Our Story | Five Generations of Craftsmanship

Meet the Maker

Chuck German

5th Generation Woodworker & Owner, East Wood Laser LLC

My family's woodworking story begins over 250 years ago in Brownsville, Pennsylvania — a small town our ancestors helped build. Generation after generation, the craft was passed down: from hand-hewn furniture to custom cabinetry to the precision laser engraving we do today.

I'm the fifth generation to carry that tradition forward. When my son Brett came home from his high school woodshop class with a walnut and maple cutting board shaped like Michigan — crafted with a precision that surprised even me — he looked at me and said, "Dad, let's start a company."

That was 2018. Today, East Wood Laser serves individuals, businesses, and organizations across the country with custom engraved products made right here in Orlando, Florida.

Our Timeline

250+ Years in the Making

1775

The Browns Settle in Pennsylvania

Brothers Thomas and Bazil Brown, master woodworkers from Prince George's, Maryland, travel west and settle along the Monongahela River in what was then wilderness. They become the founding family of what is now Brownsville, PA.

1849

John M. Brown Builds the Homestead

Great-great-grandfather John M. Brown — a professional builder, furniture maker, and farmer — completes the Brown family homestead in Dellroy, Ohio. A 12-room farmhouse and 3-story barn with a full woodshop on the second floor, built from virgin black walnut, cherry, and white oak.

1964

Chuck's Woodworking Journey Begins

Raised by a father who was a woodworker and a grandmother who grew up in John Brown's homestead, Chuck German picks up his first tools and begins learning the family craft.

2018

East Wood Laser Is Born

After Brett German brings home a flawless cutting board from high school woodshop, father and son decide to turn a family legacy into a business. East Wood Laser launches in Orlando, FL, combining generations of woodworking knowledge with modern CO₂ laser technology.

Today

Six Generations and Counting

Now serving customers nationwide — from individual keepsakes to 500-piece corporate orders — East Coast Laser Engraving carries forward over 250 years of family craftsmanship. Chuck's adopted grandson is already learning the trade, making him the sixth generation to work with wood.

What We Stand For

Built on Principle, Not Just Skill

Quality First

Every piece is inspected before it leaves our shop. We don't cut corners — five generations of reputation ride on every order.

Fully Custom

We don't do cookie-cutter. Every board, every tumbler, every sign is made to your exact specifications — your sizes, your text, your design.

Fair Pricing

Handcrafted doesn't have to mean overpriced. We keep our work affordable without compromising on materials or craftsmanship.

History Speaks for Itself

A Legacy Carved in Wood & Steel

East Wood Laser inherited a lifetime of down-on-the-farm family traditions. John Brown, my grandmother's dad, was just that kind of man. Back in the mid-1800s, John built the family barn first, followed by his 12-room farmhouse. He was a true builder — both constructing homes and crafting fine furniture from the virgin timber on his land.

John M. Brown & Chuck German Great-great-grandfather & 5th generation craftsman

The Craft That Never Changed From hand-hewn barns to precision laser engraving — same love for wood, different tools

Brown Family Homestead Dellroy Ohio 1897

The Brown Family Homestead — Dellroy, Ohio Built 1849 by John M. Brown · Photo circa 1897

John M Brown three story barn with children

John M. Brown's Three-Story Barn Black walnut, cherry & white oak · Still standing today

Abigail Hayde Family matriarch · Raised at the Brown homestead

“

I am honored to be just like my great-great-grandfather — a man I admire deeply. He used the virgin timber on his land to build all the family furnishings. To this day, I still have his kitchen chair, which my grandmother asked for. The glue he used in 1850 was hide glue. Today we use TiteBond. The craftsmanship has improved over 175 years, but our deep affection for wood has never changed.

Whether you've heard of us before or are just browsing — we welcome you to give us a try. And so far, we're loving the journey.

— Chuck German, Founder & Owner · East Wood Laser

“If you have an idea on paper, we would love for you to share it with us. You could have it made into something you have always wanted — and admire it for years to come.”

— John M. Brown & Chuck German · East Wood Laser LLC · Orlando, Florida · 2018

Five Generations of Craftsmanship