Internet Horology Club 185
In Search Of Seth Thomas

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5656047761/m/3003965567

September 03, 2011, 19:57
Eric Unselt
In Search Of Seth Thomas
All nicely wrapped up in a Crescent case:


September 04, 2011, 07:40
Eric Unselt
An ad for the Grade 281:

Notice those miserable half-headed case screws?


September 04, 2011, 07:43
Eric Unselt
The 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 Unselt
Fronting 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 Unselt
The beautiful Wadsworth 20yr case was supplied by my friend Phil Sanchez:


September 04, 2011, 07:51
Eric Unselt
Any 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 Unselt
Backing that gorgeous dial is a pendant-set 15-jewel two-tone Grade 159:


September 04, 2011, 07:55
Eric Unselt
All wrapped up in another bezel-less internal thread gold-filled case:


September 04, 2011, 10:06
Eric Unselt
Here 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 Unselt
Paired with this Maiden Lane is the fabled Gothic dial:


September 04, 2011, 10:19
Eric Unselt
Protected by an excellent B&B case with a blank cartouche supplied by IHC185's own Rob Jones:


September 04, 2011, 10:45
Jerry King
Eric this is really a fantastic post....Thanks for all the work you have put in and I agree with Phil Eek, 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 Unselt
Thanks, Jerry Smile

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 Unselt
The movement is paired with this Roman 24-hour dial with open-kite hands:


September 04, 2011, 12:44
Eric Unselt
Fitted into a gorgeous white-gold Illinois case:


September 04, 2011, 12:48
Larry Buchan
Bravo 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 Unselt
Thanks, Larry Smile

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 Unselt
This 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. Smile


September 04, 2011, 17:49
Eric Unselt
It's another variant of the Grade 182. Notice the gilt "volcano" style plate screws:


September 04, 2011, 17:54
Eric Unselt
It's housed in a truly gargantuan Philadelphia Silverode case ...