Penley Wood Toothpicks, (Once) Maine in USA

Editor’s Note: As of 2023, we could find no American toothpicks left either made in Maine, or anywhere else. Please let us know in comments if one knows of a new manufacturer.

toothpicks American

WEST PARIS, MAINE – There is something very American about toothpicks, and a great, American-made brand is Penley. Rather a shame that many brands sold today are made in China.

After all, how difficult is it to make a toothpick, and can’t the production be automated enough? It is shameful that Jarden, which owns Diamond brand toothpicks, makes theirs in China.

The Penley company was founded in 1923 when Fred, Lester and Walter Penley began making clothespins from the nearby hardwoods, including those classic round ones.

The company grew, but by the 1950s, its market in clothespins was hurt by the sale of dryers. It expanded into specialty products, cutlery and matches. West Paris is a town North of Portland where many wooden items (including sleds) were made along the Little Androscoggin River.

But in 2003, it had to shut down its mill operation, and now operates as a seller of a wide variety of kitchen extras, including straws and now plastic clip clothespins. There are apparently no American clothespins left.

But the toothpicks, at least the ones seen in the stores this year at press time, are found as from Made in U.S.A.

Author

  • Garland Pollard

    J. Garland Pollard IV is editor/publisher of BrandlandUSA. Since 2006, the website BrandlandUSA.com has chronicled the history and business of America’s great brands.

33 Comments

  1. Hi,

    How are you, Am Mark Cournoyer from Distribution International Southwest Inc, what are your payment procurement?
    Quotation should valid 30 days.Our payment policy term Net30 from date of invoice.

    Our management are in demand of Toothpicks, Further the availability and the quotes as mentioned. Qty: 300 Pes.

    Looking forward to working with you

    Warm Regards

    Mark Cournoyer
    Senior Outside Sale Representative
    601 Jefferson St., Suite 600
    Houston, TX 77002
    customercare@distributionintlinc.us
    7076842977


  2. I’m looking for an American company who makes round toothpicks with the point on only one end, if anyone knows where I can find them please let me know, Thanks! #AMERICAN MADE.

    1. Author

      Anthony..I wish I knew. So many factories have closed. Will take a peek.

    2. PENLEY TOOTH PICKS CUSTOM MADE. JUST BITE OFF OTHER END. OR TAPE FLAT ONE TO. GET A BOX OF EACH MIX AND MATCH.

  3. I refuse to BUY ANYTHING MADE IN CHINA. All other Americans should do the same. The globalists won’t stop selling us out unless we stop buying from them.

    1. Author

      We agree with you on this. I think its time that American companies made a major effort at bringing production home.

  4. lo único que usa le falta hacer en china son los dolares

  5. I own a business and we and our customers ARE STILL GRIEVING THE CLOSURE OF PENLEY CLOTHESPIN BUSINESS. We bought the last seven cases our source had and are still grieving for them. There has NEVER IN MY LIFETIME been any comparison to the quality of the PENLEY product. The great HARDWOOD and the STRONG galvanized (rust retarded) SPRINGS.

    I have found NO COMPARABLE PRODUCT TO PENLEY CLOTHESPINS TO DATE.
    Betty P. Hart; Jaxon’s, Inc; 18509 Dunne Ave.; P.O. Box 197, Parksley, VA 23421

    (Editor’s Note: Jaxon’s is a classic hardware store on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.)

  6. Where can I find your flat tooth picks ? box of 750. In Las Vegas, NV or in Salt Lake City, Odgen,UT. There great and no one carries them. I can’t fine them anyway. Thanks Please Help

  7. In retrospect, it seems that some of the commenters believe that this blog has a direct link to toothpick manufacturers.

  8. Cocktail wood tooth pick details send me

  9. Do you still make flat toothpicks? I do not like round ones and that is all I can find in any store. How may I obtain some flat ones? Can you ship me some C.O.D.?
    Allen W. Shearin
    703 Woodland Trail
    Louisburg, N. C. 27549

  10. As of May 2015, Diamond makes Flat Toothpicks and Colored Party Picks in USA. Got an email from the company this morning.

  11. I purchased a 1,000 count round toothpicks but am having a hard time finding them. Can you enlighten me to find them please? The scew number on my box is: 4114600566. and they are made in China. I bought them to test the cakes in my busines “A Piece of Cake”

  12. I’ve. BOUGHT the. Plastic. Clothes. Pin the best ever .the store that I purchased them at .has closed.where can. I. Find them? Please let me know I don’t have a dryer so I hang all my laundry with your fantastic clothes pin. I need to keep on hanging!


  13. These are the worst toothpicks that I have ever used. They splinter in my mouth and taste bad. Sorry!!!!SORRY!!!!!!!!

  14. As of 1-9-13, I found Diamond brand party colored toothpicks for sale in a Publix supermarket. These were made in the USA. All of the others, including the other Diamond toothpicks, were made in China.

    Publix is exclusive to the southeast, but I would assume other stores would carry this Diamond brand product elsewhere.

  15. Not true, these toothpicks are made in China. They say it right on the package, and they shred and fall apart and break when trying to poke soft cream cheese. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

    I will never ever buy them again. I was making ham, cream cheese, and pickle rollups for Thanksgiving, and they broke and slivered as I tried to poke the rollups. That is when I looked on the package to see where they were made, and guess what, they were made in China, NOT the USA as some have written here.

  16. Do you think we’re all idiots?
    Your toothpicks are made in China and they’re disgusting. They all went into the trash.
    I’d rather pay a little more and get quality than to waste money on garbage I throw out.
    What is wrong with you people?

  17. Looking for Square Round Toothpicks. Just used my last Penley pick.

  18. I am also looking for toothpicks made in USA

  19. I can’t find Penley round flat toothpicks anywhere.
    Where did they go?

  20. I want good flat toothpicks. I have use them for 60 yrs.
    I hurt my mouth on them. Tell China to smooth them out. Angry Barb.

  21. Did you get my last comment about the toothpicks being made in the U.S.A. and not China? Let me know. I want U.S.A. made toothpicks not Chinese made toothpicks. I want my fellow Americans to be working and making your products.

  22. Are Penley toothpicks made in the U.S.A.? If they are why does it say made in China on the box. I want made in the U.S.A. toothpicks not Chinese toothpicks that may have dangerous chemicals in them. Come on, put fellow Americans to work!

  23. you make toothpicks with square tip that can’t find between teeth. Whole box of 750 useless.
    Very poor design. Would not buy that brand again.

  24. COULD YOUR COMPANY MAKE YOUR TOOTH PICKS NOT SO ROUGH. THEY NEED TO BE SMOOTHER. I HAVE USE TOOTH PICKS FOR 50 YRS. THANK YOU bAR.

  25. im another american who has dropped penley after 50 yrs.go sell em to the iraqi’s

  26. I just bought (6/1/11) Penley toothpicks at Walgreens. The box is clearly marked, “Made in China.” I only bought them because I cannot find any local stores which sell toothpicks made in the USA – or anywhere other than China. I also tried e-mailing the address on the box (custserv@penleycorp.net) and received an instant reply, “Your message has reached a mailbox that is no longer in service.” I suspect the entire front office has died from toxic toothpicks used for the hors d’oeuvres at the first quarter sales figures celebration – profits up after outsourcing manufacturing overseas.

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