To supplement their income, the people in the village of Östnor in Mora turned their hand to clock making, producing the now famous Mora clocks. After a full day’s work in the fields, the farmers would retire indoors and continue working on their clocks. This laid the groundwork for the craft tradition which has become one of the region’s greatest resources.
Through their clock making, the villagers gained knowledge and experience of working with brass. The whole village was like a large communal clock workshop. Mora’s clock making industry almost died out in the mid 19th century due to competition from cheaper and lower quality clocks from Germany and the USA.
Instead, Östnor started manufacturing Sweden’s first sewing machines. After twelve years of production, the sewing machine prices dropped so low during the prevailing economic depression that the factory owners could not make satisfactory profits.
The next attempt at industrial activity was initiated by two village locals, Finn Anders Andersson and Frost Matts Mattsson.
Finn Anders started producing the traditional Mora knives which are now sold worldwide. In the mid 19th century, brass founder Frost Mats Mattsson started casting clock wheels for the Mora clocks manufacturers. He also produced components and ornaments for local traditional costumes, as well as horse bells and saddle components. In 1876 he cast his first tap, which was the starting point for Östnor’s famous sanitary fittings industry.
Frost Mats Mattsson died in 1914. By this time, his sons Anders and Karl had taken over the management of their father’s factory (FM Mattsson).
In 1926 the FM Mattsson factory was paralysed by a year-long strike. As a result, Frost Karl started his own factory, the following year. Frost Karl took with him twelve workers from the old company to the new one, Mora Armatur.
The two brands were separate limited companies until 2003, when they were merged under a common holding company. Ostnor AB was formed in association with Priveq Investment Ostnor AB.