Seth Thomas Private Labels A-C Browse | Pocket Watch Research Records

M. J. Abbott - Forest Grove, OR. is a private label pocket watch line manufactured by Seth Thomas and identified by Roy Ehrhardt in his Identification and Price Guide to American Pocket Watches from Beginning to End.

Mayne (Maynard) James Abbott was a jeweler and optician in Forest Grove Oregon from 1900 through the 1930’s.

The postcard photograph shows the Forest Grove Main Street business district during the time that M. J. Abbott had his store on Pacific Avenue. Both advertisements inform us that his store was on Pacific Avenue in Forest Grove. The top advertisement also mentions the location “Paterson Block”.

The top advertisement appeared in the Oregon News in 1910, and the bottom advertisement appeared in the Forest Grove Express in 1916.

M. J. Abbott - Forest Grove, OR. (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 803-823 – M. J. Abbott - Forest Grove, OR. – X-size – Model X – Serial# X – X Jewels - Grade X

EA 821 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 992077 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 822 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 24 – Serial# 3058075 – 7 Jewels - Grade 322

EA 821 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 4013768 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Adonis U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 18 and Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24.

The Pocket Watch Database reports that Seth Thomas produced Adonis U.S.A. pocket watches for the Illinois Watch Case Company.

Adonis U.S.A.

EA 821 – Adonis U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 991674 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

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American Best is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 5, manufactured for Siegel Brothers Jewelers in Boston Massachusetts U.S.A.

In his “1980 Price Indicator” Roy Ehrhardt illustrated that the Siegel Bros. commissioned Seth Thomas to produce three different private label pocket watch lines with their name marked on the movements. The photos in this posting are of my recently acquired example of “The King”. Illustrations from the “1980 Price Indicator” of Siegel Bros. “The King”, “American Best” and “Workingman’s Friend” are also included in this post.

The 1908 Boston Massachusetts City Directory identifies Eli and George Siegel as the “Siegel Bros.” jewelers at 387 Washington Street in Boston. Their business is also identified as Washington Jewelry Co. in other period documents. The Siegel Brothers must have known Dan’l Pratt’s Son, Daniel F. Pratt, because his store was located at 335 Washington Street. In one of the photographs, you can see the address on the marquis of a blueprint maker, 345 Washington Street.

American Best (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 810 – American Best – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number X – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# ATHABASCA12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# ATHABASCA12B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# ATHABASCA12C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 821 – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 3252188 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 821 – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 3252273 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Athabasca is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 12, and 6-size hunting Model 18. Despite much rich history connected to the Athabasca region it has not yet been possible to connect this private label to any specific wholesale, retail, manufacturing, service, private, or governmental entity.

There was at least one other manufacturer producing the Athabasca private label. The Non-Seth Thomas Athabasca pocket watch shown below was Swiss-made.

Athabasca

EA 813C – Athabasca Made in U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# 1050460 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 820 – Banner – 6-size – Model 16 – Serial# 176044 – 11 Jewels - Grade 105

EA 811 – Banner – 18-size – Model 6 – Serial# 591028 – 11 Jewels - Grade 106

EA 811 – Banner – 18-size – Model 6 – Serial# 593803 – 11 Jewels - Grade 106

Banner is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 6, Model 7, and Model 16 possibly manufactured for Lapp & Flershem of Chicago, Illinois who used "Banner" as a trade name for their house brand of watch parts.

Banner

EA 820 – Banner – 6-size – Model 16 – Serial# 161507 – 11 Jewels - Grade 105

Photographs courtesy of eBay seller kimscollectablez. Compiled from images supplied with the August 2026 eBay listing.

H. A. Belknap – St. Johnsbury, VT. is a private label pocket watch in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 5 with 17 jewels, a micrometric regulator, and it is adjusted. The movement is grade 182. Link to eBay Photographs

Harry Arthur Belknap, born on January 24, 1870, in St. Johnsbury Vermont, was a jeweler at 80 Railroad Street (renumbered to 430 Railroad Street in the mid-1900’s) in St. Johnsbury Vermont from 1890 until his death on November 3, 1902, at the age of 32. Mr. Belknap had become married to Maud Louisa Foan on September 18, 1901.

The postcard photographs below show Railroad Street at the time when H. A. Belknap operated his jewelry store there. In the first photograph the building on the left side of the street with the conical roof is on the corner of Railroad Street and Eastern Avenue. 80 Railroad Street (presently 430 Railroad Street) is farther down on the right-hand side of the street, approximately where the farthest horse-drawn carriage is visible. In 2025 the building was home to the “Artisans Guild” emporiums, and the local Verizon Store.

