Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models 21, 22, 24
6-SIZE PENDANT SET MODEL No. 24
12-SIZE PENDANT SET MODEL No. 22
16-SIZE PENDANT SET MODEL No. 21
Seth Thomas Centennial Series is represented in the Ehrhardt American Numbered Drawings as Model 21 EA 815 (left), Model 22 EA 816 (center), and Model 24 EA 822 (right); and can be identified through the use of the drawings below:
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 trademark. In Father Time’s left hand is a scythe. To his right is an hourglass.
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.
1913 Seth Thomas - Tourist - Travel Timepiece - with Rare Original Leather Case that Serves as Stand - and with Original Retail Box with Advertising on Lid
Not only did this specimen have its leather case/stand intact; but it arrived with its original box with advertising printed on the lid. I was unable to mechanically remove most of the graffiti that had been placed on the lid; but it was possible through the magic of photo editing to scrub most of it off of the image to reveal what the lid looked like without the graffiti.
This 1913 Seth Thomas 16-size open-face Model 21 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 1306649, and its grade is Seth Thomas named grade Centennial. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Centennial Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with a special Tourist 16-size Seth Thomas Arabic conversion dial with a hash marks minute track and no marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas blued spade hands 16-size. This dial converts the appearance of the movement to look like an up-side-down open-face movement with the winding stem at the 6:00 o’clock position for use in the Seth Thomas Tourist travel timepiece. Dial feet are placed at approximately 5 minutes, 16 minutes, and 43 minutes; placing the pendant at 6:00 instead of 12:00.
The movement is cased in a 16-size Illinois Watch Case Company Nickel Silver (nickel) pocket watch case with a snap back cover and special screw bezel made specifically for the Seth Thomas Tourist 16 with a special stem to be mounted into a leather case; and special bezel to screw down over and onto the leather carrying case. The serial number is O64671.
Tourist Travel Timepiece
1914 Sales Box for a Seth Thomas Centennial Pocket Watch
This box is not an accessory to the watch. It is the surviving artifact of the purchase itself.
This sales box corresponds to the 1914 Centennial retail offering priced at $4.00; but is not applicable to the 4-size (Ladies’) Centennial Model, which was supplied in a joint-back case.
The illustrations related to this box demonstrate dimensional compatibility with both the 12-size Model 22 and the 16-size Model 21; however, it does not establish that a single standardized box size was used for all Centennial offerings.
Factory-Issued Retail Sales Box for Seth Thomas Model 21 or Model 22 Centennial Pocket Watch c. 1914.
Seth Thomas Model 21 Movement Markings
From serial number 1304501 the movement serial number is located on the right-hand side perimeter of the top plate. Serial number 1353394 is the highest serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available on Page 3 of the Seth Thomas Model 21 Image Gallery of the Pocket Watch Database.
Movement Marking Style 1 - Documented serial number range 1305200 - 1353394.
When production of Model 21 resumed in a higher serial number range the movement markings did not include the Centennial grade name. The significance of this omission is the subject of debate.
Movement Marking Style 2 - Documented serial number range 2593001 - 2600000.
You can support and assist our Seth Thomas Fan Space Research Project by uploading photographs of your Seth Thomas pocket watches to the Pocket Watch Database. Pocket Watch Database accounts are free of charge, and you will have full access to the photographs and descriptive information that you share, and you will have the ability to edit, change, or delete the information and photographs that you submit as you see fit.
Seth Thomas Model 22 Movement Markings
From serial number 3258701 the movement serial number is located on the right-hand side perimeter of the top plate. Serial number 3297387 is the highest serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available on Page 2 of the Seth Thomas 12-Size Image Gallery of the Pocket Watch Database.
Movement Marking Style 1 - Documented serial number range 3258786 - 3297387.
The first documented serial number with these movement markings is 3260459. The movement serial number is located on the left-hand side perimeter of the top plate, Safety Pinion is marked beneath the center wheel pivot, the signature is an upward curved Seth Thomas with Thomaston on a straight line below that and Conn. USA on a third line. Serial number 3266182 is the highest serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available.
Movement Marking Style 2 - Documented serial number range 3260461 - 3266182.
