Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Model 4
Seth Thomas Model 4 is represented in the Ehrhardt American Numbered Drawings as EA 809 and can be identified through the use of the drawing below:
Model 4 was the first key-wound and key-set model that Seth Thomas produced, the fourth Seth Thomas pocket watch design to enter production, and the first adaptable movement, that could be cased in either the hunting or the open-face orientation. Model 4 was referred to as “Fourth Series” [*1.d]. Model 4 movements were only manufactured with a gilt finish.
Click this link to open the Model 4 Photo Album in a new tab.
Model 4 movements were manufactured with gilt finish and 7 jewels at grade 11 with a simple/plain regulator and flat hairspring.
Model 4 movements were manufactured with only one casing screw to hold the movement in place in its watch case. The lone casing screw received some assistance from a small brass pin protruding from the side of the movement’s pillar plate. This small brass pin lined up with a notch in the key-wound specific watch cases of that era to help hold the movement in place.
The early Seth Thomas Model 4 movements were manufactured without the winding cup that seems to have become standard equipment in the third production block. The winding cup is not shown or described in the 1890 & 1895 Illustrated Catalogue of Watchmakers’, Jewelers’, and Engravers’ Tools, Materials, etc. [1.d]; but it is shown and described in the 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Catalog [1.g].
Seth Thomas Model 4 Movement Markings
The standard movement markings on Seth Thomas key-wound Model 4 movements started at serial number 35001 with the “Seth Thomas” portion of the signature in a partially overlapping concentric arc just above the “Thomaston, Conn.” portion of the signature, also following the arc of the movement’s circumference. “Seth Thomas” is engraved in a Formal Script font, and “Thomaston, Conn.” is engraved in a Serif Caps font. The pattern of the signature on Seth Thomas key-wound Model 4 movements remained the same from the start to the finish of their production.
From serial number 35001 the movement serial number is located to the left-hand side below the cutout for the balance wheel. Serial number 35960 is the highest serial number utilizing this marking format for which photographic documentation is available on Page 1 of the Seth Thomas Model 4 Image Gallery of the Pocket Watch Database. Somewhere between serial numbers 35960 and 44913 the serial number marking was moved to the right-hand side below the cutout for the balance wheel. The serial number remained on the right-hand side for the remainder of Model 4’s production.
Movement Marking Style 1 - Documented serial number range 35062 - 35960.
Somewhere between serial numbers 35960 and 44913 the serial number marking was moved to the right-hand side below the cutout for the balance wheel. The serial number remained on the right-hand side for the remainder of Model 4’s production.
Movement Marking Style 2 - Documented serial number range 44913 - 585584.
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.
Because the Model 4 movements were key-wound and key-set; there was no winding bridge and pinion or any of the other mechanical systems that were present in the stem-wound and lever-set movements of the day. Because the key-wound and key-set movements did not need to depend on accepting a watch case’s stem; they could be cased in either the hunting or the open-face configuration. Model 4 serial number 35843 is shown above, cased in the open-face configuration while Model 4 serial number 57617 is shown cased in the hunting configuration.
Model 4 serial number 35843 is shown above without the winding cup, and Model 4 serial number 57617 is shown with the winding cup. Many of the early movements, without the winding cup, show a degree of damage to the top plate from being wound without a cup present for protection.
Model 4 movements were made with only 1 casing screw, at the VI o’clock position, to hold the movement in the case; but there is also a small brass pin protruding from the side of the perimeter of the movement, at the XI o’clock position, which matches a notch on the inside of the special open-face watch cases made for key wound movements. Inserting the brass pin into this notch helps to stabilize the movement in the open-face orientation in the case. There is also a special notch in the special hunting watch case, at two o’clock position, to help stabilize the movement in the hunting case orientation. Because there is no winding stem orientation to consider Model 4 is adaptable to either open-face or hunting case orientation.