The block-wide building shown on the right-hand side of the street in the second postcard photograph was on the corner of Eastern Avenue and was known as the Citizen’s Bank Block. Its street number was 43 Railroad Street, the location of C. E. Simanton’s Jewelry Store. It is directly across the street from the building with the conical roof shown in the first postcard photograph. The Citizen’s Bank Block was rebuilt in 1909 after devastating fire and it was renumbered as 364 Railroad Street in the mid-twentieth century when the street underwent a major renumbering.

The newspaper clippings above are organized chronologically.

The top-left advertisement appeared in The St. Johnsbury Caledonian on Thursday February 27, 1890, on page 1. The top-center advertisement appeared in The St. Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday November 13, 1895, on page 3. The top-right advertisement appeared in The St. Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday October 2, 1895, on page 2.

The middle-left advertisement appeared in The St. Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday December 29, 1897, on page 6. The middle-center advertisement also appeared in The St. Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday December 29, 1897, on page 6. The middle-right advertisement appeared in The St. Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday May 17, 1899, on page 8.

The bottom-left advertisement appeared in The St. Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday January 3, 1900, on page 8. The bottom-center advertisement appeared in the Saint Johnsbury Republican on Wednesday July 20, 1898, on page 1. The bottom-right article appeared in The St. Johnsbury Caledonian on Wednesday September 25, 1901, on page 4.

H. A. Belknap – St. Johnsbury, VT. (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 810 – H. A. Belknap – St. Johnsbury, VT. – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number 206605 – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

This 1905 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 5 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished full plate, 15 jewels, and it is adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a Breguet hair spring, and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 214065, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 159. The movement is signed Geo. E. Bemis - Charlemont, Mass.

The movement presents with an 18-size Geo. E. Bemis - Charlemont, Mass. Arabic private label dial with a ring minute track and red five-minute marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.

Geo. E. Bemis - Charlemont, Mass. is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 5. George Ezra Bemis (October 23, 1855 – March 11, 1935) was a jeweler in Charlemont, Massachusetts for more than forty-five years until his retirement in 1930 at the age of 75. Mr. Bemis served as Town Clerk of Charlemont for fifteen years and was very active socially in community affairs.

The movement is not presently cased.

The postcard photographs below show Main Street in Charlemont, Massachusetts as it was in the early 1900’s.

This obituary appeared in the North Adams Transcript on Wednesday March 13, 1935, on page 3.

Geo. E. Bemis - Charlemont, Mass.

EA 810 – Geo. E. Bemis - Charlemont, Mass. – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial# 214065 – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

EA 822 – Bennett Mfg Co. New York – 6-size – Model 24 – Serial# 3053918 – 7 Jewels - Grade 322

Bennett Mfg Co is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24.

Advertisements from The New-York Tribune (1911–1915) confirm that Bennett Mfg. Co., 175 Broadway, New York, was actively marketing pocket watches during the production window of Seth Thomas Model 24. While no advertisement has yet been located specifically naming a Seth Thomas-manufactured private label, the documented commercial activity establishes Bennett Mfg. Co. as a contemporary watch retailer or jobber operating during the relevant period.

The postcard photographs below show lower Broadway where Bennett Mfg Co. was located as it was in 1905 and 1910.

These advertisements are from the New-York Tribune. The top-left advertisement appeared on Sunday December 10, 1911, on page 52. The top-right advertisement appeared on Sunday December 15, 1912, on page 13. The bottom-right advertisement appeared on Sunday March 29, 1914, on page 39. The large advertisement at the bottom appeared on Sunday December 12, 1915, on page 53 and mentions Bennett Mfg Co’s “Factory to Pocket” plan for watch purchases.

Bennett Mfg Co. New York

EA 822 – Bennett Mfg Co. New York – 6-size – Model 24 – Serial# 3053828 – 7 Jewels - Grade 322

J. M. Bigwood - Terre Haute, Ind. (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 818 – J. M. Bigwood - Terre Haute, Ind. – 6-size – Model 14 – Serial# 122334 – 7 Jewels - Grade 46 (Observed on eBay)

EA 806 – J. M. Bigwood - Terre Haute, Ind. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 94214 – 15 Jewels - Grade 197 Observed on the PWD

J. M. Bigwood - Terre Haute, Ind. is a private label pocket watch in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 2 and Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 14. Observed on the PWD

John M. Bigwood, born January 20, 1856, in Robinson Illinois, was a jeweler and optician in Terre Haute Indiana from the 1880’s until his retirement in the 1920’s. He started out working for others, then had his own store, Bigwood’s Jewelry Store, and then was joined by his son in J. M. Bigwood & Son. John Bigwood died on December 28, 1933, at 77 years of age.

The postcard photographs below show the Terre Haute business district as it was at the turn of the 20th century.

