Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models 10 - 13
Seth Thomas Century Series is represented in the Ehrhardt American Numbered Drawings as Model 10 EA 813 (top left), Model 11 EA 814 (top right), Model 12 EA 813C (bottom left), and Model 13 EA 814A (bottom right); and can be identified through the use of the drawings below:
Century Grade Private Label Pocket Watches
The Old and New Century grade models, including 6-size Century Model 18, stand apart from the Eagle Series and all individual models in that they contain no watches that bear the Seth Thomas signature. Every Century grade pocket watch is a private label pocket watch manufactured by the Seth Thomas Watch Company for a wholesale or retail company to sell as part of its own product line. Private labels within the Century grade include Adonis, Athabasca, Century U.S.A., Colonial U.S.A., Corona Watch Co., Countess Janet, Criterion, Edgemere, Engine Special, Knickerbocker Watch Co., Lake Shore, Liberty U.S.A. Pan-American, Peerless Watch Co, Republic U.S.A., R.R. Special, Rex, Sentinel U.S.A., Stratford U.S.A., Toronado Watch Co, Trainmens Special, Tribune, Waldorf U.S.A., and Wyoming Watch Co.
The 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Catalog clearly states, about the Old Century Model and the New Century Model, that “These movements are not numbered”.
Since we know that some of the New Century Model 12 and Model 13 movements that we collect ARE numbered; we are able to know that the numbered Model 12 and Model 13 movements were manufactured after the 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Catalog was written.
Evidence of Century grade FAT (Factory Assigned Tracking) Numbers having been attached to non-numbered Century grade movements is shown at the end of the 18-size Century Model Specifications section. The FAT Numbers stamped on the Century grade movements in the Seth Thomas Fan collection are being collected and displayed there as well.
Century - Old Model
Model 10 and Model 11 are grouped together as they were presented in the 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Catalog No. 650 as the Century Old Model. None of the Model 10 nor Model 11 movements are numbered on the top plate. They were all manufactured as lever set movements, with either a gilt or nickel finish, 7 jewels, a plain/simple regulator, and a flat hairspring. They were the original Seth Thomas factory named grade Century movements.
Click these link to open the Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, or Model 13 Photo Albums in a new tab.
Model 10 open-face movements were manufactured with a gilt finish or nickel finish and 7 jewels, a plain/simple regulator, and flat hairspring at Seth Thomas factory named grade Century [*1.g].
Model 11 hunting orientation movements were manufactured with a gilt finish or nickel finish and 7 jewels, a plain/simple regulator, and flat hairspring at Seth Thomas factory named grade Century [*1.g].
Century - Old Model - Private Labels
The Century Grade Old Model Pan-American and Century U.S.A. Debut
In the Fall 1899 Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog No. 109
The most prolific and well-known private label in the Century grade, Century U.S.A., got its start in the Old Century Series as a private label for Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their mail order catalog along with the Pan-American private label; but they were far from alone in the ranks of Old Century private label pocket watches. Model 10 and Model 11 also included Colonial U.S.A., Corona Watch Co, and Peerless Watch Co private labels.
Through the “Century Old Model Series” notes on page 17 of the 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Catalog, the Seth Thomas Watch Company informs us that “We also made a large number of special movements of this series, named Corona Watch Co., Pan-American and Colonial.
Below are depictions of the Model 10 Century U.S.A and the Model 10 Pan-American from the 1898 Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog, photographs that I took in April of 2024 of a Model 10 Colonial U.S.A. while visiting the American Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol Connecticut, a photograph of my Model 10 Corona Watch Company movement, and an advertisement for the Model 11 Peerless Watch Co movement found in the 1900 Brooks Optical Company Catalog.
Century - New Model
Model 12 and Model 13 are grouped together because Models 12 and 13, the New Century Models, were the replacement for and based closely upon the design of Models 10 and 11, the Old Century Models. Models 12 and 13 movements initially (1903-1904) had no serial numbers on the top plate just as none of the previous Model 10 or Model 11 movements had any serial numbers on the top plate [ *1.g ]. Despite there being partial serial numbers on the pillar plate of their mechanisms, there is currently no reliable way to state exactly which early “un-numbered” Model 12 and 13 movements were manufactured before any others.