Pocket Watch Keys
Owners of key-wound and key-set Seth Thomas Model 4 movements clearly needed to be supplied with one obvious pocket watch accessory, a pocket watch key. Pocket watch keys were manufactured in many shapes, configurations, and sizes. Seth Thomas Model 4 key-wound and key-set movements most frequently require a size 5 watch key. It should not be surprising to discover that any particular Seth Thomas Model 4 could require the use of a size 4 key or size 6 key instead. Some key-wound/key-set movements require one size key to wind them and a different size key to set the time. I don’t know why. That’s just the way it seems to be after 100+ years of use, repairs, and modifications. Below are photos of a handful of pocket watch keys that I have acquired over the past few years as a collector. Some of them are interesting to look at; but would not be considered exotic, which may be why many of them accompanied a pocket watch upon its purchase.
Key Wound & Key Set Movements
Seth Thomas Model 4 movements are all key wound and key set. A small number of Model 2 movements are also key wound and key set. Key winding and key setting are more direct less complicated than other methods. As you can see in the photographs below, both the cannon pinion and the barrel arbor have square protrusions that can be captured by a watch key for setting the time and winding the mainspring respectively.
The square hole of the minute hand engages with the square top of the cannon pinion. When using a key to turn the portion of the cannon pinion that protrudes through the minute hand, the bottom gear teeth of the cannon pinion turn the outer gear teeth of the minute wheel. The upper central gear teeth of the minute wheel pinion engage with the teeth on the bottom of the hour wheel upon which the hour hand rides. In the video below, the hour wheel can be seen to turn much more slowly than the key is turning the cannon pinion upon which the hour wheel rests.
When using a key to turn the square portion of the barrel arbor that protrudes through top plate of the movement, the mainspring is wound within the barrel. The winding energy is stored and maintained within the barrel by means of a ratchet wheel, click, and click spring which can all be accessed by removing the dial to expose the pillar plate, and then removing the ratchet bridge.
J. M. Bostwick PORT WASHINGTON, WI
EA 806 - 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 appears to be an after-market engraving "J. M. Bostwick Port Washington Wis". 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.”
Model 4 movements were used in a little known Seth Thomas travel timepiece named the Traveler, which was only manufactured from 1906 to 1907. It can be seen in the 1915 advertisement below. The Traveler was not a clock, just as its close cousin, the Companion, was not a clock. Two cuts of the Traveler were utilized, one with a seconds bit and one without a seconds bit, while only two cuts were ever produced for the more prolific Companion travel timepiece base on the Model 6 in 1896 for which one cut was produced, upgraded ten years later with the Model 8 movement in 1906 for which the other cut was made, and was sold until Seth Thomas pocket watch sales ceased in 1915. While the Traveler is a tiny bit larger than the Companion, the easiest way to tell which one you’re looking at is that the Traveler has no crown to wind it, and no setting pin on the left side to set the time; because the Model 4 Traveler was key-wound and key-set.
Above are advertisements for Seth Thomas clocks on Page 777 and Page 778 from an unidentified 1915 magazine or catalog.
In the upper right hand corner of Page 777 is an image of the 1906-1907 Model 4 Traveler travel timepiece, a key-wound and key-set pocket watch cased in a leather covered bronze block; slightly larger than the Model 8 Companion travel timepiece. The images of clocks are 1904-1913 Seth Thomas Metal Novelty Mantel Clocks. They include the 1913 Cherubs, Bona, 1908 Natty, 1908 Prim, 1913 Dainty, 1913 Petite, the 1906 School Girl, the 1908 Bouquet, the 1905 Bungalow, the 1913 Jacket, and the 1904 Night Clock B.
