Lapp & Flershem
Information from Wholesale, Retail, and Manufacturer’s Catalogs
Lapp & Flershem the “Busiest House In America” was a wholesale jewelry store located at 195, 197, and 199 State Street, on the corner of Adams Street, in Chicago Illinois U.S.A. from 1876 through the mid-1920’s.
There are two Lapp & Flershem postcards from the first decade of the 20th Century shown above. The postcard on the left shows a view of the Adams Street side of Lapp & Flershem from State Street. The Lapp & Flershem sign with a large functioning clock on it is seen on the left-hand edge of the image.
The postcard on the right shows a view of the State Street side of Lapp & Flershem from Adams Street. The Lapp & Flershem sign with a large functioning clock on it is seen on the right-hand edge of the image.
These images are from the approximate half-way point in the thirty-year Seth Thomas pocket watch manufacturing timeline.
Lapp & Flershem advertised a variety of Seth Thomas signed pocket watches and Seth Thomas private label pocket watches. These pocket watches included:
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size open-face Model 3 Seth Thomas numbered grade unknown.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size hunting Model 2 Seth Thomas numbered grade unknown.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 6-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 35.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 36.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 37.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 6-size open-face Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 45.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size Model 5 Seth Thomas numbered grade 47.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size Model 5 Seth Thomas numbered grade 57.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size Model 5 Seth Thomas numbered grade 149.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size Model 5 Seth Thomas numbered grade 159.
A 17-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size Model 5 Seth Thomas numbered grade 169.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 6-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 205.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 206.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 207.
A 17-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 208.
A 17-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 209.
A 25-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5 Seth Thomas factory named grade “Maiden Lane”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas signed 6-size Model “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 6-size Model 15 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem with a rose engraving.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 12X6-size Model “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 6 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem with an eagle engraving.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 7 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem with an eagle engraving.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 “Rex” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 21-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 5 “Olympia Special” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
1887 Lapp & Flershem Catalog
On page 210 of the 1887 Lapp & Flershem wholesale catalog there is an advertisement for the “Seth Thomas Movement”. Seth Thoms had only been manufacturing and selling pocket watches for two years at that time. It is entirely possible that Seth Thomas Model 3 had not hit the market yet when the catalog was sent to the publisher, and that Seth Thomas was still only selling Model 1.
1896 Lapp & Flershem Catalog
On page 424 of the 1896 Lapp & Flershem wholesale catalog there is an advertisement for Garden City private label pocket watches manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. The Garden City movements’ available options are described for each of the three Item Numbers (No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7) that Lapp & Flershem are advertising.
Item No. 5 is a 6-size stem-wound hunting movement with 7 jewels. It is shown to have a long-stem rose engraved on the top plate.
Item No. 6 is an 18-size stem-wound open-face movement with 7 jewels. It is shown to have an eagle engraved on the top plate.
Item No. 7 is an 18-size stem-wound hunting movement with 7 jewels. It is shown to have an eagle engraved on the top plate.
The advertisement states that ““Garden City” Movements are Lever Set and fit all Regular Pendant or Lever Set Cases”.
Another version of the Garden City private label 6-size hunting Model 15 movement has the engraving of a long-stem rose as the signature on the top plate. The dial might be an unsigned fancy tinted dial or an unsigned plain white dial. This Seth Thomas movement is also known as The Queen, when manufactured for A. C. Becken, or The Rose with the Seth Thomas signature beneath the engraving of a long-stem rose and the dial may bear the Seth Thomas signature with the word “Rose” beneath it.
EA 819 – Garden City – 6-size – Model 15 – Serial Number 131590 – 7 Jewels
Garden City is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 15. Garden City was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. Some of the 6-size Garden City movements do not bear the Garden City signature or the engraved long-stem rose. They are signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.” on the movement, and they might have a fancy dial with no signature, or they could have a “Garden City” signature dial.
EA 819 – Garden City – 6-size – Model 15 – Serial Number 144027 – 7 Jewels
Garden City is a private label in Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 15. Garden City was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. Some of the 6-size Garden City movements do not bear the Garden City signature or the engraved long-stem rose. They are signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.” on the movement, and they might have a fancy dial with no signature, or they could have a “Garden City” signature dial.
EA 819 – Garden City – 6-size – Model 15 – Serial Number 155027 – 7 Jewels
Garden City is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 6. Garden City was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. This movement is also known as Liberty when manufactured for A.C. Becken, and as Eagle when the movement bears the Seth Thomas signature or the dial bears the signature “Eagle”.
EA 811 – Garden City – 18-size – Model 6 – Serial Number 517638 – 7 Jewels
Garden City is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 7. Garden City was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. This movement is also known as Liberty when manufactured for A.C. Becken, and as Eagle when the movement bears the Seth Thomas signature or the dial bears the signature “Eagle”.
EA 812 – Garden City – 18-size – Model 7 – Serial Number 526015 – 7 Jewels
Garden City is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 6 and Model 7, and 6-size hunting Model 15. Garden City was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. One version of the Garden City movements bears the signature “Garden City” and the logo of Lapp & Flershem, an oval with the letters BHA within. “BHA” stands for “Busiest House in America”. The Garden City movement may have an unsigned fancy dial or it may have a “Garden City” signature dial. Other versions of the 18-size Garden City movements bear the engraving of an eagle. Other of the 6-size Garden City movements bear the engraving of a long-stem rose.
