057-C-0193

SETH THOMAS CITY CLOCK
INDEX # : 057-C-0193

circa: 1886-1904

CLOCK STYLE Parlor

CLOCK NAME Lincoln VP

MANUFACTURE

Seth Thomas Clock Co., Thomaston, Conn.

Seth Thomas (1785-1859)

CASE MODEL # N/A

MOVEMENT TYPE

ST 66, Brass, 8-day, weight driven, T&S, hour strike on cathedral gong, half dead beat escapement, brass T&S weights.

CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION Base = 17", Height = 27 ½", Depth = 5"

LABEL INFORMATION No label, original paper label missing?

DIAL INFORMATION

Zinc painted dial is 8 1/2" diameter, with Seth Thomas trademark imprinted on it, some flaking on dial. Black roman numerals (may have been touched up), 8" chapter ring.

MISC. FEATURES

Wood pendulum rod, brass weights and pulleys, door locks with winding key. Glass on front door is 19" x 9 1/2".

ACQUIRED FROM "Village Antiques" in Dublin, Ohio.

CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED Clock in running order, case in excellent condition.

RESTORATION February 1993 - Cleaned movement and case, set clock to running.

HISTORICAL DATA

Seth Thomas's Case Factory c. 1885 in Thomaston, Conn.
Seth Thomas (1785-1859) apprenticed to Eli Terry. He along with Silas Hoadley worked for Terry from around 1807-1810 making wood tall case movements. This was the point in history were the mass production of clock movements started. Terry contracted to make 4,000 movements in three years, a feat which had never been accomplished before. Terry had introduced a method of using interchangeable parts to make these movements, an idea he had gotten from Eli Whitney. After the contract was fulfilled, he sold the business to Thomas and Hoadley who continued manufacturing the wood tall case movements. Thomas eventually bought out Hoadley's interest in the business, and began producing shelf clocks with Eli Terry's patented wood 30 hour shelf clock movement. Seth Thomas had an elaborate career making wood and brass movement shelf clocks, and his company became the most well known name in the clock business. In 1853 his company became the Seth Thomas Clock Co., and operated under this name until 1931 when it became a division of General Time Instrument Co. (Seth Thomas's Great Grandson was chairman of the board until he died in 1932). In 1949, The company became a division of General Time Corp. In 1970, became a division of Tally Industries, who still produces clocks with the Seth Thomas Trademark. The town of Plymouth Hollow, Conn. changed it's name to Thomaston in 1866 to honor the clock maker.

One of two weight driven parlor regulators manufactured by Seth Thomas. The other was called "Garfield". Clock sold for $15.00 in 1886 Seth Thomas catalog.

REFERENCES 1. "Seth Thomas Clocks and Movements - A Guide to Identification and Prices". Tran Duy Ly 1985, page 37
2. "American Clocks - A Guide to Identification and Prices" by Tran Duy Ly, 1989, page 232, figure 844.
3. "Seth Thomas Clocks and Movements - A Guide to Identification and Prices" by Tran Duy Ly 1996, clock description on page 275, figure 1001, movement description on page 275, figure 1004.

NOTES The acquisition of this clock was one of those rare finds in a small antique shop. The clock was originally owned by a local resident who was retiring to Florida. She had this clock stored in her attic for 'years'.

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CLOCK STYLE	Parlor
CLOCK NAME	Lincoln VP
MANUFACTURE	Seth Thomas Clock Co., Thomaston, Conn. Seth Thomas (1785-1859)
CASE MODEL #	N/A
MOVEMENT TYPE	ST 66, Brass, 8-day, weight driven, T&S, hour strike on cathedral gong, half dead beat escapement, brass T&S weights.
CASE SIZE & CONSTRUCTION	Base = 17", Height = 27 ½", Depth = 5"
LABEL INFORMATION	No label, original paper label missing?
DIAL INFORMATION	Zinc painted dial is 8 1/2" diameter, with Seth Thomas trademark imprinted on it, some flaking on dial. Black roman numerals (may have been touched up), 8" chapter ring.
MISC. FEATURES	Wood pendulum rod, brass weights and pulleys, door locks with winding key. Glass on front door is 19" x 9 1/2".
ACQUIRED FROM	"Village Antiques" in Dublin, Ohio.
CONDITION WHEN ACQUIRED	Clock in running order, case in excellent condition.
RESTORATION	February 1993 - Cleaned movement and case, set clock to running.
HISTORICAL DATA Seth Thomas's Case Factory c. 1885 in Thomaston, Conn.	Seth Thomas (1785-1859) apprenticed to Eli Terry. He along with Silas Hoadley worked for Terry from around 1807-1810 making wood tall case movements. This was the point in history were the mass production of clock movements started. Terry contracted to make 4,000 movements in three years, a feat which had never been accomplished before. Terry had introduced a method of using interchangeable parts to make these movements, an idea he had gotten from Eli Whitney. After the contract was fulfilled, he sold the business to Thomas and Hoadley who continued manufacturing the wood tall case movements. Thomas eventually bought out Hoadley's interest in the business, and began producing shelf clocks with Eli Terry's patented wood 30 hour shelf clock movement. Seth Thomas had an elaborate career making wood and brass movement shelf clocks, and his company became the most well known name in the clock business. In 1853 his company became the Seth Thomas Clock Co., and operated under this name until 1931 when it became a division of General Time Instrument Co. (Seth Thomas's Great Grandson was chairman of the board until he died in 1932). In 1949, The company became a division of General Time Corp. In 1970, became a division of Tally Industries, who still produces clocks with the Seth Thomas Trademark. The town of Plymouth Hollow, Conn. changed it's name to Thomaston in 1866 to honor the clock maker. One of two weight driven parlor regulators manufactured by Seth Thomas. The other was called "Garfield". Clock sold for $15.00 in 1886 Seth Thomas catalog.
REFERENCES	1. "Seth Thomas Clocks and Movements - A Guide to Identification and Prices". Tran Duy Ly 1985, page 37 2. "American Clocks - A Guide to Identification and Prices" by Tran Duy Ly, 1989, page 232, figure 844. 3. "Seth Thomas Clocks and Movements - A Guide to Identification and Prices" by Tran Duy Ly 1996, clock description on page 275, figure 1001, movement description on page 275, figure 1004.
NOTES	The acquisition of this clock was one of those rare finds in a small antique shop. The clock was originally owned by a local resident who was retiring to Florida. She had this clock stored in her attic for 'years'.