The name F. Kroeber Clock Company conjures pictures of costly clocks. They are rarely available to the moderate buyer. The maker of these clocks was Florence Kroeber (1840-1911) who was born in Germany in 1840. He and his family crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the mid-1800s and settled in new York City.
At the age of 19, Kroeber was employed as a bookkeeper in the Owen and Clark Clock Store. George B. Owen operated the business when Clark left the company in 1861. Soon, George B. Owen left to become general manager of the W. L. Gilbert Clock Company in Winsted, Connecticut. This gave Florence Kroeber the opportunity to aquire the business. Clocks made in the United States as well as imported ones featured in his store. european novelties were also stocked.
When a German immigrant sought employment in 1868, F. Kroeber accepted this man, Nicholas Mueller, as a partner, who specializes in producing bronzed cast metal figurines and inscribed metal clock case fronts. This relationship only lasted about a year.
advertisements during the beginning of the 1870s listed Kroeber as an "Importer and dealer in French, German and American clocks."
Florence Kroeber began to create clock cases. He ordered movements from Connecticut makers. His clock business was successful, and it was incorporated as the F. Kroeber Clock Company. A second store was opened in Manhattan''s midtown area. In order to stock his store with interesting novelties, he traveled to Europe in the spring of 1888 where he bought a miscellany of novelties wood cases pieces, nickel and brass items, vases, candelbra, bronze figures and plushed covered novelties.
Until 1899, Kroeber created clock cases. A couple of them, patented in 1869 looked like Victorian picture frames. Kroeber sometimes used metal cases that came from other companies.
Both marble and china cases were imported and received American movements. Kroeber, at times coated cast-iron clock cases so that they resembled porcelain. He called hi patented product, "Porcelene." Soon Ansonia Clock Company produced clocks with the same porcelain-type finish and colors. Kroeber sued Ansonia for infringing on his patent. Kroeber also patented a pendulum that did not have to be taken off when a clock was moved.
F. Kroeber''s 1888 catalog displayed more than 250 clocks of which over 90% of the stock was of American manufacture. However, business was poor as a result of the Depression of 1893 and kroeber was forced to close one store and move into smaller quarters. unfortunately he went bankrupt in January 1904.
He no loner owned a clock company, and for seven years worked as a clerk in a store watch and clock department. Florence Kroeber died on May 16, 1911 from tuberculosis.
Today, examples of his quality clocks are appreciated by people who enjoy collecting unique, hard to find clocks. Collectors realize that his clocks bring higher prices and are more difficult to find than those made by some of the major clock companies.
