Seth Thomas Private Label & Named Grade Pocket Watches
~ Browse the collection of Seth Thomas private label and named grade pocket watches alphabetically ~
or
~ Locate a specific Seth Thomas private label or named grade ~
Seth Thomas Private Label & Named Grade Pocket Watches
~ Browse the collection of Seth Thomas private label and named grade pocket watches alphabetically ~
or
~ Locate a specific Seth Thomas private label or named grade ~
Sentinel U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13. and 6-size Model 18.
Sentinel U.S.A.
G.E. Simanton’s Precision Watch is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 5.
G.E. Simanton’s Precision Watch
Special Motor Service is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 5.
In early 20th-century railroad parlance, the phrase “Special Motor Service” appears in transportation reporting and advertising to describe the use of motor vehicle conveyance to shuttle passengers to connecting rail lines when continuous track was not available. The extent to which this private label directly references such services remains under investigation.
New York Times - Sunday August 29, 1915.
By the 1910s, newspapers regularly reported on “motor truck” and “motor express” services operating in direct competition with railroads and to describe motor vehicle conveyance used in connection with rail service where direct rail continuity was not available. The terminology reflects a transitional period in which railroads and highway motor conveyance coexisted and overlapped in function.
While no direct documentation has yet been located linking the Seth Thomas “Special Motor Service” private label to a specific routing arrangement, contemporary reporting demonstrates that motor-truck transfer and intercity motor services were well established in railroad-adjacent operations during this period. However, without direct documentary evidence linking the private label to a specific routing arrangement or service, its precise reference remains uncertain.
Special Motor Service
J. F. Stewart - Albion, Ill. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 5. Based upon U.S. Census records, available genealogies, and death records; John Finley Stewart, born July 5, 1852, in Rutland Vermont, was later a dry goods merchant in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, where he died on January 4, 1946. The dry goods business was named J. F. Stewart in the 1800’s and later J. F. Stewart & Son.
I recently purchased the 20mm round aluminum trade token shown below that is marked “J. F. Stewart / Albion, Ill.”. It provides confirmation of the presence of a merchant with this name operating in Albion during the late 19th or early 20th century when this style of trade token was used. This is a link to view other J. F. Stewart Trade Tokens at the TokenCatolog.com website.
Albion Illinois is the county seat of Edwards County Illinois. The postcards below show The Pagoda built by the Women’s Beautifying Club of Albion in the county Courtyard Square. The Pagoda contains a mineral well and was used as a bandstand for concerts held every Saturday evening in the summer. The courthouse is behind The Pagoda in one 1913 photograph, and in the other 1910 photograph the 5th Street block where the J. F. Stewart & Son store was located until its closing in the early 2020’s is in the background.
There was also another Stewart’s Dry Goods [and Jewelry Store] in Albion run by Charles and Edwin Stewart (sons of Alexander Stewart) in the 1890’s; but that store and that Stewart family were not connected in any way to the J. F. Stewart inscribed on this Seth Thomas Model 5 pocket watch.
J. F. Stewart - Albion, Ill.
Stratford U.S.A.
Stratford U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 12, Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 13 and 6-size hunting Model 18.
The Stratford designation appears to have functioned as a J. M. Smyth Company house brand applied to Seth Thomas movements supplied for catalog sale. No surviving documentation currently links the name to a specific geographic origin. In the absence of such evidence, the most plausible explanation is that “Stratford” was selected for its marketing tone rather than geographic significance.
Talcott Bros. - Olympia W. is a private label (on the dial only) in Seth Thomas Model 3.
Charles R. Talcott (silversmith and jeweler) and George N. Talcott (silversmith and watchmaker) were the Talcott Bros working as Jewelers at 424-426 Main Street in Olympia Washington. According to newspaper advertisements their telephone number at that address was “3”. Their younger brother Lucius, also known as Grant, was involved in the business as the auditor. The Talcott Bros transitioned their father’s (Lucius L. Talcott’s) general store that included a jewelry line into their jewelry store that carried some non-jewelry goods.
Talcott Bros sold watches, diamonds, jewelry, clocks, silverware, cut glass, leather goods, guns and ammunition, cigars, tobacco, and pipes, soap, candies, gold pens, cutlery, novelties, sewing machines, sundries, umbrellas, and notary and lodge seals. They also repaired the same list of goods. The postcard photograph appearing below shows Main Street as it was in 1905. Main Street was renamed Capitol Way in the 1920’s.
The advertisement on the upper left appeared in The Washington Standard on Friday December 11, 1885, on page 3. The article in the top center appeared in The Washington Standard on Friday September 7, 1888, on page 3. The advertisement in the top right appeared in The Olympian on Thursday December 24, 1891, on page 4. The advertisement in the second-row center appeared in The Washington Standard on Friday April 6, 1917, on page 2. The advertisement in the second row right appeared in The Washington Standard on Friday September 13, 1912, on page 4. The advertisement on the bottom left appeared in The Washington Standard on Friday February 22, on page 8. The advertisement on the bottom right appeared in The Washington Standard on Friday March 8, 1918, on page 8.
Talcott Bros. - Olympia W. (Not in STFS Collection)
Tornado Watch Co. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13.
Toronado Watch Co.
EA 813C – Trainmens Special – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial Number TRAINMENS12A – 7 Jewels (Marked as 23) - Named Grade Century
EA 813C – Trainmens Special – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial Number TRAINMENS12B – 7 Jewels (Marked as 17) - Named Grade Century
EA 814A – Trainmens Special – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial Number TRAINMENS13A – 7 Jewels (Marked as17) - Named Grade Century
Trainmens Special is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 12 and Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 13 manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their catalog. You can see the Trainmens Special advertisement in the lower right-hand corner of the Sears Catalog page shown below.
Trainmens Special
In the Sears, Roebuck & Company 1904 Spring Catalog No 113Y the 18-size 7-Jewel open-face Model 12 Edgemere, the 17-Jewel Model 9 Edgemere, the 12-Jewel open-face Model 8 Edgemere pocket watch movements, and the 7-Jewel Model 12 private label trading watch Trainmens Special manufactured by Seth Thomas debuted.
Tribune is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-sizeModel 12 and Model 13.
Tribune (Not in STFS Collection)
Seth Thomas Private Label & Named Grade Pocket Watches
~ Browse the collection of Seth Thomas private label and named grade pocket watches alphabetically ~
or
~ Locate a specific Seth Thomas private label or named grade ~