Founded in 1789, Holgate has been making wood toys in the USA since 1929.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans.
1789 was the year America’s Constitution was signed and George Washington became the country’s first President. It was also the year Cornelius Holgate established a woodworking shop on the outskirts of Philadelphia in the Colonial town of Roxborough and Holgate has been in continuous operation ever since. Shortly after the Civil War, Holgate moved to Kane, Pennsylvania, to be near the area’s abundant hardwood forests. In 1929 the company expanded its product line by making educational pre-school wooden toys. Holgate’s early toy designer was Jarvis Rockwell, brother of famous illustrator Norman Rockwell who visited the Holgate factory on several occasions. Jarvis Rockwell’s concern for safety, durability and educational play earned him recognition as America’s premier toy designer during this period. http://www.holgatetoy.com/Default.aspx