The only documented serial number with these movement markings is 3290543. The movement serial number is located on the right-hand side perimeter of the top plate, Safety in marked above the center wheel pivot and Pinion is marked beneath the center wheel pivot. The signature is an upward curved Seth Thomas with Thomaston Conn. USA in a slight upward curve below it. Serial number 3290543 is the only serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available.
Movement Marking Style 3 - Documented serial number 3290543.
Seth Thomas Model 24 Movement Markings
From serial number 3053263 the movement serial number is located on the left-hand side perimeter of the top plate. Serial number 3085304 is the highest serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available on Page 4 of the Seth Thomas 6-size Movements Manufactured Starting in 1910 Image Gallery of the Pocket Watch Database.
Movement Marking Style 1 - Documented serial number range 3053263 - 3085304.
Somewhere between Serial Number 3069401 and Serial Number 3081462 Model 24 some movements included the Centennial grade name being marked despite Style 1 markings also being used until at least Serial Number 3085304.
Movement Marking Style 3 - Documented serial number range 3081248 - 3102173.
From serial number 3055252 the Safety Pinion marking is removed. Serial number 3055493 is the highest serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available on Page 4 of the Seth Thomas 6-size Movements Manufactured Starting in 1910 Image Gallery of the Pocket Watch Database.
Movement Marking Style 2 - Documented serial number range 3055252 - 3055493.
Somewhere between Serial Number 3081658 and Serial Number 3082340 Model 24 some movements dropped the Centennial grade marking.
Movement Marking Style 4 - Documented serial number 3082340.
Somewhere between Serial Number 3082340 and Serial Number 3089566 the Model 24 signature was changed from two lines to three lines.
Movement Marking Style 5 - Documented serial number range 3089566 - 3091193.
You can support and assist our Seth Thomas Fan Space Research Project by uploading photographs of your Seth Thomas pocket watches to the Pocket Watch Database. Pocket Watch Database accounts are free of charge, and you will have full access to the photographs and descriptive information that you share, and you will have the ability to edit, change, or delete the information and photographs that you submit as you see fit.
Select Illustrated Grades within the Centennial Series
Seth Thomas Grade 320
7 Jewel - Model 24
This 1914 Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24 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, with a Breguet hair spring, and plain/simple regulator. Its serial number is 3063283, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 320. The private label movement is signed “Knickerbocker Watch Co. N.Y.”.
The movement presents with a private label “Knickerbocker Watch Co. N.Y.” Arabic dial with a hash marks minute track and red five-minute marginals; fitted with Seth Thomas #1271 blued spade hands 6-size. Knickerbocker Watch Co. is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 12, Model 13, Model 18, and Model 24.
The movement is cased in a 6-size open-face Illinois Watch Case Company gold-filled Supreme watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number 1692438.
Seth Thomas Grade 322
15 Jewel - Model 24
This 1914 Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished 3/4 plate, 15 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 3052795, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 322. The private label movement is signed “LAKE SHORE”.
The movement presents with a 12-size private label LAKE SHORE 12X6 Arabic dial with a ring minute track and black five-minute marginals; fitted with Seth Thomas #1277 blued spade hands 12-size. The original private label "Lake Shore" 12X6 dial is missing. Lake Shore is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 5, Model 18, and Model 24 manufactured for Montgomery Ward & Co. by Seth Thomas and by Illinois Watch Co.
This is cased in a 12X6 Illinois Watch Case Company 20-years gold-filled "The Winner" hunting watch case, serial number 2466524.
Seth Thomas Grade 332
7 Jewel - Model 21
This 1914 Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished 3/4 plate, 15 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 3052795, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 322. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with a 16-size Seth Thomas Arabic dial with hash mark minute track and red five-minute marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas spade & whip hands 16-size.
The movement is cased in a 16-size Illinois Watch Case Company 20-Year gold-filled open-face “The Winner” watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 3016328.
Seth Thomas Grade 334
15 Jewel - Model 21
This 1914 Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished 3/4 plate, 15 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 2598343, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 322. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with a 16-size Seth Thomas Arabic dial with hash mark minute track and red five-minute marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas spade & whip hands 16-size.
The movement is cased in a 16-size Illinois Watch Case Company 20-Year gold-filled open-face watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 2997355.