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Seth Thomas of Plymouth and later Thomaston, Connecticut.


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.

 

Clocks From This Maker

Seth Thomas "Regulator No. 7 long version." 223326. Delaney Antique Clocks.
  The No. 7 wall timepiece is a challenging model to find. It was initially offered in two case sizes, a short and an extended version. The movement varied depending on which version you purchased. The cases were constructed in either walnut,… read more
Seth Thomas. 30-day wall clock. The Hudson. 223160.
This Seth Thomas wall clock is cataloged as the “Hudson,” and it is a variant of their popular Office No. 11 model. The Hudson shares the same brass, thirty-day double-spring powered movement with a Graham dead-beat escapement, seconds display, and… read more
Seth Thomas “GALLERY 24-INCH.” This is the Big One. 223290.
This large oak case example can be difficult to find in excellent condition. This desirable model was made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company, offered in their catalogs as early as 1884, and is cataloged as the “GALLERY 24-INCH.” This is the largest… read more
Seth Thomas Regulator No. 2. This is an oak case example. 222062.
The Seth Thomas Model Number 2 has been a very popular clock since it was first made in the 1860s. This model has enjoyed a production run of over 100 years. Over this period, the Number 2 experienced several design changes. These included slightly… read more
The Seth Thomas Clock Company. The “Hotel.” 223090. Delaney Antique Clocks.
The Seth Thomas Clock Company made this fine mantel clock. It was offered in the 1900 catalog and called the “Hotel.” In today’s marketplace, it is a very difficult model to find. As a result, we have seen very few of these clocks for sale.  This… read more