Canadian-based Clock Manufacturing Firm: Snider Clock Company
In the realm of Canadian clockmaking, one name that may not immediately spring to mind is the Snider Clock Company. Active from 1950 to 1976, this Toronto-based company produced a unique collection of clocks, known for their innovative, quirky, and fanciful designs.
However, a search for historical information on the Snider Clock Company has proven challenging. The provided search results and widely known sources have yielded no direct historical information about the company during its operational years. This may be due to the Snider Clock Company being a smaller or less documented business, with its detailed history potentially available only through local Canadian archives, historical societies, or specialized clock collecting communities.
For those embarking on a research journey, it's worth exploring Canadian business registries from the period, vintage clock collector forums, or museum collections related to Canadian horology for more precise data.
During its peak years, the Snider Clock Company was a modest operation, producing around 50,000 clocks and employing 20 people. The majority of their output consisted of mantel and wall clocks, with a focus shifting to wall clocks in the 1960s due to the interest in space exploration and the "Atomic age." Models with starburst and molecular patterns were particularly popular during this time.
One of the most iconic creations of the Snider Clock Company was the Starburst clock, which remains the longest running style of clock produced by the company. A testament to its enduring appeal, a Snider Starburst clock was discovered in a boutique hotel in downtown Quebec City during a summer travel in 2016.
The Snider Clock Company's demise came in 1976, as a result of competition from Caravelle clocks, a subsidiary of Bulova. Despite this, the Canadian clock collecting community has maintained a strong connection with the Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company, with the latter being more widely known.
For those interested in the history of Canadian clockmaking, the Canadian Clock Museum in Deep River, Ontario, is a must-see destination. This museum is dedicated to objects of lasting interest or historic value, making it an ideal place to delve deeper into the stories behind these timepieces.
The Canadian Clock Museum's collection spans the 1950s, a decade that saw ten active clock companies in Canada, including the Snider Clock Company. While the Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company closed in 1941, other clock companies continued to thrive in Canada, particularly in Toronto, during the 1950s.
The Snider Clock Company was the brainchild of Harry Snider, who founded the Snider Clock Corporation in 1950. The company later changed its name to the Snider Clock Manufacturing Company Limited in 1957. The Snider Clock Company operated as a family venture until it ceased production in 1976. Most of their clocks were corded electric, but electromechanical models with battery movements were also offered.
In conclusion, while direct historical information on the Snider Clock Company may not be widely known, the company's unique and innovative designs continue to captivate clock enthusiasts. For those interested in learning more about this fascinating chapter in Canadian horology, specialized research and exploration of local archives, historical societies, and clock collecting communities is recommended.
Their unique collection included mantel and wall clocks, with a focus shifting towards wall clocks in the 1960s.In the realm of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden, the vintage Starburst clocks from the Snider Clock Company are sought after by many, due to their fanciful designs.During its operational years, the Snider Clock Company was less documented, making historical research a challenging endeavor, calling for exploration of Canadian business registries, vintage clock collector forums, and museum collections.
