American Hard
Maple Blocks
the
Real Deal!
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Children's Wooden Blocks
Quality Issues
American Hard Maple Blocks - "the real deal"
In general, unit building blocks are a kind of industrial toy. Big, heavy, crude, indestructible - a clunky aesthetic, more like a box of bolts than a feather boa. Blocks beg abuse over the years. Making tall towers and toppling them, throwing blocks out of the upstairs window on a parachute, beating them with a hammer, using them to prop open the kitchen door, playing with dirty hands - these things take a toll. Your blocks will last forever in spite of this battering. They can take it. But this is not a delicate toy - your kids are going to beat the stuffing out of their blocks and they will still search for them in your attic about 30 years from now because they were (in the words of numerous customers), " . . . the best toy we ever had." What matters is their long term durability: hardness, resilience, fine cell structure, and uniformity of size. Kindergarten teachers will tell you that many fine toys last six months or less in a classroom setting - but blocks last many, many years. The hardness and resilience resist dents. The cell structure of Maple eliminates splinters since the slivers are too tiny and weak. The uniformity allows large buildings. Personally, we think a smaller set of fine blocks beats a larger set of cheap ones every time. Our blocks are tested by an independent laboratory to conform to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). They are recommended for children 3+.
We manufacture and sell two different levels of quality: (1) Premium Hard Maple, (2) Hard Maple First & Seconds. In addition, we sell Basswood (Linden) Alphabet Blocks manufactured by Uncle Goose Toys for us in Michigan. These blocks are also fully tested and completely safe.
Our Premium Hard Maple Firsts - Lumber is vulnerable to all sorts of enzymes that produce stripes, spots, and other defects of color. We segregate our blocks into those without color blemishes (firsts) and those with darker spots or streaks (seconds). Our premium blocks are all firsts and are hand picked to eliminate these cosmetic problems. There are no color blemishes and they will last a lifetime. They are hand sanded on the ends and the end edges and corners are rounded. This is the kit for the parent or grandparent that wants the best quality. Your blocks will last a long time and will get much more rough play than ordinary toys. Blocks have always been expensive, but if you calculate the amount of play for the dollar, they are very cheap indeed. Like good pots, good tires, and good tools - often it pays to go high.
Our Hard Maple Firsts & Seconds - Seconds are exactly like our premium blocks, but some of the blocks may suffer from blemishes of color (only): natural spots, dark streaks, etc. These blocks may vary from nearly perfect to some with marked spotting or streaks. The problems are with color (only). Some people like firsts and seconds and think they look more "natural." They are a terrific bargain and a favorite of schools. There are no chips, machine marks, digs, holes, inclusions, checking, splits, knots or other surface defects. These blocks are large, heavy, hard maple school size blocks and will shrug off generations of use. The blocks shown in the pictures of the kits are actual seconds, and a close inspection of the enlarged pictures will give you a pretty good idea of their appearance. If you want American-Made, Hard Maple blocks - these will save you a little money.
European Beech - For those that want a European product, we make a subset of our blocks in Beech. Hard Maple is a tree specific to the Eastern US and Canada and European toys are typically made of Beech. This is a little lighter and softer than Hard Maple, but is a very nice wood indeed. Just the right blocks to tune up your five year old for the Sorbonne. Next thing, you'll be cooking with leeks.
Our Alphabet Blocks are made of Basswood (Linden) for us by Uncle Goose Blocks. Linden is noted for it's smooth, creamy texture and fine grain. It is somewhat softer than Maple which allows it to be squeezed in an embossing machine. Embossing is a process in which the letters are pressed under pressure into the end grain of the wood, allowing raised letters. These classic blocks are then dyed and printed with inks from an American Company. The inks are tested repeatedly by an independent laboratory for safety and the blocks are also tested after manufacturing to assure that no dangerous chemicals or heavy metals have been employed. These fine alphabet blocks will last for years.
Our Economy Blocks are made of Rubberwood imported from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Rubberwood is a serviceable hardwood derived from exhausted latex plantations. For many years this was burned for firewood and charcoal until it was discovered that it could be used for economy furniture in the American market. Many American homes have a kitchen table, chairs or similar furniture made from Rubberwood. It makes passable blocks and though the workmanship is only so-so, it is extremely cheap. These imported blocks are good for the person who is shopping for price. They are tested for safety and conformity with CPSIA and CPSC regulations, are free from chemical contaminants, and will give years of service. Buyers can expect these blocks to be completely playable and they will generally integrate well with School size American Blocks.
Our Craft Cubes and Craft Parts are made from a variety of American hardwood species including kiln dried Maple, Linden, Oak, Alder, Poplar, but not softwoods like pine or fir. Specific sizes may be made of different species at different times. Craft Parts and Craft Cubes are meant for craft purposes only. They are not meant for toys and cannot be used as toys without further testing and manufacturing. They are made of virgin wood and contain no artificial chemicals. Craft parts are used for a very wide range of industrial purposes and in very large quantities (millions). Large (bigger than 2-1/2 inches) cubes may be vulnerable to stress cracking from changes in humidity. We do not warrant these cubes for any particular purpose.