K'NEX ANNOUNCES INTRODUCTION OF NEW THEMED LINCOLN LOGS PLAYSETS AND LIMITED EDITION LINCOLN LOGS COLLECTOR SET AT 2002 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR

New York, NY - February 7, 2001 - K'NEX Industries, one of the world's leading construction toy manufacturers, announced today that, following the success of its award-winning and highly-popular Lincoln Logs Railroad activity sets in 2001, Lincoln Logs, the beloved children's log-building set, will introduce four eagerly-anticipated new themed playsets, Big Valley Barn, Conestoga Ranch, Walnuts Woods School House, and Pony Express plus one new limited edition collectors' set, Fort Abraham Lincoln, at the 2002 American International Toy Fair in New York City.

The new playsets join Lincoln Logs existing traditionally-styled sets offering the classic interactive log building--for which Lincoln Logs has always been known--and themed play.

According to Chris Campbell, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for K'NEX, "When Lincoln Logs were first introduced back in 1916, it hit on a theme of simplicity and innocence that all could appreciate. These new playsets reinforce that simplicity, while building on the growing need to offer added play value for kids by including a variety of creative themed accessories. Our new limited edition Fort Abraham Lincoln set is the very first release in a new series of annual limited edition collector sets. Fort Abraham Lincoln reflects the collectible appeal and styling of the original Lincoln Logs sets and comes specially packaged in premium storage containers for safekeeping."

LINCOLN LOGS' THEMED PLAYSET INTRODUCTIONS AT THE 2002 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR:

BIG VALLEY BARN

Big Valley Barn offers all the classic interactive play elements of Lincoln Logs construction coupled with exciting farm-themed accessories for enhanced activity and even more imaginative building. The Big Valley Barn Set (Suggested Retail Price, $24.99) lets kids become junior farmers and enjoy endless hours of fun running their own farm--complete with log structures and farm animal figures, a farmer, and other colorful accessories. Offering the freedom to design and build their own creative alternative builds or to follow instructions to build the intended set-up, Lincoln Logs Big Valley Barn is guaranteed to engage and entertain children for hours on end . As an added bonus, the set comes in a barn-shaped novelty package -- with a sculpted plastic lid that doubles as a barn roof and can be incorporated into the build to enhance play!

The Big Valley Barn setincludes the classic all-wood Lincoln Logs for building a vintage frontier wooden barn, and five plastic action figures (Farmer Tom, Miss May, Bessie the Cow, a dog named Link, and everyone's favorite, Piggy). In addition, the set features colorful plastic play accessories including two windows, a ladder, a corral gate with doors that open, and a drinking trough. This innovative 102-piece activity set is recommended for boys and girls ages 3 to 6.

CONESTOGA RANCH

This brand new pre-school construction toy offers all the classic interactive play elements of Lincoln Logs along with Wild West themed accessories for enhanced activity and building that is even more imaginative. A highly-entertaining, pre-school role-playing toy recommended for ages 3 and up, the Conestoga Ranch set (Suggested Retail Price, $19.99) lets kids build a Lincoln Log homestead and covered wagon and then engage in "new frontier" play with the log structures and colorful figures, horses and other accessories.

The Conestoga Ranch set features all wood Lincoln Logs for building a homestead with a porch and open back for extended play, a fence, and a brand new covered wagon to explore the new frontier! Included among the 75 pieces in the set are four plastic action figures (Ma & Pa Mayberry and two horses, Blaze & Clover), plus colorful accessories including a double-gable roof, a window, a door & doorframe, a chimney, wheels, a harness, a wagon cover and a chassis. Lincoln Logs Conestoga Ranch offers kids the option to follow instructions to build the intended set-up or to design and build their own creative alternative builds.

WALNUTS WOODS SCHOOLHOUSE

Children will let their imaginations run wild with this Lincoln Logs Walnuts Woods Schoolhouse (Suggested Retail Price, $9.99), anold-fashioned frontier schoolhouse and activity set. With this brand new entry-level priced playset kids can build an actual classic wooden schoolhouse and playground, then ring the school bell to begin their favorite time of day - recess. Included in this set are the classic all-wood logs for building the school and playground, two new action figures (students: Sammy & Jake), colorful plastic accessories including a roof with a bell tower & flag, a front door, a sliding board, and a ladder. To top it off, Walnuts Woods Schoolhouse comes with a real working metal school bell to let you know when school is out and recess begins. If ever an activity set could get a child excited about going to school, this is it!

PONY EXPRESS

Kids will be fascinated by Lincoln Logs Pony Express (Suggested Retail Price, $9.99) new entry level priced playset, a Wild West activity set that recreates the way letters and packages were delivered back on the frontier. Children can build a working mail station with a porch and hitching post, then play "mail pick-up and delivery" with a "rootin tootin" Pony Express rider with a mailbag on his arm and letters to deliver. The Pony Express set includes those classic all-wood logs for building a mail station and hitching post, a cowboy action figure (Cyclone Charlie) and his horse (Whiplash), plus plastic accessories such as a new western-styled roof, a door, two addressed letters, and a mailbag to get the job done. With this set, your children can enjoy hours of quality playtime while getting a pre-telegraph history lesson at the same time!

LINCOLN LOGS' LIMITED EDITION COLLECTORS' SET INTRODUCED AT THE 2002 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR:

FORT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

The very first release in a new series of annual limited edition collector sets, Fort Abraham Lincoln reflects the collector appeal and styling of the original Lincoln Logs sets, packaged in premium storage containers for safekeeping. To be offered for sale in 2002 only, Fort Abraham Lincoln is a brand new fortress activity set that offers all the classic elements of Lincoln Logs along with die-cast figurines for enhanced play. Fort Abraham Lincoln (Suggested Retail Price, $39.99) lets kids and nostalgic adults re-create a model frontier blockhouse, which is an actual replication of Fort Abraham Lincoln in North Dakota, while enjoying endless hours of fun.

Lincoln Logs Fort Abraham Lincoln includes the classic all-wood Lincoln Logs for building the legendary blockhouse, which was once the home base for Lt. Colonel George Custer. Included are three 2� "die-cast figurines of Native Americans and a Frontiersman just like the classic Lincoln Logs sets from the 1940's. Also featured in this 97 piece set are the all-wood logs we all remember, new roof slats, a certificate of authenticity that validates the set's limited edition status and a retro-style, collectible storage tin with a numbered plate.

Invented in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, the son of famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Lincoln Logs, which enjoyed its 85th anniversary last year, has brought the excitement of building into the homes and imaginations of young boys and girls for generations. With its simple building system, friendly styling, and real-wood logs, this well-loved brand has become a classic in creative play.

Recommended for children ages 3 and up, the new sets are great as stand-alone items as well as the ideal foundations on which to add existing Lincoln Logs playsets and other new playsets being introduced by K'NEX in 2002 in order to build an entire Old West frontier town.

The new Lincoln Logs sets will be available nationally in June 2002. For more information, consumers can visit www.knex.com or call 1-800-KID-KNEX.

Lincoln Logs is manufactured and distributed by K'NEX Industries under license from Hasbro, Inc. Founded in 1992, K'NEX Industries was formally established to make and sell what has become one of the world's leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of more than 150 international awards and recognitions, K'NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K'NEX Education program. For more information, consumers can visit www.knex.com or call 1-800-KID-KNEX.

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