Seth Thomas Clocks

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About Antique Seth Thomas Clocks

Seth Thomas (1785-1859) began his clockmaking career in 1807 as an apprentice to renowned clockmaker Eli Terry. In 1810, he bought Terry’s Connecticut factory and began making tall clocks with wooden movements.

Thomas added wooden-movement shelf and mantel clocks in 1817. The first of these had pillar-and-scroll cases, usually with a scene painted on the bottom third of the case below the clock’s face. Around 1830, antique Seth Thomas mantel clocks were frequently framed in carved mahogany...

Brass movements replaced wooden ones in 1842 (wood was phased out entirely in 1845), which was also the first year that Thomas made mantel clocks with ogee cases—the style was produced until 1913.

Though an innovator when it came to production techniques and business, Thomas was rather conservative when it came to the appearance of his clocks. So, after his death in 1859, Thomas' sons were quick to introduce new clock styles—from handsome wall clocks to regulators to spring-driven clocks to clocks with calendars.

Of the calendar clocks, the Seth Thomas antique wall clocks for kitchens were particularly popular. One early double-dial calendar clock made shortly after the founders’ death had a rosewood-veneer case that came to points at the top and bottom to earn itself the nickname of "Peanut." Walnut kitchen clocks were produced from 1884 to 1909.

One of the toughest competitors for U.S. clockmakers in the second half of the 19th century were the French, whose clocks cased in onyx and marble were all the rage. In response, U. S. manufacturers made clocks that resembled those of the French, except instead of marble, they made their cases from less expensive iron or wood.

Thomas responded to the French challenge with its own line of marble clocks (1887 to 1895) and iron clocks finished in black enamel (1892 to 1895). But the Thomas response that is best known today was its Adamantine black mantel clock, which debuted in 1892.

Adamantine was a veneer developed by the Celluloid Manufacturing Company—Thomas licensed the veneer because it could be produced in black, white, and a variety of patterns to replicate the look of wood, onyx, and, most importantly, marble. The Seth Thomas Adamantine mantel clocks were popular enough to remain in production until 1917.

Another trend from the late 19th century was the practice of naming a clock after international cities. Thomas did that, too, using names like Milan, Genoa, and Naples to evoke the style of a particular clock. Thomas also had a City Series of clocks named after U.S. cities. The Atlanta clock, for example, had a rosewood case with gilt details and a glass door that had been etched in a leaf pattern. Even Utica got its own clock. The City Series was produced for roughly 40 years.

Thomas clocks were also named after presidents (Lincoln, Garfield) and royalty (Victoria). Others were named after universities, from Cambridge to Cornell.

In the 20th century, Thomas introduced its first tambour clock in 1904. The low, wide profile of these mantel clocks made them perfect above fireplaces. Chime clocks followed in 1909, and electric clocks were added to the company’s catalog in 1928.

Of the pre-war, 1930s Thomas clocks, the Art Deco alarm clocks (wind up or electric) made of a colored plastic called Catalin are highly collectible. Unlike Bakelite, which was opaque due to its fillers of sawdust or carbon, Catalin is transparent, which made it easy to mix with dyes to produce rich colors. It could even be marbleized, which, for Thomas, recalled the company’s Adamantine clocks produced just a few decades earlier.

Key terms for Antique and Vintage Seth Thomas Clocks:

Ogee: A type of molding whose profile resembles an S-shape curve.

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Top eBay Auctions    (get weekly Seth Thomas Clocks email)

