The traditions of true American craftsmen in this country have been part of our history that dates all the way back to the founding of our nation. This pride of making things in America is consistent with historical American qualities such as independence, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency.

For generations, American craftsmen have made toys for their children. So when father and master cabinetmaker Chris Heston found out Lincoln Logs were made in China, he made his son a heirloom quality set and his company Timberworks Toys (www.timberworkstoys.com) was begun.

Timberworks Toys provides a line of heirloom-quality, hard maple wooden toys based on an old-fashioned wooden toy idea - with a new and inventive twist. They provide a unique combination of wood, wheels, and widgets - allowing for the creation of wheeled vehicles, bridges, and multi-storied structures. The sets are so versatile ?much more so than Lincoln Logs - that they can be used to build bridges, log homes, multi-story buildings, and even cars and airplanes. There is truly nothing else like it to be found on the American market, which I think you'll agree offers an overwhelming array of choices in the toy category.

At www.timberworkstoys.com, you'll discover different toy sets to choose from depending on your child's interest and according to the creativity that motivates your child or children.

Mid-Missouri based Timberworks Toys offers several pictures of their various toy sets, which include their "beautiful building blocks" set, house/bridge set, wheeled set, intermediate set, and king set. The pictures you'll see on the website are only a sampling of what can be built with these high quality wooden toys made in the USA. There are even videos accessible from their website which show how to build popular creations like houses, bridges, and cars.

Working with Timberworks Toys releases a dynamic that tends to inspire beyond typical "father-son time," for example, because both father and son will be inspired to work together to explore creative ways to build things together, and that's great for any father-son or parent-child relationship. You can expect many years of enjoyment from this heirloom quality, all-natural wooden toy building sets. They are also incredibly durable. I know because I ordered a set for my nephews, and it was great to see their creative character come alive when they were playing with these toys. There is much that can be created with simple things like the wood, wheels, and widgets that make up the different sets of Timberworks Toys.

Seeing the quality and durability of these toys, it's no surprise that Timberworks Toys recently won the gold Parent's Choice award, which you can read about here. Parent's Choice has been offering children's media and toy reviews since 1978.

Owner Chris Heston doesn't sell other people's stuff on his http://www.timberworkstoys.com website. Beginning with his cabinet shop he has owned for 15 years, he takes pride in making his own quality products. And unlike his cabinet-making competition down the street that uses imported parts and materials, he uses American-made components from American suppliers which in itself helps support hundreds of American jobs.

Even the Timberworks Toys signature duffel bags used to house and carry the toy sets are made in America. The textile manufacturing company that makes Timberworks Toys' signature duffel bags was bought out by a foreign manufacturer and was eventually saved by local townspeople & investors. The patriotic efforts of a few people brought the company back to save as many jobs as they could in their historic 50 year old warehouse.

In addition, the hardwood used to produce the timbers is harvested and managed by a small family-owned sawmill that emphasizes and practices personal stewardship of local trees. Put simply, Timberworks Toys embodies a true, creative, and entrepreneurial small business spirit that is incredibly impressive given the state of our current economy.

All Timberworks Toy components are manufactured in the United States including solid hard maple, hard maple plywood, aluminum extrusion axles, plastic blow-molded wheels, and hook & loop T's ? all of which are beautiful, durable, child-friendly materials.

To me, it is especially impressive that even the molded wheels are made in America. It seems every time I see anything made in America that offers wheels as an accessory, the wheels are always made in China. Not with Timberworks Toys!

You can order any set from Timberworks Toys right over their website like I did or you can find them in various specialty toy stores throughout the country. But, if you order through the www.timberworkstoys.com website, there is special offer for my readers where you can receive absolutely free shipping on any order. Just enter "BUYAMERICAN" (in all capital letters and no spaces) as a coupon code during checkout.

I would strongly urge any parent with young children to check out www.timberworkstoys.com for the best American-made alternative to Chinese-made Lincoln Logs.

Roger Simmermaker is the author of How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism. He also writes "Buy American Mention of the Week" articles for his website www.howtobuyamerican.com and is a member of the Machinists Union and National Writers Union. Roger has been a frequent guest on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC, has been quoted in the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and US News & World Report among many other publications, and is now a weekly contributor to WorldNetDaily.

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