincoln Logs sets
were developed, incorporating new items like square logs, bricks and
wheels. Since their introduction, over 100 million sets of Lincoln Logs
have been sold around the world.
Today, Lincoln Logs continue to be a popular item at the toy store.
Hasbro, Inc. and K'Nex Industries, Inc. forged a licensing agreement in
1999 that allows K'Nex to sell the classic Lincoln Logs construction
set. Thus, there is no doubt that Lincoln Logs will continue to bring
the joy of construction to children around the globe for many years to
come.
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