Status       Display       How this works
Seth Thomas No 14 Tower Clock Movement Mechanism$5,300 Ends Sunday 7 bids 61 watchers
Seth Thomas 4 Dial Tower Clock - Complete And Original$3,561 Ends Monday 12 bids 84 watchers
Early Seth Thomas #2 Weight Regulator, Look - No Res$529.00 Ends Thursday 18 bids 54 watchers
Seth Thomas Calendar Clock Parlor Calendar No 5$510.01 Ends Thursday 16 bids 28 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Parlor Calendar Clock$450.99 Ends Tuesday 54 bids 46 watchers
Seth Thomas Adamantine " Ideal" Circa 1906$450.00 Ends in 17 hours 17 bids 6 watchers
Seth Thomas Queen Ann Wall Clock Circa 1880’s$405.00 Ends in 17 hours 4 bids 51 watchers
Seth Thomas Chime #74 - 1921 Antique Westminster Clock $374.99 Ends in 20 hours 12 bids 43 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Bronze/glass Table/mantle Clock$360.00 Ends in 22 hours 4 bids 23 watchers
1877 Seth Thomas Southern Calendar Clock Co Fashion #2$305.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids 40 watchers
Large Antique Seth Thomas Colossal Model Shelf Clock$245.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 10 watchers
Seth Thomas "utica" City Series Clock, Walnut$225.50 Ends Sunday 19 bids 58 watchers
Seth Thomas #2 Weight Driven Regulator Wall Clock Case$215.50 Ends in 22 hours 5 bids 72 watchers
Seth Thomas Movement Double Dial Fashion Calendar, Look$200.00 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 31 watchers
Seth Thomas Shasta Style Adamantine Mantle Clock Buy it Now$192.50 Ends in 21 hours 15 bids 25 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Walnut Balltop Model Parlor Clock$182.50 Ends Sunday 7 bids 42 watchers
Antique Shasta~adamantine Seth Thomas Clock~mantle~nr~~$177.50 Ends in 22 hours 4 bids 39 watchers
Antique 1900 Seth Thomas Crystal Regulator Brass Clock $175.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 13 watchers
Seth Thomas Ship's Clock/stand/bells,key,very Nice$162.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Seth Thomas Mantel Clock Shasta 1900--1910$154.73 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 25 watchers
Seth Thomas 18s 21j Pocket Watch Movement$150.27 Ends Friday 7 bids 5 watchers
Seth Thomas 30 Day Office Clock #11$150.00 Ends in 20 hours 7 bids 29 watchers
Vintage Seth Thomas Ship Clock / Radio Room Circa 1930$139.50 Ends Saturday 5 bids 21 watchers
Seth Thomas Antique Mantle Clock~1913~prospect No. 4 $137.50 Ends in 22 hours 19 bids 75 watchers
Vintage Seth Thomas Marine Ships Clock And Barometer $127.76 Ends Saturday 5 bids 16 watchers
Very Rare Seth Thomas & Son Co.cast Iron Mantle Clock$126.90 Ends in 22 hours 9 bids 37 watchers
Seth Thomas Mantel Clock$117.50 Ends Tuesday 10 bids
Seth Thomas Eclipse Kitchen Clock Ball Top Walnut$113.61 Ends Monday 3 bids 25 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Mantle Rosewood Adamantine Clock !!$107.50 Ends Friday 14 bids 32 watchers
Seth Thomas Ww 2 Mark I Deck Clock$103.50 Ends in 51 mins 5 bids
Antique Seth Thomas Statue Clock - Angel And Young Girl$103.49 Ends Sunday 5 bids 19 watchers
Seth Thomas Antique Mantel Clock Case$99.99 Ends in 22 hours 11 bids 21 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Wall Clock Solid Oak, Clean!!$97.00 Ends in 23 hours 2 bids 19 watchers
Seth Thomas Mantle Kitchen Clock$95.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
Antique Seth Thomas Statue Clock - Angel And Young Girl$91.00 Ends Thursday 5 bids 18 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas 2 Columns Ogee Mantel Shelf Clock$86.00 Ends in 23 hours 11 bids 29 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Westminster Chime Mantle Clock N/r $80.87 Ends Monday 6 bids 47 watchers
Antique 8 Day Seth Thomas Plymouth Hollow Mantel Clock$79.99 Ends Monday 4 bids 32 watchers
Seth Thomas Round Wall Regulator 1900--1910$76.99 Ends in 19 hours 6 bids 13 watchers
Large Calendar Movement For Seth Thomas Or Ithaca, Look$76.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 23 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Mantle Clock With Key Westminster$76.00 Ends Monday 8 bids 21 watchers
Seth Thomas 4/column Mantle Clock$72.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids
Antique 1908 Seth Thomas Mantle Clock$71.95 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
Vintage Seth Thomas Corsair Brass Ships Bell Clock Nr$71.00 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 28 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas Westminster Mantel Mantle Clock$61.00 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 30 watchers
Seth Thomas Clock`$59.80 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Seth Thomas Queen Anne-2004 Price Guide $2000!-no Rsrv!$57.78 Ends Friday 5 bids 41 watchers
Antique Seth Thomas 2 Columns Og Mantel Rosewood Clock$56.86 Ends in 23 hours 5 bids 12 watchers

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