Internet Horology Club 185
In Search Of Seth Thomas
September 03, 2011, 19:57
Eric UnseltIn Search Of Seth Thomas
All nicely wrapped up in a Crescent case:
September 04, 2011, 07:40
Eric UnseltAn ad for the Grade 281:
Notice those miserable half-headed case screws?
September 04, 2011, 07:43
Eric UnseltThe above print advertises the pendant-set variant of the 281, whereas my example is lever-set and has an outboard regulator:
This movement is one of the most pristine in my collection, and is nearly untouched after over a century.
September 04, 2011, 07:45
Eric UnseltFronting it is one of my favorite dials, the radial 24-hour red/black double-Arabic:
My thanks to Brian Cavanaugh for supplying NOS hands for this watch.
September 04, 2011, 07:45
Eric UnseltThe beautiful Wadsworth 20yr case was supplied by my friend Phil Sanchez:
September 04, 2011, 07:51
Eric UnseltAny Seth Thomas fancy dial is difficult to find; it's nearly impossible to run across flawless ones ...
September 04, 2011, 07:53
Eric Unselt... and this example certainly qualifies.
Just stop for a moment and look at the delicate tracery woven into the numerals, and the silver dots at the minute marks.
September 04, 2011, 07:55
Eric UnseltBacking that gorgeous dial is a pendant-set 15-jewel two-tone Grade 159:
September 04, 2011, 07:55
Eric UnseltAll wrapped up in another bezel-less internal thread gold-filled case:
September 04, 2011, 10:06
Eric UnseltHere is an 1896 ad for the Maiden Lane. Note the serial number, 205528 ...
September 04, 2011, 10:10
Eric Unselt... is only six numbers away from this example, SN 205536 - and note the pattern change. I believe the patterns may have changed with every run of 10 or 20 movements.
September 04, 2011, 10:17
Eric UnseltPaired with this Maiden Lane is the fabled Gothic dial:
September 04, 2011, 10:19
Eric UnseltProtected by an excellent B&B case with a blank cartouche supplied by IHC185's own Rob Jones:
September 04, 2011, 10:45
Jerry KingEric this is really a fantastic post....Thanks for all the work you have put in and I agree with Phil

, the photography is superb....
I knew you had Seth's but I had no idea of the extent....if you have more lets see them....
The very best regards,
Jerry
September 04, 2011, 12:42
Eric UnseltThanks, Jerry

Seth Thomas, as far as I can tell, had two plate signatures for the Model 5 - the blocky font shown on previous examples, and this one, a more flowing script, on this early (SN 203398) 17-jewel Grade 182:
September 04, 2011, 12:44
Eric UnseltThe movement is paired with this Roman 24-hour dial with open-kite hands:
September 04, 2011, 12:44
Eric UnseltFitted into a gorgeous white-gold Illinois case:
September 04, 2011, 12:48
Larry BuchanBravo Eric, once again kudos for your great photographs, this thread will be a great reference for members in the future, and will not get buried, like the individual pocketwatch postings, a fantastic collection you have concentrated on.
Larry
September 04, 2011, 17:14
Eric UnseltThanks, Larry

Compiling any kind of list is difficult; there's just no records. Below is an excerpt from Chris Bailey in a 1980 article about the company:
Note the watercourse that ran directly under the factory.
September 04, 2011, 17:47
Eric UnseltThis Model 5 is fronted by the black-only variant of the 24-hour double-Arabic radial dial:
Again, thanks to our own Brian Cavanaugh for supplying NOS hands for this watch.

September 04, 2011, 17:49
Eric UnseltIt's another variant of the Grade 182. Notice the gilt "volcano" style plate screws:
September 04, 2011, 17:54
Eric UnseltIt's housed in a truly gargantuan Philadelphia Silverode case ...