Postcard photo showing Wabash Avenue looking east from 8th Street in Terre Haute Indiana.

Postcard photo showing a group of men alongside of an Ox Cart on the Street in Terre Haute Indiana. An old man in the foreground is holding a dog on a leash in one hand and an ox whip in the other.

Postcard photo showing Wabash Avenue east of 6th Street in Terre Haute Indiana.

The advertisement at the top appeared in The Effingham Democrat on Friday August 19, 1892, on page 15. Bigwood’s Jewelry Store only appears at the bottom explaining the prizes are at Bigwood’s Jewelry Store.

The article at the bottom appeared in the South Bend News-Times on Thursday December 4, 1913, on page 11.

EA 806 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 86422 – 11 Jewels - Grade 156

EA 806 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 86441 – 11 Jewels - Grade 156

EA 807 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 87814 – 11 Jewels - Grade 155

Bismark U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 2 and Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 3.

Bismark

EA 806 – Bismark – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 86401 – 11 Jewels - Grade 156

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T. Blackburn - Jeweller - Belleville, Ont. is a private label pocket in Seth Thomas Model 5.

Tetley “Dexter” Blackburn, born September 5, 1867, was a jeweler in Belleville, Ontario Canada from the 1890’s through the 1920’s. He lived at 51 Highland Avenue with his second wife and the children from his late first wife. Tetley “Dexter” Blackburn died from a heart attack on November 23, 1925.

The postcard photographs below show what Belleville looked like in the very early 1900’s.

The advertisement at the top appeared in The Toronto Star on Thursday June 5, 1919, on page 17. The article at the bottom appeared in The Globe and Mail on Saturday August 20, 1921, on page 22.

T. Blackburn - Jeweller - Belleville, Ont. (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 810 – T. Blackburn - Jeweller - Belleville, Ont. – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial# XXXXXX – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb. is the first known private label pocket watch line contracted in Seth Thomas Model 1.

Alexander S. Bleyer, born in Austria in 1847, is known to have been a jeweler in Central City Nebraska in the 1870’s and 1880’s. He lived at 94 Lone Tree Lane with his wife, Betty, and their six children. Lone Tree was the name of Central City Nebraska until it was changed in 1875. Records of Alexander Bleyer beyond the 1880’s have not been found at this time. See Wolf’s Nebraska Gazetteer 1879; 1880 US Census for the Town of Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska; and 1885 Nebraska State Census. The postcard photograph below shows what Central City looked like in the early 1900’s.

This advertisement appeared in The Nonpareil on Thursday March 20, 1884, on page 4.

A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb.

EA 805 – A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb. – 18-size – Model 1 – Serial# 4510 – 11 Jewels - Grade 44

EA 807 – John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 16807 – 11 Jewels - Grade 55

John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 3.

John Mathias Bonnet was a clockmaker and jeweler in Zanesville Ohio. The 1850 United States Census shows that he was 37 years old, born in Germany in 1813, and that he had a wife, Barbara, and five children including John M. Bonnet, jr. A January 3, 1883, Probate Record shows that John M. Bonnet died and left his jewelry business at 156 Main Street to his three sons John, jr., Albert, and Samuel. He would have died in late 1882 for this record to have been created so early in 1883. The 1907 Zanesville Ohio city directory shows John M. Bonnet, a jeweler, residing with his wife Helina, at 425 Locust Avenue. Newspaper reports document that John M. Bonnet’s wife became ill in the summer of 1908 and died that November. John Bonnet also fell into poor health and was moved to be with family in Baltimore where he died on September 28, 1909.

The postcard photographs below show Main Street in Zanesville Ohio, the street where John M. Bonnet’s Store was located.

All published in The Zanesville Signal, the top left article appeared on Saturday September 12, 1896, on page 8, the bottom left advertisement appeared on Monday March 29, 1897, on page 8, the article on the right appeared on Wednesday September 29, 1909, on page 8.

John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

EA 807 – John M. Bonnet ZANESVILLE, OHIO – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 14286 – 11 Jewels - Grade 55

J. M. Bostwick PORT WASHINGTON, WI

EA 809 - J. M. Bostwick PORT WASHINGTON, WI - 18-size - Model 4 - Serial# 51906 - 7 Jewels - Grade 11

John Martin Bostwick and John Martin Bostwick, jr were the jewelers and proprietors of John M. Bostwick & Son, the oldest business house in the City of Port Washington Wisconsin from 1870 through 1933.

In 1888 J. M. Bostwick, sr. opened the Wisconsin Chair Company which eventually provided half of Port Washington’s jobs, which led to a surge almost doubling the city’s population. In 1899 the Wisconsin Chair Company caught fire and created a conflagration that burned down half of Port Washington. The business was insured and rebuilt an even larger factory in a location with direct access to the railroad.

