A Basic Timepiece Crafted by the Blackforest Clock Manufacturer
Forestville Clock Company: A Canadian Clockmaker's Journey
The Forestville Clock Company, a Canadian clock manufacturer, was not related to clocks from the Black Forest region of Germany. Established in Toronto, Ontario, in 1928 by Austrian immigrants Leopold and Sara Stossel, the company initially imported both clock movements and complete clocks from Germany.
However, during World War II, the company rebranded as Forestville Clock Company due to growing anti-German sentiment. In response, the company sourced movements from England, the United States, and France. Postwar clocks were supplied by Friedrich Mauthe, known for their quality and reliability.
The Blackforest Clock Company, the original name of the Forestville Clock Company, produced clocks in local and foreign-made cases. One such clock, a time-and-strike (rack and snail) mantel clock, was recently purchased for $15. Although the glass dial bezel is missing and it is not currently running, this specific Blackforest clock is a shelf or kitchen clock, not a mantel clock.
While definitive proof is limited, Canadian clock historians suggest that the Walter Clock Company of Kitchener, Ontario, was a supplier of wood cases for the Blackforest Clock Company, especially for their early clocks. These cases were well-built and reflected traditional styles favored in Canada, complementing the German movements Blackforest imported and assembled locally.
The Forestville Clock Company operated in Canada from the late 1920s until after the Second World War. However, the company did not survive much beyond the late 1970s due to inexpensive quartz movements and changing consumer preferences.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Forestville Clock Company's history is the Blackforest shelf or kitchen clock made before the Second World War. This clock, now a prized possession, serves as a testament to the company's rich history and the craftsmanship that went into each timepiece.
[1] Canadian Clockmakers: A History, by J.R. Robertson, 2015.
- During the initial years of operation, the Forestville Clock Company, despite being a Canadian brand, imported clock movements from Germany, showcasing a blending of vintage German clock movements and Canadian craftsmanship.
- As mantel clocks were popular home decor items in the Canadian lifestyle, it's plausible that the Walter Clock Company provided wooden cases, reflecting traditional Canadian styles, for the Blackforest Clock Company's mantel clocks, even before the company's name change.
- In the realm of furniture and decor, the fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden sectors unearth a fascinating piece of history with the vintage Blackforest shelf or kitchen clock, which showcases the timeless style and craftsmanship of the Forestville Clock Company's clocks.
