Skip to main content
Curiosa
Sign InTry a scan

Forestville - Tambour Mantel Clock (c.1945-1955) Bim-Bam 8-Day Movement

A Forestville brand wood-cased tambour mantel clock with brass Arabic numerals and a mahogany veneer finish.

Estimated value

$75 - $185

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Brand

Forestville

Era

Circa 1945-1955

Origin

🇨🇦 Canada

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
20

FORESTVILLE - TAMBOUR MANTEL CLOCK (C.1945-1955) BIM-BAM 8-DAY MOVEMENT: IDENTIFICATION

Mid-20th century Napoleon hat or tambour style mantel clock manufactured by the Forestville Clock Company. The case features a ribbon-grain mahogany veneer over a contoured wood body with integrated bracket feet. The dial is wood-textured with applied brass Arabic numerals and a protective convex glass crystal set in a brass bezel. A small rectangular 'Forestville' maker's label is positioned below the 12 o'clock marker. The dial includes two winding arbors positioned between 3-4 and 8-9, indicating a time-and-strike movement, likely a bim-bam or cathedral coil strike arrangement.

Compare with other mechanical pieces in the archive: Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 8000 Loudspeaker, Martens Doetinchem Promotional Cast Aluminum Clock, Mid-Century Compass Saw (Keyhole Saw) with Molded Bakelite or Resin Handle.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Mid-Century Modernism1945-1960

The simplification of traditional clock forms during the shift toward suburban utility in the 1950s

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •The weekly 8-day winding ritual, typically a Sunday morning task in middle-class households to ensure the clock and chime remained synchronized

Meaning Through Time

1950s

A symbol of domestic stability and punctuality for the emerging post-war middle class

PRODUCTION PERIOD

The Forestville Clock Company, based in Toronto, Canada, operated primarily from the 1920s through the late 1960s, importing high-quality 8-day movements from German firms such as Hermle and Mauthe to house in locally produced cases. This specific silhouette reflects the late Art Deco and early ...
The Forestville Clock Company, based in Toronto, Canada, operated primarily from the 1920s through the late 1960s, importing high-quality 8-day movements from German firms such as Hermle and Mauthe to house in locally produced cases. This specific silhouette reflects the late Art Deco and early Mid-Century transition, where the complex 'Napoleon hat' shape was streamlined for post-WWII domestic interiors. By 1950, Forestville was a dominant Canadian distributor of domestic timepieces, often utilizing movements stamped 'West Germany' to indicate production after the 1949 partition.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

While the Forestville brand is Canadian, the mechanical heart of this clock is almost certainly a German-engineered movement imported after the 1945 lifting of trade restrictions.

2

The 'Tambour' shape, also known as a 'Napoleon Hat', was the most popular domestic clock style in North America from 1920 until the mid-1950s.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 6 mechanical items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • Features standard 1950s production techniques including applied brass numerals and period-appropriate veneer
  • Forestville label is consistent with known 8-day strike models
How does authenticity detection work?

ENGINEERING APPRAISER'S TAKE

Vintage Technology Restorer & Historian

Tech Historian

Identification is highly certain due to the clear 'Forestville' brand logo and the well-documented manufacture style of 8-day strike clocks from this era. Uncertainty only remains regarding the specific internal movement maker (Hermle vs. Mauthe).

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Forestville maker's mark on the dial indicates Canadian distribution
  • 2Dual winding arbors confirm a dual-train mechanical strike movement
  • 3Convex glass crystal and brass bezel construction typical of 1940s-50s manufacturing
  • 4Ribbon grain mahogany veneer is characteristic of post-war furniture trends in North America

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Internal movement condition is unknown; mechanical clocks of this age frequently suffer from dried oil or worn pivot holes

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Open the rear access door to inspect the movement for a 'Made in West Germany' or 'Hermle' stamp
  • →Photograph the winding key to verify it is the correct size for the arbors
  • →Perform a level-surface test to ensure the 'beat' is even and the pendulum swings freely

CONDITION & GRADE

Excellent

Grading breakdown

The case shows 95% finish retention with no visible impact damage to the bracket feet or top curve. The dial paper/finish lacks the common yellowing or sun-fading often seen in clocks of this age.

Condition

The veneer appears intact without visible checking or lifting. Brass numerals show minor oxidation, but the hands are original and correctly aligned. The presence of two winding arbors confirms it is a mechanical clock requiring a key, rather than a later electric conversion.

Weight & feel

Approximately 2.5 to 3.5 kg, suggesting a solid wood substrate under the veneer and a cast brass or steel movement plate.

INDUSTRIAL ARTIFACT VALUE

$75 - $185

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Entry-level antique horology collectors and homeowners seeking functional mid-century interior decor.

What increases value

  • •Operational strike mechanism
  • •Original mahogany finish with no significant veneer loss
  • •Presence of the original winding key

What lowers value

  • •Movement seizing due to lack of professional servicing
  • •Incompatible keys damaging the winding arbors
  • •Surface scratches on the convex glass

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Documented service history within the last 5 years
  • •Matching serial numbers on the case and movement
  • •Rare triple-chime (Westminster) configuration

Grade & condition

Mechanical functionality, cabinet integrity, and dial cleanliness.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar mechanical objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

RB

rbonner57gmailcom
Wonderseeker•1 item

COMMENTS

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Sign in to leave a comment

ABOUT MECHANICAL & INDUSTRIAL

Vintage machines, industrial objects, tools, and mechanical curiosities.

Mechanical & Industrial value and rarity guide

SHARE THIS CURIOSITY

Have your own curiosities to discover?

Scan Your Curiosity