The pocket watch movement has what could appear to be an after-market engraving "J. M. Bostwick Port Washington Wis". It should still be considered a true private label because if the Seth Thomas Watch Company didn’t actually perform the private label engraving, they certainly participated by leaving their own standard movement markings off of the movement.

An obituary for John Martin Bostwick, jr., who pre-deceased his father read: “He died at age 60. John was the son of J.M. Bostwick, Sr, President of the Wisconsin Chair Company. He was born in Port Washington. He took jewelry and engraving and had been proprietor of the J.M. Bostwick Jewelry Company for 35 years. He is survived by his wife Daisy, his father, a brother Ed, five sisters, Mrs Nellie Ramsey, Mrs Otto Pfeil, Mrs Ione Fairbands, Mrs Allen Cady, Mrs Harry Henery.”

E.G. Bowyer ALGONA, IOWA, KOSSUTH is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 2.

Elbert Green Bowyer (9/10/1857 - 1/9/1925) was a jeweler and optician in the city of Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa from 1878 through at least 1915. Reports also indicate that he was some sort of official to whom deaths were reported in order to validate life insurance claims. The postcards below show Algona during the time when E. G. Bowyer was a jeweler there.

This advertisement appeared in the Algona Courier on Friday March 20, 1896, on page 5.

E.G. Bowyer ALGONA, IOWA. KOSSUTH

EA 806 – E.G. Bowyer ALGONA, IOWA, KOSSUTH – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 73706–7 Jewels - Grade 56

EA 806 – Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 506156 – 15 Jewels - Grade 71

“Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA.” is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 2.

Robert George Brumer (1860-1946) and Gustave Adolph Brumer (1865-1954), born in Pekin Illinois, were the Brumer Bros, jewelers and watchmakers in the late 1800’s through early 1900’s at 214 5th Avenue in Clinton Iowa. The next generation of family members continued the business under the name Brumer Jewelers, eventually moving the store to 2nd Street near Boegel’s Menswear. The photographs below show the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Second Street in approximately 1910 and the 1930’s.

The top-center article appeared in the Seatle Union Record on Saturday September 19, 1903, on page 8. The bottom article appeared in The Dispatch on Monday July 31, 1911, on page 4. The advertisement at the bottom was found by chance in the 1918 or 1919 Henry Paulson & Co. catalog on page 18. It was actually part of an advertisement for Henry Paulson Co.’s pre-made advertisements. You can see at the top that the order form is attached. It was great luck to find that the example used was Brumer Bros.

Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA.

EA 806 – Brumer Bros. Clinton, IA. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 504190 – 15 Jewels - Grade 171

“E. I. Camm - Monmouth, Ill.” is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 2.

Edward Irving Camm was born on January 27, 1852, in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. He moved to Monmouth, Illinois in 1870. He was married to Harriet Richardson in 1876 and was a watchmaker and jeweler there from 1878 until approximately 1905. The 1903 Monmouth City Directory reports that his store was at 100 South Main Street and his home was at 314 South B Street, only a couple of blocks from the store. The store had previously been the location of the first National Banks in Monmouth, a very secure location for a jeweler to acquire. In approximately 1905 he moved to Petaluma, California where, after a short time of working of a painter, he resumed his career as a jeweler and his son eventually joined him in the business. Edward Irving Camm died on January 11, 1935. The 1910 postcard photograph below shows the location where the store had been on the right-hand corner of the street. The Monmouth Trust and Savings (see news article below) had taken over the building upon Mr. Camm’s departure.

The very-top-center advertisement appeared in the Monmouth Review on Friday December 20, 1878, on page 3. The top-left advertisement appeared in the Warren County Democrat on Thursday November 3, 1887, on page 8. The 2nd-top-center advertisement appeared in the Monmouth Review on Friday January 6, 1888, on page 2. The top-right article appeared in the Warren County Democrat on Thursday December 29, 1904, on page 1. The bottom-left advertisement appeared in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on Wednesday October 16, 1907, on page 2. The bottom-center article appeared in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on Monday January 23, 1905. The bottom-right article appeared in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on Saturday July 26, 1924, on page 8.

E. I. Camm - Monmouth, Ill.

EA 806 – E. I. Camm - Monmouth, Ill. – 18-size – Model 2 – Serial# 73604 – 11 Jewels - Grade 56

EA 816 – Centennial – 12-size – Pendant Model 22 – Serial# 3277689 – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Centennial

EA 822 – Centennial – 6-size – Pendant Model 24 – Serial# 3052795 – 15 Jewels - Centennial Grade 322

Centennial is a Seth Thomas Factory Named Grade encompassing Model 21, Model 22, and Model 24.

