Handcrafted Timepiece Produced by the Black Forest Clock Corporation
In the heart of Toronto, Ontario, the Blackforest Clock Company was founded in 1928 by Austrian immigrants Leopold and Sara Stossel. This Canadian clock company, contrary to popular belief, is not related to clocks from the Black Forest region of Germany.
Initially, the Blackforest Clock Company imported clock movements and complete clocks from Germany. However, the company soon began assembling clocks locally at its facility on Wellington Street East in Toronto. It is suggested that the Walter Clock Company of Kitchener, Ontario, may have supplied some of the early wood clock cases for the Blackforest Clock Company.
As the Blackforest Clock Company grew, it rebranded itself as the Forestville Clock Company during the Second World War. However, it's important to note that the Forestville Clock Company is a different Canadian clock company and not mentioned in the previous paragraphs.
During its operation, the Blackforest Clock Company continued to import clock movements and complete clocks from Germany. By the mid-1950s, Forestville resumed imports from Germany, with Friedrich Mauthe emerging as one of their most significant movement suppliers.
The subject of this article is an old Canadian clock company acquisition, specifically a time-and-strike mantel clock likely made in the mid-1930s. The author purchased this Blackforest clock for $15 while traveling. Although no absolute confirmation exists, evidence strongly supports that the Walter Clock Company supplied wood cases to Blackforest Clock Company in Canada.
Despite not running currently, the clock is intact and should function after a thorough cleaning. The Blackforest Clock Company, a Canadian clockmaker with a rich history, continues to intrigue clock historians and collectors alike.
[1] Canadian Clock History, "Blackforest Clock Company," www.canadianclockhistory.com/blackforest.htm
- The Blackforest Clock Company, a Canadian firm established in Toronto, Ontario in 1928, initially imported 'clock movements' from Germany but soon began assembling clocks locally, using possible wood clock cases supplied by the Walter Clock Company of Kitchener, Ontario.
- Vintage 'mantel clocks' can often be found among the productions of the Blackforest Clock Company, with one such time-and-strike mantel clock, suspected to have been made in the mid-1930s, being acquired by a collector for $15.
- The 'lifestyle' and 'home-and-garden' sectors may find fascination in the history of the Blackforest Clock Company, as it continues to captivate clock historians and collectors with its rich heritage, despite not currently being in operation.
