source: Channel Craft

Channel Craft has humble beginnings; starting off as a one-man operation in 1983 when Dean Helfer, Jr. began selling his hand-crafted wooden products from the back of his step van. This van doubled as a traveling wood shop and allowed Helfer to set up the evening before a craft show and bring out his sander in order to finish his products right before the customer’s eyes. With the cash he made from the craft circuit, Dean saved enough money to settle on a manufacturing operation in Ellsworth, Pennsylvania, a small mining town.

Dean had already made plenty of distributing contacts throughout the U.S. that he was able to set up lasting business partnerships to bring his mission of “Authentic American Toys, Games and Puzzles” to life. They moved into a large old Army Corps of Engineers building just south of Pittsburgh in Charleroi, Pennsylvania in 1991. The company then began creating toys, games and puzzles for museums, mail order catalogues and specialty toy gift shops. You’ll never find Channel Craft products in major discount stores or worldwide chains; they are dedicated to tailor-making their special gifts with quality and pride. You can find their product at park attractions, museums, or their own catalog.