Centennial (Factory Named Grade)

EA 815 – Centennial – 16-size – Pendant Model 21 – Serial Number 1322579 – 7 Jewels - Centennial Grade 332

In the summer of 1913 the Seth Thomas Clock Company issued Centennial Medals to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the original founding of the company in 1813. The medals were designed by Seth Thomas jr., the great-grandson of the founder of the Seth Thomas Clock Company. The Centennial Medals were two and one half inches (2 1/2”) in diameter, struck in bronze with a gold finish. The obverse displays a portrait of Seth Thomas, in relief. Around the edge it reads “To Commemorate The 100th Year of Seth Thomas Clock Co”. At the sides of the portrait “ Seth Thomas” and “1785-1859” is inscribed. On the reverse there is a figure representing Father Time holding a pendulum in his right hand swinging over a scale marked 1813 - 1913. The pendulum ball bears the Seth Thomas trade mark. In Father Time’s left hand is a scythe. To his right is an hourglass.

Later that year on September 1st of 1913 the Seth Thomas Clock Company released its Catalog No. 701 “Seth Thomas Watch Movements”. Catalog No. 701 was also marked as the “Centennial Edition” Trade Price List.

Within the 1913 Centennial Edition Trade Price List Seth Thomas introduced “Seth Thomas ‘Centennial’ Open-Face Watches”, 7-jewel high grade movements in three sizes. All of the movements were pendant set, utilized the Breguet hairspring, and came cased and timed from the factory.

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 814 – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 11 – STF Serial# CENTURY11D – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial Number CENTURY12C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 814A – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# 173701 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 821 – Century U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 983024 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 822 – Century U.S.A. – 6-size – Pendant Model 24 – Serial# 3071734 – 7 Jewels - Grade 320

It has been reported to me that my imagery of this watch has been placed on another Seth Thomas pocket watch website in violation of copyright law.

Century U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, and Model 13, and 6-size hunting Model 18 and 6-size open-face Model 24. Access the Seth Thomas Photo Album by Model Number to see more Century U.S.A. pocket watches.

Century (Factory Named Grade) - Century U.S.A. Private Label

EA 813– Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – STF Serial# CENTURY10B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

In the Sears, Roebuck & Company 1896 Spring Catalog No 102 Seth Thomas pocket watches were not a big story. There were no images of Seth Thomas movements or dials. They were included in the list of choices for watch movements to fill the advertised watch cases as the low-end seven jewel option. It wasn’t until the 1898 Fall Catalog No 107 (shown below) that images of Seth Thomas movements were on display in the Chicago, Illinois-based Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog. The first images included two seven-jewel Model 10 private labels, Pan-American and Century U.S.A., both lauded for their reliability. The Century movement and glitzy case combination was marketed as a “Trading Watch”; before that definition included the installation of fake jewels covering the pivots on the top plate, and false movement markings claiming 17, 21, or 23 jewels and that the movement was adjusted.

Century movements were phased out of the Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog product line starting in the Fall of 1901 with the introduction of the Edgemere line; and Century was gone in the 1902 Fall catalog. Century movements were then seen for sale in the catalogs of A.C. Becken, Brooks Optical, Butler Brothers of New York, N. Shure Company, John M. Smyth Company, Holsman & Alter, Lapp & Flershem, Moore & Evans, W.H. Lasselle, and Otto Young & Co.

For an explanation of the research methodology related to Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers stamped on non-numbered Seth Thomas Century movements, see the FAT# Research Page.

Century U.S.A. with Locomotive Dial is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12.

Century U.S.A. with Locomotive Dial

EA 813C – Century U.S.A. Trading Watch – 18-size – Model 12 – 1159720 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

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EA 813C – Century U.S.A. Trading Watch – 18-size – Model 12 – 1296754 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 810 – Chautauqua – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number 229391 – 15 Jewels - Grade 159

Chautauqua is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5 and 6-size Model 14.

Chautauqua, coming from the Iroquois language, describes the narrowing shape of the water in an area of the local region’s Chautauqua Lake in southwest New York state. It correspondingly carries the meaning of the place where fish are taken.

The Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 on Chautauqua Lake as a training camp for Sunday school teachers, which evolved into a famous adult education and cultural movement. The Chautauqua movement through traveling tents brought music, lectures, and community learning to thousands of small American towns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Chautauqua Association of Swarthmore Pennsylvania was a specific traveling circuit that brought educational programs, music, and theatrical entertainment to communities across the eastern United States until it dissolved around 1930. A rare pocket watch fob manufactured by the Whitehead & Hoag Company is show below. Also shown below are attendee’s buttons from the 1905 Marshalltown, Iowa Chautauqua Conference and the 1907 Oakland, California Chautauqua Conference.

