| Wall Clocks home
> Wall Clocks Info Center
> Seth Thomas Clocks
Seth Thomas Clocks
Click
here to see our selection of Seth Thomas Clocks.
 Seth
Thomas Clock Company was one of the most prolific and long lived
clock companies. The quality of their products was always maintained
at an above average level.
Enjoy browsing our extensive selection of Seth Thomas Clocks while
you read a bit of his history.
Our collection includes:
· Seth Thomas Grandfather Clocks
· Seth Thomas Table Clocks
· Seth Thomas Mantel Clocks
· Seth Thomas Maritime Clocks
· Seth Thomas Wall Clocks
· Seth Thomas Anniversary Clocks
· Seth Thomas Antique Clocks
Many American clock factories in the 19th century suffered factory
fires but Seth Thomas was fortunate in this respect. Through conservative
growth and taking advantage of the new ideas of others, Seth Thomas
was able to enjoy financial stability, whereas many other companies
faced financial difficulties.
Seth Thomas was born in Wolcott, Connecticut in 1785, went to work
for clockmaker Eli Terry in 1807, bought out Terry’s factory
(together with Silas Hoadley) in 1810, and in December 1813 bought
out Heman Clark’s clockmaking business in Plymouth Hollow.
Thomas continued Clark’s wooden movement tall clock production,
and about 1817 began making the wooden movement shelf clock. These
were cased in pillar and scroll cases until 1830, when the bronze
looking glass and other styles became popular. In 1842, brass movements
were introduced, and first cased in the popular O.G. case (which
was made until 1913).
Wood movements were phased out in 1845. In 1853 Mr. Thomas incorporated
the Seth Thomas Clock Company, so that the business would outlive
him. Mr. Thomas died in 1859, and Plymouth Hollow was renamed Thomaston
in his honor in 1865.
Mr. Thomas was very conservative, and after his death many new
styles of clocks were introduced by his sons. Regulator clocks were
introduced in 1860. The patterns and machinery for these had been
purchased in 1859 from the creditors of bankrupt clockmaker Silas
B. Terry.
· Spring driven clocks were introduced ca. 1855-1860
· Perpetual calendar clocks were made from ca. 1863-1917
· Some of the most popular later types include walnut kitchen
clocks, made from 1884-1909
· marble clocks, 1887-ca. 1895
· black (Adamantine finish) wood mantel clocks, ca. 1885-1917
· black enameled iron cased clocks, 1892-ca. 1895
· oak kitchen clocks, 1890-ca. 1915
· tambour clocks, introduced in 1904
· chime clocks, introduced in 1909
· electric A/C clocks, introduced in 1928.
Many Seth Thomas clocks from 1881 to 1918 have a date code stamped
in ink on the case back or bottom. Usually, the year is done in
reverse, followed by a letter A-L representing the month.
For example, April 1897 would appear as 7981 D.
In 1930 a holding company named General Time Instruments Corporation
was formed to unite Seth Thomas Clock Company with Western Clock
Company. In 1968, General Time was bought by Talley Industries,
and in 1979 the headquarters was moved to Norcross, GA.
In June 2001 General Time announced that it was closing its entire
operation. The Colibri Group acquired Seth Thomas. The NAWCC (the
National Association of Watch and Clock collectors) purchased from
Seth Thomas their collection of historical records, drawings, photographs,
advertisements and documents.
|
