This is a list of candy makers that made “clear toy candy” or “sugar toys”. Finding historical information about some of the companies has proved to be difficult. If you can help provide any information on these companies or know of other clear toy candy makes that are missing, please let me know so I can add the information.
John Jacobs' Sons
Location: 126 Mills Street, Danville Pa.
Dates: Closed 1961
John Jacobs was born in Germany in 1836. When he was 19 years old, he came to America, first settling in Pottsville Pa, where he learned both the bakery and candy making trades. There he opened his candy business. There they made many candies including clear toy candies.
Shelly's Bro Inc.
Location: Lansdale, PA
Dates: Established 1930’s
The 5 Shelly brothers in the 1930’s opened Shelly’s Brother Inc, a company that manufactured candy and ice cream. As the business grew the opened locations in other towns. The were locally famous for their clear toy candy and even patented a stick inserting mechanism in 1968 to help automate their clear toy making machine.
Knickerbocker's Ice cream and Candy Co.
Location: Paterson, NJ
Dates: 1938 to 1971
Candy and ice cream shop in Paterson, NJ. Full page on them.
Schimpff's Confectionery
Location: 347 Spring Street, Jeffersonville, IN
Dates: 1891 to present
G.A. Schimpff’s Confectionery began in its present location on April 11, 1891. Started by Gus Schimpff Sr. and Jr., the business has survived wars, floods, depressions, and recessions through four generations. More
Shane Confectionery
Location: 110 Market St, Philadelphia, PA
Dates: 1863 to present (under different names)
Even though this confectionary has been through some name changes, candy has been made on the premises for the last 150 years. It is one of the few commercial places that still hand pours clear toy candy, they way it has been for the last 100 years. They have an extensive mold collection and display their candy beautifully. Shane’s is one of my favorite places to visit in Philadelphia and you can find images of my visits here. The do sell online and you can order here.
Young’s Candies
Location: 2809 Girard Avenue. Philadelphia, PA.
Dates: 1897 to 2006
The Young family planted their roots in Philadelphia after coming to America from Germany, where they had already been in the business of handcrafting sweets. For generations, the Youngs ran the candy shop making clear toy and other candy sweets. Harry Young was the final owner, and closed after his passing in 2006. I was lucky to purchases one clear toy mold from this historic candy family. Most of the clear toy molds now reside at Shane’s Candies in Philadelphia.
Chase & Co. Boston, MA.
Location: 698 Washington Street. Boston, MA
Dates: Established 1847
Started in 1847, they manufactured many different candy types including sugar toys.
Cleveland Candy Works, John Wuest.
Location: 92 Superior Street and 9 Long Street. Cleveland, OH.
Dates: Established 1860
They were a wholesale manufacturer of confections and sugar toys. They also sold fruit and fireworks. Started in 1860 under the name Wuest-Bauman-Hunt Company. More info
Repettos Bros.
Location: 703 Welsh St, and 7th & Edgmont Ave, Chester, PA.
Dates: Unknown
"Dealers of fancy fruits & candy" The candy shop was founded by Eugene Repetto. I know about them because a gentleman that worked there, gave his nephew many clear toy candy molds that I now have in my collection.
Regennas Candy Shop
Location: 10 Maple Lane Myerstown, PA
Dates: 1894 to present
Regennas started in Philadelphia in 1894 by C. Fred Regennas & Sons. They had a horse drawn wagon that they would deliver their confections with. The moved to Lititz in n 1910, Fred erected a home and shop on 120 West Lemon Street, where they ran the business from. Today they still make clear toy candy at their Myerstown location. You can visit their website to order during candy making season.
Article to left is from December 7, 1922
Flohr-Walter Candy Company
Location: 112, 114 and 116 Locust, St. Louis
Dates: Unknown
Manufactured many different candies including chocolates, marshmallows, penny goods and sugar toys.
Fobe, Hayward & Co.
Location: Nos. 96 & 98 Sudbury Street. Boston, MA.
Dates: Unknown
Manufacturer and wholesale dealers in sugar toys and chocolates. Run by Daniel Forbes, D.H. Hayward, and A.F. Hayward.
Dorothy Timberlake Candies
Location: Madison, NH
Dates: 1971 - 2010
Sold large selection of clear toy candy / barley candy. Started as a hobby that grew into a business. Timberlake page link
Bogert's Candy Kitchen
Location: Hackensack, NJ
Dates: 1887 - 1930
The Bogert Candy Kitchen was founded by Cornelius A. Bogert. They made homemade, quality candies, including chocolates, taffies and his hard candy known as Clear Toy Candies. Bergen historical society has provided more info here.