The Iroquois name Chautaqua, associated with social and cultural excellence in the United States, also found itself attached to the premium products distributed by the mammoth Buffalo New York based retail distributor, the Larkin Soap Company.

Top: Watch fob - The Chautauqua Association of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Left: Attendee’s button from Marshalltown, Iowa Chatauqua Conference - August 12-20, 1905

Right: Attendee’s button from Oakland, California Chautauqua Conference - August 17-25, 1907

The Larkin Soap Company offered premium products that could be obtained by redeeming “Larkin Premiums” which were earned by purchasing standard Larkin merchandise and/or organizing local Larkin purchasing clubs as a “Larkin Secretary”. The premium products included tableware, tea sets, jewelry, watches, clocks, lamps, furniture, suitcases, washing machines, books, beds, cribs, musical instruments, and many other items. The most refined and desirable version of many products carried the branding “Chautauqua”.

Below you can see a few mailer and catalog offerings of Larkin Soap Company Premiums. Seth Thomas pocket watches and clocks were illustrated in many of the mailers and catalogs documenting an ongoing, well-established working relationship between the Larkin Soap Company and the Seth Thomas Clock Company.

Based on documented use of “Chautauqua” branding for premium-tier goods, and the established inclusion of Seth Thomas pocket watches among Larkin premium offerings, it is reasonable to consider the possibility that the Seth Thomas Chautauqua-branded pocket watch may have been distributed within the Larkin premium system. However, no direct documentation has yet been identified linking this specific watch model to a confirmed Larkin premium offering.

Chautauqua

Geo. E. Clark

EA 818 – Geo. E. Clark – 6-size – Model 14 – Serial# 108825 – 7 Jewels - Grade 46

This 1890 Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 14 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished divide plate, 7 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and plain/simple regulator. Its serial number is 108825, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 46. The movement was manufactured with a female winding port, and is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.

The movement presents with a 6-size Geo. E. Clark private label single-sunk Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas blued Open Morning Glory hands 6-size.

Geo. E. Clark is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 14.

The movement is not presently cased.

J. J. Clemmer - Cresco, Iowa is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 3.

Jacob Jefferson Clemmer was a medical doctor and drug store owner in Cresco, Iowa from 1866 until his death in 1901. Please see the article and long advertisement (split) from The Times – Plain Dealer below.

J. J. Clemmer - Cresco, Iowa

EA 807 – J. J. Clemmer - Cresco, Iowa – 18-size – Model 3 – Serial# 73283 – 15 Jewels - Grade 170

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EA 814 – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 11 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

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EA 813C – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial# COLONIAL12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 814A – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

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Colonial U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, and Model 13.

Colonial U.S.A.

EA 813 – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial# NONE – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

This image is a placeholder as the images of the watch are not yet available.

Otto T. C. Colonius - St. Louis, MO. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 2.

Otto Theodore C. Colonius, born in March 1860, was jeweler on North Market Street and later at his Union Jewelry Store on North 15th Street in St. Louis, Missouri from approximately 1882 when the St. Louis City Directory reported his occupation to be such, until approximately 1895 when the City Directory showed his occupation to be a bookkeeper. An 1890 advertisement describes his merchandise as watches, clocks, jewelry, silverware, and spectacles. He was also a special agent for the Standard & Household sewing machines. The 1880 US Census showed his occupation to be a grocery clerk; so that narrows his time as a jeweler and watchmaker to about 13 to 15 years. Otto Colonius died in 1938, at the age of 78.

The stereo-view images below show the Broadway business district, and Forest Park in St. Louis Missouri around the turn of the 20th Century.

This article appeared in the Abend-Anzeiger on Thursday October 23, 1890, on page 9.

Otto T. C. Colonius - St. Louis, MO. - (Not in STFS Collection)

EA 806 – Otto T. C. Colonius - St. Louis, MO. – 18-size – Model 2 – 7 Jewels - Grade 34

Compilation photo strip showing the cased movement front view, a full diameter view of the dial, a full diameter view of the top plate, a full diameter view of the manufacturer’s signature inside the back cover, the cased movement from the back.

It has been reported to me that my imagery of this watch has been placed on another Seth Thomas pocket watch website in violation of copyright law.

This 1899 Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 15 pocket watch was manufactured with a two-tone finished 3/4 plate, 7 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and plain/simple regulator. Its serial number is 154690, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 5. The movement is signed Columbia New York.

The movement presents with a 6-size "S&N" private label Arabic dial with ring minute track and no marginals; fitted with Seth Thomas #1271 Spade Blue Hands - 6-size.