The New Century Model 12 and Model 13 movements are thinner and have smaller balance bridges than the Old Century Model 10 and Model 11 movements [ *1.g ].
Model 12 open-face movements were manufactured as lever set or pendant set, with a gilt, nickel, or two-tone finish and 7 jewels, and flat hairspring at Seth Thomas factory named grade Century [*1.g].
Model 13 hunting orientation movements were manufactured as lever set, with a gilt, nickel, or two-tone finish and 7 jewels, and flat hairspring at Seth Thomas factory named grade Century [*1.g].
Century - New Model - Private Labels
The Century Grade New Model Edgemere Makes its Debut
In the Spring 1904 Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog No. 113
Page 18 of Spring 1904 Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog No. 113
Seth Thomas Model 12 Edgemere & Trainmens Special
Page 18 of Spring 1904 Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog No. 109
Seth Thomas Model 12 Edgemere
Page 18 of Spring 1904 Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog No. 109
Seth Thomas Model 12 Trainmens Special
Century U.S.A. 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 & Company. This new 1913 Centennial version of Century U.S.A. hasn’t popped up in any of the period catalogs that I’ve explored; but I really haven’t had an opportunity to explore very many.
Adonis U.S.A.
Athabasca
EA 813C – Colonial U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial# COLONIAL12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
Colonial U.S.A.
Corona Watch Co. New York U.S.A.
Countess Janet
Criterion
EA 814A – Edgemere – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# EDGEMERE13A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
Edgemere
Engine Special
Knickerbocker Watch Co. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size open-face Model 12 and Seth Thomas 18-size hunting Model 13, Seth Thomas 6-size hunting Model 18 and Seth Thomas 6-size open-face Model 24.
Knickerbocker Watch Co. New York
Liberty U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13.
Liberty U.S.A.
EA 814 – Pan-American – 18-size – Model 11 – Serial Number PANAMERICAN11B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
EA 814 – Pan-American – 18-size – Model 11 – Serial Number PANAMERICAN11C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
EA 813 – Pan-American – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial Number PANAMERICAN10A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
EA 814 – Pan-American – 18-size – Model 11 – Serial Number PANAMERICAN11A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
Pan-American is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10 and Model 11 manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their retail catalog.
Pan-American
EA 813 – Pan-American – 18-size – Model 10 – Serial Number PANAMERICAN10C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
Peerless Watch Co. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10 and Model 11, and 6-size Model 16. Peerless Watch Co. movements were seen in the Brooks Optical Company catalog.
Peerless Watch Co.
R.R. Special is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13.
R.R. Special
EA 813C – Republic U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial Number REPUBLIC12A – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
Republic U.S.A. - 18-size Movements - Model 12 & Model 13
EA 813C – Republic U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – Serial Number REPUBLIC12B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century
Who Were Republic U.S.A. Movements Manufactured For?
Republic U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13, and 6-size Model 18, Model 19, and Model 24. The Pocket Watch Data reports that Seth Thomas was one of the manufactures making Republic U.S.A. movements for the Illinois Watch Case Company. Republic U.S.A. pocket watches were sold in the catalogs of N. Shure Company, Butler Brothers, J.M. Smyth, Hofman Jewelry Company, and others.
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 and hunting Model 13. Rex was manufactured by Seth Thomas for Lapp & Flershem, a large wholesale jewelry house based in Chicago. Rex was significant for having no markings except for the serial number on the movement; and only “REX” on the dial. Information is listed below in the 1910 Price List and Advertisements can be viewed in the 1910 Lapp & Flershem “Busiest House in America” Catalogue.
Rex
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.
Stratford U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas Model 12 and Model 13. It was manufactured for sale in the J.M. Smyth Company catalog.
Stratford U.S.A.
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
Wyoming Watch Co. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 12 and Model 13.