Some of the 6-size Garden City movements do not bear the Garden City signature or the engraved long-stem rose. They are signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.” on the movement, and they might have a fancy dial with no signature, or they could have a “Garden City” signature dial.
EA 819 – Garden City – 6-size – Model 15 – Serial Number 138526 – 7 Jewels
1897 Lapp & Flershem Catalog
On page 360 of the 1897 Lapp & Flershem wholesale catalog there is an advertisement for Garden City private label pocket watches manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. The Garden City movements’ available options are described for each of the three Item Numbers (No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7) that Lapp & Flershem are advertising.
Item No. 5 is a 6-size stem-wound hunting movement with 7 jewels. It is shown to have a long-stem rose engraved on the top plate.
Item No. 6 is an 18-size stem-wound open-face movement with 7 jewels. It is shown to have an eagle engraved on the top plate.
Item No. 7 is an 18-size stem-wound hunting movement with 7 jewels. It is shown to have an eagle engraved on the top plate.
The advertisement states that ““Garden City” Movements are Lever Set and fit all Regular Pendant or Lever Set Cases”.
Spring 1902 Jeweler’s Magazine
Page 1 of the Spring 1902 Jeweler’s Magazine is telling us that there were 12X6 movements manufactured in the Garden City private label for Lapp & Flershem, the Busiest House In America. A 12X6 movement would not fit all Regular Pendant or Lever Set Cases” as stated in previous advertisements for the “Garden City”.
Page 6 of the Spring 1902 Jeweler’s Magazine is advertising 20-year watch cases of various sizes. The movements manufactured by Seth Thomas which are offered as options for these cases include:
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 6-size Model 15 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade unknown.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 207.
A 17-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 209.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 7 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
Page 7 of the Spring 1902 Jeweler’s Magazine is advertising watch cases of various sizes. The movements manufactured by Seth Thomas which are offered as options for these cases include:
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 6-size Model 15 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 6 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 7 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
Page 8 of the Spring 1902 Jeweler’s Magazine is advertising 10-year watch cases of various sizes. The movements manufactured by Seth Thomas which are offered as options for these cases include:
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 6-size Model 15 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 206.
A 15-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 207.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas numbered grade 36.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model Seth Thomas factory named grade “Century”.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 6 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
A 7-Jewel Seth Thomas 18-size Model 7 “Garden City” private label manufactured for Lapp & Flershem.
Page 13 of the Spring 1902 Jeweler’s Magazine is advertising the 18-size 17-Jewel Lakeside pocket watch (EA 333) manufactured by Hampden in their Model 3 for Montgomery Ward Company. Lakeside pocket watches were also manufactured for Montgomery Ward by Illinois Watch Company, and Seth Thomas.
1905 Lapp & Flershem Catalog
On page 64 of the 1905 Lapp & Flershem wholesale catalog there is an advertisement with four cuts of movements for eight models of Seth Thomas pocket watches. The first six are referred to by their numbered grades.
Nos. 207 and 206 are 15 jewel versions of Seth Thomas Model 9 and Model 8 (illustrated) respectively.
Nos. 37 and 36 are 7 jewel versions of Seth Thomas Model 9 and Model 8 (illustrated) respectively.
Nos. 35 and 205 are 7 jewel Model 15 (illustrated) and 15 jewel Model 17 respectively. A conversion dial option is offered with the 7 jewel Model 15 hunting movement to give it the appearance of an open-face movement, without a seconds bit, placed in an open-face case.
Nos. 99 and 98 are 7 jewel versions of Seth Thomas Model 11 (illustrated) and Model 10 respectively. They are both Century grade.
Grade 206 – 18-size – Open-face - Model 8 – 15 Jewels - Serial Number 710159
Grade 37 – 18-size – Hunting - Model 9 – 7 Jewels - Serial Number 815700
Grade 36 – 18-size – Open-face - Model 8 – 7 Jewels - Serial Number 250169
Century Grade – 18-size – Hunting - Model 11 – 7 Jewels - Serial Number CENTURY11E
Century Grade – 18-size – Open-face - Model 10 – 7 Jewels - Serial Number CENTURY10B
Grade 207 – 18-size – Hunting - Model 9 – 15 Jewels - Serial Number 749198
Olympia Special is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 5. Olympia Special was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem.
1907 Lapp & Flershem Catalog
EA 810 – Olympia Special – 18-size – Model 5 – Serial Number 223586 – 21 Jewels
Another specimen of the Rex private label, serial #1035015 can be seen on the Pocket Watch Database; but it’s manufacturer was misclassified by the owner as “Other”, which would be expected with a completely unmarked movement.
Rex is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 12. Rex was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem. Rex was significant for having no markings except for the serial number on the movement; and only “REX” on the dial.
1910 Price List - Booklet No. 1005
EA 821 – Rex – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial Number 1028872 – 7 Jewels