Columbia New York is an extremely rare private label appearing in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 15 and Model 16.

Despite much rich history connected to the New York and Columbia names it has not yet been possible to connect this private label to any specific wholesale, retail, manufacturing, service, private, or governmental entity.

EA 820 – Columbia New York – 6-size – Model 16 – Serial# X – 7 Jewels - Grade 35

Columbia New York - with S & N signature on the dial

EA 819 – Columbia New York – 6-size – Model 15 – Serial# 154690 – 7 Jewels - Grade 5

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# CORONA12C – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# CORONA12E – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

EA 814A– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# CORONA13B – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

EA 814A– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# CORONA13C – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

EA 814A– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# CORONA13A – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12 and Model 13.

Trade Marks – Watch Cases, Pocket Watches, and Precious Stones by Roy Ehrhardt identifies “Corona Watch Co., New York” as a trademark for “R. R. Fogel Co. – Retail” with watches manufactured by the Seth Thomas Watch Company.

The 1889 edition of the “New York City Directory” R.R. Fogel & Co. operated as the jewelry business of Ruben R. Fogel at 401 Broadway in New York City. Ruben R. Fogel lived at 143 E. 15th Street.

The 1910 United States Census reports that Ruben R. Fogel was a 40-year-old male jeweler, living at 157 Fort Washington Avenue in New York City. According to the 1912 edition of the “New York City Directory” R.R. Fogel & Co. operated as the jewelry business of Ruben R. Fogel at 177 Broadway on the corner of Maiden Lane (the center of the jewelry district) in New York City. This intersection is the focus of the 1905 postcard shown below.

New York City Death Certificate # 26811 indicates that Ruben R. Fogel died on November 30, 1927, in Manhattan New York.

A December 27, 1927 article in the New York Times disclosed that Ruben Robert Fogel had left the bulk of two-million dollars to the orphanage that had sheltered him as a child.

Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A.

EA 813 – Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial# CORONA10B – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

EA 813C– Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial# CORONA12A – 7 Jewels - Named Grade Century

This movement is also a specimen in the Non-Number Century -Grade Movements research project exploring the presence of Factory Assigned Tracking Numbers (FAT#’s) stamped on the pillar plate, back of top plate, underside of the balance bridge, and on the winding bridge of these movements.

Cosmopolitan is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5. The movement is marked “The Accurate Timer” - “Cosmopolitan Watch Co. - U.S.A.” The dial is signed Morris Feinberg - Ironwood, Mich.

Morris Feinberg (1879-1929) immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1893. He was a watchmaker and jeweler with a shop located at 224 Suffolk Street in Ironwood Michigan. His business partner was Raphael Sloan. The shop at 224 Suffolk Street is in the first building on the right-hand side of the 1910 photograph below. A 1904 City Directory reports that his shop was also located at 112 Ellison Street in Ironwood. There is an excellent story by Steven Heifetz on Page 12 of the Daily Globe History Project, March 20, 2018 edition describing the experience of Morris Feinberg and other 1890’s Eastern European immigrants settling in Ironwood Michigan.

Roy Ehrhardt’s “Identification and Price Guide” reports that the Cosmopolitan Watch Co. movements were also produced by Illinois Watch Company.

Cosmopolitan Watch Co. - The Accurate Timer

EA 810 – Cosmopolitan – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number 225459 – 17 Jewels - Grade 182

EA 821 – Countess Janet – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 966625 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

Countess Janet is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 18 manufactured for Chicago, Illinois-based Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their mail order catalog.

Countess Janet

EA 821 – Countess Janet – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 962426 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

In the Sears, Roebuck & Company 1905 Catalog No 115 and 1907 Spring and Fall Catalogs the Seth Thomas private label pocket watch, Countess Janet, was advertised. The Countess Janet movements were marketed as a “Trading Watch” in the way that we use that term today to describe 7-jewel movements that utilized fake jewels covering the pivots on the top plate, and false movement markings claiming 17, 21, or 23 jewels and that the movement was adjusted.

Bosell Couri, Biddeford, ME. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5.

The combined information from the 1900 U.S. Census, the 1905 Death Record of Bosell Couri, and the Portland Maine City Directory tells us that after emigrating from Syria; Bosell Couri was a jeweler in Portland Maine until his death in 1905 at age 31. He was a jeweler with a close family member, probably a brother, Bshara G. Couri, with whom he shared a residence, and who continued to be a jeweler after the death of Bosell Couri.

There are pocket watches with locomotives on their dials bearing the signature “B. G. Couri Special” that were produced for his brother Bshara by other watch manufacturers. The first postcard below shows Soldiers’ Monument in downtown Portland Maine in 1905, the year of Bosell Couri’s death. The second postcard shows Congress Steet in Portland Maine in the early 1900’s.

