Last Updated: March 27. 2026
Today, we’re searching for Maine’s most prominent wooden toy brands — Made in Maine, for Down Easters by Down Easters.
But first a quick fact! Maine’s state tree is the eastern white pine (pinus strobus) — and pine is a softwood commonly used to make toys — because it’s light in weight, warm in appearance, and easy to cut and shape.
According to the Maine Historical Society — Bangor, ME was the lumber capital of the world between the years of 1830 to 1870 — a period remembered as “The Heydays of Bangor”.
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Maine’s Top 3 Wooden Toy Companies
- (01) Roy Toy Manufacturing – East Machias, ME
- (02) Different Drummer Workshop – Solon, ME
- (03) Woodshaper Shop – Dedham, ME [No longer available]
(01) Roy Toy Manufacturing
Remember Lincoln Logs, the old classic? Roy Toy is bringing those back into style — Made in Maine from native Maine pine wood at that!
Roy Toy is a legacy brand based in East Machias, ME established almost 100 years ago in the 1930s. Handmade and certified safe for kids, these squared-up wooden log toy building sets are full of classic American nostalgia.
See Roy Toy Manufacturing on Amazon.
See Roy Toy Manufacturing on Etsy.
Visit the Roy Toy Manufacturing official website.
(02) Different Drummer Workshop
Different Drummer Workshop has crafted wooden toys For over 50 years since 1973 — keeping close to New England coastal vibes with wooden sailboats that actually float — plus seating for peg people sailors. Beyond maritime wooden sailors — they also craft classic push and pull toys in the form of sea, air, and land vehicles.
Oh — I get it now! Their toys are made to the beat of a different drum.
Visit the Different Drummer Workshop official website.
(03) Woodshaper Shop [No longer available]
Woodshaper Shop makes high quality heirloom wooden toys — trains, planes, and construction. Pine is a popular wood for Maine-made toys. Woodshaper finishes them unpainted with natural beeswax — durable, timeless, and crafted with care in Dedham, ME.
Their complete toy train box set connects six cars from engine to caboose, and stows away in a wooden case. Their log hauler comes complete with true bark on each log — and their fleet of biplanes, fighter planes, and seaplanes captures are built to keep children’s imagination soaring.
(04) Knockabout Toys
Knockabout Toys has been building wooden trucks — heavy-duty made to last with haughty woods — pine, birch, oak, and maple. Their two featured lines — the Big and Little Rig Line and the Executive Line — are constructed without metal parts and finished with child-safe water-based sealers.
These heirlooms of American craftsmanship made in Searsmont, ME get down to detail with walnut grills, pine CB radios, maple wheels — even working wooden hydraulics on their backhoes and bulldozers.
Visit the Knockabout Toys official website.
(05) Elm’s Puzzles (Prev: The Waterford Puzzle Company)
Unlike regular store-bought cardboard puzzles with pieces about 3 millimeters thick — the Waterford Puzzle Company uses a scroll saw a whole new genre of wooden puzzles — handcrafted with haughty thick wood puzzle pieces. They take custom orders, too!
Made by adults for adults — each puzzle piece is hand-cut on a scroll saw, guided by skill, not stencils — then cut, sanded, and finished with care. This isn’t just tradition. It’s intention. Because handcrafted puzzles deliver an unmatched fit, feel, and quality.
Visit the Elm’s Puzzles official website.
(06) Two Moreaus Models
Made of pine and spruce, Two Moreaus makes reptilian figurines and vehicle toys. Reptilian? Yes! Their dinosaur toys include T-rex and triceratops — but for some reason — even their vehicles end up mounted by or resembling a reptile.
Even more fun — most of their toys are offered either pre-assembled or made for DIY assembly. Just imagine how much more engaged kiddos will become when their toy is built all by him- or herself! Each DIY toy kit from Two Moreaus Models comes with all the pieces cut, shaped, and sanded — all you’ve got to do is put it together. A 100% fun-filled educational activity!
See Two Moreaus Models on Etsy.
(07) Mountain Mom Studio
A mommy-owned one-woman operation from Carrabassett, ME — developing creative sensory play toys for early childhood development — see how that works?! With naturally-dyed wood and a calming color scheme, these toys are good for the body, mind, and soul!
See Mountain Mom Studio on Etsy.
(08) Pip’s Emporium
How to make a memory game from simple craft materials? Pip’s Emporium produces simple wood rounds, blocks, chips — with retro-style trendy patterned paper designs adhered on the surface — blurring the lines between pop art and play toy.
(09) Hallowell Woodworks
A family-run business creating masterfully crafted two-tone hardwood baby shaker rattle. Hand-sanded with a baby-safe natural mineral oil and beeswax finish — the toymaker himself is a general pediatrician, so you know you’re getting a world-class rattle. Personalization is available, too — with your baby’s name and birthdate engraved on opposite sides of the rattle.
Visit the Hallowell Woodworks official website.
A Maine Toy Making Time Capsule
- Elves & Angels — For over 30 years until the year 2023, Elves & Angels made children’s dreams come true. Elves & Angels (a.k.a. “A Toymaker’s Daughter”) specialized in imaginative Waldorf-inspired kids’ play furniture available in both pine and hardwood.
- Patriot Baby — Until some time before 2025, Patriot Baby put their own creative spin making baby teethers in Maine — natural baby-safe solid hardwood teething toys in all kinds of fun little shapes. Including a baby teether in the geographical shape of Maine.
