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There were at least seven other companies in Ontario making mantel, alarm, and/or wall clocks in competition with Snider during the 1950s, '60s and early '70s for the Canadian market. It is probably safe to say that Harry Snider produced more models of starburst and other wall clocks than all of the other companies combined. Most of the 1950s Snider designs for non-starburst kitchen and dining room wall clocks were unique. Harry also made alarm clocks, as did most of the other companies. But his was the only one among them designing and producing television lamp clocks in the 1950s. Here are some details with examples for the major Snider competitors.

BRESLIN INDUSTRIES (Toronto): It seems that clocks were a sideline for this company run by the Breslin family, whose products were focused on lamps, lampshades, and novelties. The only clocks that we know of, including one with a lamp, have horses as the typical 1950s theme followed by Snider and several American companies. The wind-up movements appear to be the same Ingraham type used by Snider. Examples of some Breslin clocks are shown in Pictures 2, 3 and 4 in this Storyline.

INGRAHAM CANADIAN CLOCK COMPANY Limited (Toronto): Ingraham clocks were being made by the original American company in Bristol, Connecticut by the mid 1800s. The Canadian factory was located at 95 Grand Avenue in Toronto from the late 1940s until at least 1980. Wall and alarm models, the latter with wind-up or electric movements, were made for the Canadian market. Representative examples of typical alarm, kitchen, and starburst wall clocks with Ingraham Canadian, Ingraham Canadian Clock Co. Ltd, or Ingraham plus Made in Canada on the dial are shown in Pictures 5 to 9. The novelty windup alarm clocks The Westerner and The Mountie are popular with collectors of animated models today. Examples of The Mountie are known with plastic and metal cases.

CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC (Toronto, Barrie): In addition to large industrial electrical components, CGE produced electric alarm, table, and kitchen wall clocks for the Canadian market from the 1930s into at least the 50s. Visitors to the museum often remember models on display from their own or their parents' homes. Two each of CGE kitchen wall and alarm clocks from the 1950s are shown in Pictures 10 and 11.

WESTCLOX CANADA (Western Clock Company, Peterborough, Ontario): The parent company started making alarm clocks in LaSalle, Illinois, near Chicago, back before 1900. The Canadian factory operations began in Peterborough in 1920. Their own new building was ready in 1923. Business was so good that additions were put on several times up to the 1950s. However, by the mid 1980s the North American Westclox factories were closing down in favour of lower labour costs elsewhere. Westclox is best known for its millions of Big Ben and Baby Ben windup and electric alarm clocks made in various styles between 1920 and the early 1980s in Canada. The company did also make wall clocks for kitchens, dining and "rec" (recreation) rooms starting in the 1930s. Some examples of typical Westclox alarm and starburst wall clocks from the 1950s to the 1970s are shown in Pictures 12 to 20.

SETH THOMAS CLOCKS (Peterborough): This old company was founded by Seth Thomas in the early 1800s in Plymouth, Connecticut (now Thomaston since the 1870s). In 1931 it became part of General Time Corporation, which owned Westclox. Seth Thomas brand mantel, alarm, and wall clocks were produced for the Canadian market in the Westclox factory from 1931 to the mid 1980s.

NEW HAVEN CLOCK COMPANY (Brantford, Ontario): The parent company was based in New Haven, Connecticut starting before 1900. Limited research to date suggests that some mantel and wall clocks were made in Brantford with Canadian wood cases, but it is likely that the spring-driven pendulum movements were brought in from the U.S. factory.

FORESTVILLE CLOCK COMPANY (Toronto): The first business was set up by Leopold and Sarah Stossel as the Blackforest Clock Company in Toronto in 1928. The name was changed to the Forestville Clock Company in 1941 because of World War II, and continued in business until the late 1970s. The museum does not have any examples of their mantel clocks sold during the time that the Snider companies were in business.

In spite of the broad-based competition described above, the Snider Clock Corporation and its successor, the Snider Clock Mfg Company, flourished for just over twenty-five years (1950 to 1976). Their success is a tribute to Harry Snider and his family for the many unique clock designs that were created, to the effective construction methods developed by Harry and then Michael Snider for them, and to their business skills in promoting and selling their clocks through hundreds of stores across Canada.

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A Breslin Industries, Toronto version of the popular 1950s "horse" clock.
1950s
The Canadian Clock Museum, Deep River, Ontario