Bosell Couri, Biddeford, ME.

EA 810 – Bosell Couri – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial# 225562 – 15 Jewels - Grade 159

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Cowell & Hubbard is a private label in the Seth Thomas 18-size Model 8 Companion travel timepiece.

Cowell & Hubbard Company was a jewelry store in Cleveland Ohio that was founded in 1861. It presently has 10 branch stores in Ohio; but the Cleveland store had to be closed because it was in a high-risk area. There is a November 1, 1891, Cowell & Hubbard advertisement shown below from the Leader and Herald, Sunday edition. The photograph below shows the Cowell & Hubbard Company store in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cowell & Hubbard Co.

EA 811A – Cowell & Hubbard– 18-size – Model 8 Companion – Serial# 846425 – 7 Jewels - Grade 36

This 1914 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 8 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished 3/4 plate, 7 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and pendant set, with a Breguet hair spring, and plain/simple regulator. Its serial number is 2567940, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 36. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.

The movement presents with an 18-size “C. Cowles & Co. - New Haven, CT.” private label Arabic heavy railroad dial with a ring minute track and no marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas #1282 blued spade railroad hands 18-size.

“C. Cowles & Co. - New Haven, CT.” is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 8 on the dial only. C. Cowles & Company was established in 1838 as a manufacturer of lanterns, and hardware for horse-drawn carriages in New Haven Connecticut. Over the years they made various types of bicycles, tricycles, and baby carriages and accessories for horse-drawn carriages. Given the evidence presented on the Coach & Carriage Timepieces page it seems very possible that this pocket watch was meant for use on a horse-drawn carriage or bicycle in a watch holder manufactured by C. Cowles & Company.

C. Cowles & Company also contracted the New England Watch Company to manufacture private label pocket watches which also utilized heavy railroad dials and hands and incorporated a conversion dial placing a special pendant at the 6:00 o’clock position as we have seen in other specialized travel and transportation timepieces from that era.

C. Cowles & Company is presently a major manufacturer located in North Haven Connecticut. The company is now split into three divisions: Carlin Combustion Technologies, Hydrolevel Company, and Cowles Products.

The movement is cased in an 18-size Illinois Watch Case Company open-face nickel pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 684639.

The postcard photographs below show downtown New Haven Connecticut just after the turn of the 20th century.

All advertisements and articles appeared in The Morning Journal-Courier.

Top left on Friday September 17, 1886, on page 4. Top second from left on Thursday July 22, 1886, on page 4. Top second from right on Friday June 17, 1887, on page 2. Top right on Saturday April 13, 1889, on page 1.

Bottom article on Thursday June 14, 1888, on page 2.

C. Cowles & Co. - New Haven, CT.

EA 811A – C. Cowles & Co. - New Haven, CT. – 18-size – Model 8 – Serial# 2567940 –7 Jewels - Grade 36

Compilation image showing full frontal view of cased watch, full diameter view of dial with bezel removed, full diameter view of top plate, full diameter view of maker's marks on the inside surface of back cover, and full rear view of cased watch.

Criterion is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13.

Ehrhardt Identification: Page 139 of Roy Ehrhardt's Identification & Price Guide records an unidentified 18-size Criterion pocket watch specifically described as “Criterion — (on dial and movement)”, with the configuration “18S-XXJ-ONXL-U-‘XX’” and no assigned EA number. The documented Seth Thomas Model 12 Criterion shown here bears the Criterion name on both its dial and movement and corresponds closely with the unresolved description. This surviving example strongly suggests that Ehrhardt's unidentified Criterion listing represents a Seth Thomas-manufactured Criterion private-label pocket watch.

This advertisement appeared in The Macon Telegraph on Sunday November 17, 1912, on page 31. It shows two wood-cut images of Criterion pocket watches. The descriptions are different despite the cut being identical.

The top-left article appeared in The Day (New London CT) on Saturday August 11, 1894, on page 1. The top-right article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle on Tuesday September 06, 1898, on page 4.

The middle-left article appeared in The Morning Star (Rockford Ill) on Sunday December 15, 1901, on page 14. The middle-right article appeared in The New York Times on Friday December 13, 1901, on page 11.

The bottom article appeared in The New York Times on Tuesday December 24, 1901, on page 12.

This advertisement appeared in The Macon Telegraph on Sunday November 17, 1912, on page 31.

An Ingersoll Watch Company private label “Criterion” is shown below. It matches the description shown in the Roy Ehrhardt Identification & Price Guide. EA 510 – 540 (Ingersoll Watch Co.) (Dollar Watch)