Larkin Company
Information from Wholesale, Retail, and Manufacturer’s Catalogs
These are pages from a twenty-four-page 1899 advertisement booklet circulated by the Larkin Soap Company. Their mail order retail business was second only to Sears, Roebuck & Company. Their retail strategy involved offering household goods and products as premium rewards for purchasing their company’s primary products, soaps and cleaning products.
The description of the Seth Thomas pocket watch advertised on page 4 best describes the 6-size Model 19 pocket watches, which were all pendant set and present with the dial shown and described in the advertisement. An example from the Seth Thomas Fan collection is shown below.
The description of the Seth Thomas pocket watch advertised on page 4 best describes the 6-size Model 19 pocket watches, which were all pendant set and present with the dial shown and described in the advertisement. An example from the Seth Thomas Fan collection is shown below.
The back cover of the pamphlet contains an advertisement for a Seth Thomas mantel clock produced specifically for the Larkin Soap Company.
1907 Seth Thomas Model 17 Pocket Watch with the Original Larkin Company
Retail Box, Leather Pouch, Guarantee and Care Instructions
I started collecting Seth Thomas clocks and watches in August of 2022 and the first clock that I purchased was a special promotional model, Shasta Larkin, manufactured specially for Larkin Soap Company and only available through Larkin Soap Company. Many of us haven’t heard about the Larkin Company because they went out of business in 1942; but they were second only to Sears, Roebuck & Company at one time.
In my opinion the original Seth Thomas Shasta Mantel Clock was of a higher quality than the special ordered Shasta Larkin Mantel Clock; but I really like the story behind the one that I own, and having received the paperwork that came with this “new” pocket watch in April of 2023 makes the story of both timepieces really come to life in a much more tangible way.
Movement with original retail packaging, guarantee, and care instructions - Seth Thomas Model 17 Serial Number 903812
This 1907 Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 17 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 Breguet hair spring, and plain/simple regulator. Its serial number is 903812, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 35. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with a 6-size Seth Thomas # 1203 Roman dial with a ring minute track and black five-minute marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas #1271 blued spade hands 6-size.
The movement is cased in its original 6-size Illinois Watch Case Company 20-year 14k gold-filled hunting watch case, serial number 1175945. The watch also has its original retail box, guarantee, leather pouch, and care instructions.
In addition to the standard “LARKIN PRODUCTS” the 1909 Larkin Products and Premium Merchandise Catalogue advertised a number of Seth Thomas clocks and pocket watch movements on pages 94 and 96 as “PREMIUM MERCHANDISE”.
In addition to the standard “LARKIN PRODUCTS” the 1912-1913 Larkin Products and Premium Merchandise Fall & Winter Catalogue advertised a number of Seth Thomas pocket watch movements and clocks on pages 122 and 123 as “PREMIUM MERCHANDISE”.
In addition to the standard “LARKIN PRODUCTS” the 1912-1913 Larkin Products and Premium Merchandise Fall & Winter Catalogue advertised a number of Seth Thomas pocket watch movements and clocks on pages 122 and 123 as “PREMIUM MERCHANDISE”.
In addition to the standard “LARKIN PRODUCTS” the 1912-1913 Larkin Products and Premium Merchandise Fall & Winter Catalogue advertised a number of Seth Thomas pocket watch movements and clocks on pages 122 and 123 as “PREMIUM MERCHANDISE”.
50th Year Larkin Anniversary Medal
In 1925 the John Larkin Company commissioned a 50th Year Anniversary Medal with the image of John D. Larking on the obverse, and the Larkin Company corporate campus on the reverse.
