Too Pretty to Eat?
Written by Connie Mertz
Clear toy candy is as Pennsylvania as Lebanon bologna and pretzels
Clear toy candy conjures up memories of yesteryear. The sparkling, sugary-sweet, glass-like confection is one of the most nostalgic candies in the world.
Traditionally, it was made at Christmas, but Bob and Kay Heim of Danville make it year-round, selling 1,500 pounds, much of which is created from antique metal molds.
"The art of making clear toy candy originated with the Germans," Kay said as she carefully poured red syrup into a deer mold, complete with antlers. "Clear toy candy or barley sugar candy is probably one of the oldest candies made.
I tell my customers clear toy candy says Pennsylvania as surely as Lebanon bologna and pretzels," Kay said.
When German tradespeople immigrating to America entered the port of Philadelphia in the mid-1800s, they brought the tools of their trade with them. Those who were bakers and confectioners also brought clear toy molds with them," she said.
These people often traveled on foot or horseback, and they chose small towns not far from Philadelphia. York, Lancaster, Lebanon and Lititz are all known as areas where clear toy candy can be found."
The foundries of V. Clad and Sons, founded in 1853, and Thomas Mills & Brothers, founded in 1864, made pewter and castiron molds.
"Candy molds produced in these two foundries made clear toys affordable and available to the average person," Kay said. "Pewter (called composition) molds were the earliest ones. Cast-iron molds appeared later and today, modern reproduction molds are usually made of aluminum."
In 1860, the production of clear toy candy arrived in Danville when John Jacobs opened a confectionery store. He and his family had originally immigrated from Ecksdorf, Germany, and he became familiar with the little town of Danville through a sister who settled here.
John Jacobs & Sons, better known as Jacobs Store, remained a family owned business for 100 years. It has since been torn down, but it is well remembered by older folks.
Return to the index
