Seth Thomas. Plymouth, Connecticut. Model No., 2 Pillar & Scroll. In a reeded case with an “Inside / Outside escapement.” This early clock was made circa 1816. 225039.
This is an exceptional and rare Pillar & Scroll shelf clock, one of only six known examples. It was previously unrecorded, with two examples discussed in a 1962 NAWCC Bulletin article by W. F. Pritchett and a third pictured in Tran Dui Ly’s American Clocks Vol. 3, page 143. Two more examples are known but have not been published.
This early iteration showcases unique features that distinguish it from later models. The full-length, reverse-painted glass tablet, flanked by reeded moldings, is an elegant and uncommon variation. The lower-profile scrollwork horns and shortened feet, all original to this clock, add to its unique charm.
The mahogany case features an older finish that is likely original to the clock. Amazingly, the feet, scrollwork horns, and returns are all original to this clock. Both horns have succumbed to shrinkage and have tilted back slightly. The case is surmounted by three brass urn-shaped finials. Reeded moldings flank the large door in the front of the case. This door is fitted with a single piece of glass that is visually divided into two sections by a reverse-painted gilt border. The glass painting, while old, is not original and depicts a neoclassical building set within a rural landscape. A clear opening in the painted sky to the right of the center allows a view of the brass-faced pendulum in motion. The upper section of the glass is painted in the manner in which the corners of the dial are usually decorated. Colorful fans are the predominant decorative feature.
The dial is wood. It features an Arabic time ring where the hour numerals are presented either upright or in a tumbled style. The quarter hours are marked on the interior minute ring. The minutes are marked with slashes. Brass hands depict the time. In the center of this dial is a view of a country village. The upper section of the dial features a circular opening that allows for viewing of the brass escape wheel. While in operation, it is an unusual and visually captivating feature.
The wooden geared movement is weight-driven and designed to run for thirty hours on a full wind. This clock strikes the hour on a cast iron bell mounted inside the case on the backboard. The back plate is solid, and the front plate features open straps. This model features a count wheel strike train, a unique feature that distinguishes it from the Model One, which was equipped with a rack and snail striking system.
This clock is a vital and exceptionally rare artifact of American horological development. Its originality, fine condition, and unique configuration make it a standout among the few surviving examples, connecting the collector to a significant part of American history.
This rare example was made circa 1816 and stands approximately 27.5 inches tall, 17.25 inches wide, and 4.5 inches deep.
Inventory number 225039.
Seth Thomas was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, in 1785. He was apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner and worked building houses and barns. He started in the clock business in 1807, working for clockmaker Eli Terry. Thomas formed a clock-making partnership in Plymouth, Connecticut, with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley as Terry, Thomas & Hoadley. In 1810, he bought Terry's clock business, making tall clocks with wooden movements. Seth chose to sell his shares in the partnership in 1812, moving in 1813 to Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, where he set up a factory to make metal-movement clocks. In 1817, he added shelf and mantel clocks. By the mid-1840s, He successfully transitioned to brass movements and expanded his operations by building a brass rolling mill and a cotton factory. In 1853, He incorporated the business but continued to be the majority shareholder. This clock business expanded until it became one of the "BIG Seven" in Connecticut. Their product line had offerings that competed at every price point, from kitchen clocks to precision regulators. Seth Thomas died in 1859. The community of Plymouth Hollow so revered him that they changed the name on July 6, 1875, to Thomaston in his honor. After his death, his son, Aaron, took over the company's leadership. Aaron is credited with increasing the business by adding a number of new case styles and improving production methods. The company went out of business in the 1980s.
