Lincoln Logs is the name of a children's toy consisting of notched miniature logs, used to build miniature forts and buildings. They were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.[1] Lincoln Logs were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York, in 1999.
The logs measure three quarters of an inch (roughly two cm) in diameter. Analogous to real logs used in a log cabin, Lincoln Logs have notches in their ends so that small model log buildings can be created. Additional parts of the toy set include windows and doors, which bring a realistic appearance to the final creation. Later sets included the addition of animals and human figures designed to the scale of the buildings.[2]
The toy sets were originally made of 100 percent wood, with varying colors of roof pieces. By the 1970s, the company had unsuccessfully introduced sets made entirely of plastic. The sets were soon reverted to the classic real wood on all their sets.
Lincoln Logs and John Loyd Wright were entered into the The National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999[3]
Lincoln Logs were invented in 1916, by John Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright.[1] In 1918, the toy was marketed by the Red Square Toy Company and by John Lloyd Wright, Incorporated of Chicago, Illinois.
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 beams, which made the structure "earthquake proof". This feature assisted in the design of the toy logs, ensuring stability of the miniature buildings created with the toy set.[4]
K'nex, the toy's distributor, states the product was named after Abraham Lincoln on its website: http://www.knex.com/Lincoln-Logs/history.php
John was issued US Patent 1,351,086[5] on August 31, 1920, for a “Toy-Cabin Construction.”
This has also been reported by the Mental Floss[6] website.