The Canadian Clock Museum opened to the public in Deep River, Ontario in late May of 2000 as Canada’s only clock museum. This non-profit, private museum operates as a federal corporation dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, and exhibiting the products of Canada’s many clock manufacturers and sellers from the early 1800s to current times. The research has now led to the publication of seven peer-reviewed articles in the NAWCC Bulletin about lesser known Canadian companies.
A guided tour, included in the admission fees, is offered to our visitors to provide more historical and technical details than can be put on the wall text panels. In addition, visitors can see dozens of period artifacts, and hear music played on working 1910s-1960s record players made by Edison, Columbia, Victor, Thorens (a 1940s 78s windup portable), and Electrohome (ca 1970, Canadian-made for vinyl LPs) – both cylinder and flat records. Sights and sounds!
A major collection focus is on clocks made by The Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company (Berlin/Kitchener, Ontario, ca. 1904-1941), Westclox Canada (Peterborough, Ontario, ca. 1920-mid 1980s), and Snider (Harry Snider’s two companies in Toronto, 1950-1957 and 1957-1976).
There are some British connections, including a working ca. 1921 Synchronome master wall clock with connected slave dial and a Blick Time Recorders early 1930s factory clock on which visitors can print their “in” and “out” hours on a souvenir card. Many clocks have an American connection, from mid 1800s shelf clocks with Leeds County, Canada West peddlers labels to mid 20th century mantel and wall clocks made in Ontario factories by U.S. companies.
The initial collection of more than six hundred clocks, watches, and related horological documents was provided by Allan Symons, a long-time resident of Deep River, retired research scientist, and the Museum’s founder, first Manager, and Curator.
The Museum’s own reference library has grown to more than six hundred books that cover a broad range of horological topics, including all of the major Canadian and American clock companies. There are children’s books for learning to “tell time”, and modern electronic time-teaching clocks. New book titles are added regularly.
The Museum is registered with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency as a charitable organization. Tax receipts are issued regularly for donations, both financial and “in kind” items (for example a clock, watch, books, old tools, and clock company catalogues).
Allan Symons, who is the founder of the museum says he started collecting clocks in the 1980’s and purchased the facility in May of 2000, converting it from a church.
