Industries
Smethport’s two major industries where both founded in the community, and continue successfully to this day.
The first of these is the Backus Company. 2006 will mark their 100 th year Celebration. They invented the automatic bowling pin setter, and novelty devices. The pin setter is no longer in production. The company now includes Chef Specialties, the world leader in the manufacture of pepper mills for the restaurant industry.
The second company, Smethport Specialties, manufactures the world famous Wooly Willy magnetic children’s game, one of the top 40 most popular games produced in the world. Smethport celebrated Wooly’s 50 th birthday party at the Smethport Summerfest sponsored by the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce last summer.
The magnetic dust drawing game invented by Jim Herzog began production in 1955. Tours of Smethport Specialty Co., where Wooly Willy is manufactured, are offered during Smethport’s Annual Summerfest held on the 3 rd week of June each year.
Wooly Willy T-shirts can be purchased from the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center located at 119 West Main Street. T-shirts can be ordered by mail, you can download the order form below and send it in. Wolly Willy magnetic toys are available at most Smethport merchants and at the Smethport Visitor Center.
Click below to download the order form, print it out and send to:
Smethport Visitor Center
119 West Main St.
Smethport, PA 16749
Wooly Willy T-Shirt Order Form
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