*References
1. Bailey, Chris H.; Seth Thomas Watches 1885-1915; 1981; Published by American Clock & Watch Museum, Inc.; Printed by The Bond Press, Inc., Hartford CT 06106; ISBN 0-930476-09-3
1.a 1885 R. & L. Freidlander Jobbers In American Watches Illustrated Price List, 65 & 67 Nassau Street, New York NY
1.b 1890 Illustrated Catalogue of Seth Thomas Clocks No. 495
1.c 1892 Illustrated Catalogue of Seth Thomas Clocks No. 531
1.d 1890 & 1895 Illustrated Catalog of Tools Materials, Finding and Supplies, Lapp & Flershem, 98 State Street, Chicago IL
1.e 1895 Illustrated Catalog of Tools Materials, Finding and Supplies, Lapp & Flershem, 98 State Street, Chicago IL
1.f 1896 Illustrated Catalog of Watches, A. C. Becken, 103 State Street, Chicago IL
1.g 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Catalog No. 650
1.h 1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material Illustrated Price List No. 671
1.i 1905 Seth Thomas Watch Movements Illustrated Price List September 15, 1905
1.j 1908 Seth Thomas Watch Movements Illustrated Price List September 1, 1908
1.k 1909 Seth Thomas Watch Movements Illustrated Price List October 1, 1909
1.l 1913 Seth Thomas Watch Movements Illustrated Price List Centennial Edition September 1, 1913
1.m 1914 Seth Thomas Clock Company Supplement No. 705 to Catalog No. 700 Illustrated Price List September 1, 1908
1.n Catalog of Seth Thomas Watch Models and Grades, compiled by Daniel J. Gaenger
1.o Seth Thomas’ Watches: Thirty Years of Manufacture, by Chris H. Bailey
1.p United States Patents granted to Herman A. T. Reinecke and Charles T. Higginbotham for watch features utilized by the Seth Thomas Company
2. Criss, David; Collectors Price Guide to American Pocket Watches 1976 Edition; 1976
3. Criss, David; Collectors Price Guide to American Pocket Watches 4th Edition; 1980
4. Ehrhardt, Roy; Trade Marks, Watch Cases, Pocket Watches, Precious Stones, Diamonds; 1976; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784
5. Ehrhardt, Roy; Foreign and American Pocket Watch Identification and Price Guide; 1976; Printed by Heart of America Press, P.O. Box 9808, Kansas City, MO 64134
6. Ehrhardt, Roy; Pocket Watch 1976 Price Indicator Identification and Price Guide; 1976; Printed by Heart of America Press, P.O. Box 9808, Kansas City, MO 64134
7. Ehrhardt, Roy; Pocket Watch 1977 Price Indicator Identification and Price Guide; 1977; Printed by Heart of America Press, P.O. Box 9808, Kansas City, MO 64134
8. Ehrhardt, Roy; Pocket Watch 1978 Price Indicator Identification and Price Guide; 1978; Printed by Heart of America Press, P.O. Box 9808, Kansas City, MO 64134
9. Ehrhardt, Roy; Pocket Watch 1979 Price Indicator Identification and Price Guide; 1979; Printed by Heart of America Press, P.O. Box 9808, Kansas City, MO 64134
10. Ehrhardt, Roy; Pocket Watch 1980 Price Indicator Identification and Price Guide; 1976; Printed by Heart of America Press, P.O. Box 9808, Kansas City, MO 64134
11. Ehrhardt, Roy and Meggers, William “Bill”; Encyclopedia and Price Guide to American Pocket Watches; 1982; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 0-913902-33-0
12. Ehrhardt, Roy; American Pocket Watches – Price Guide; 1972; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 09-13902-53-5
13. Ehrhardt, Roy; American Pocket Watches – Identification and Price Guide; 1974; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 09-13902-53-5
14. Ehrhardt, Roy and Meggers, William “Bill”; American Pocket Watches – Identification and Price Guide Beginning to End 1830-1990; 1990; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 09-13902-53-5
15. Ehrhardt, Roy and Meggers, William “Bill”; American Pocket Watches – Identification and Price Guide Beginning to End 1830-1999; 1999; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 0-913902-53-5
16. Ehrhardt, Roy and Meggers, William “Bill”; Vintage American Pocket Watches – Identification and Price Guide Beginning to End 1830-2009; 2009; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 978-0-615-23255-3
17. Ehrhardt, Roy and Meggers, William “Bill”; American Pocket Watches – Serial Number Grade Book, 1993 Prices; 1993; Printed by Heart of America Press, Umatilla Florida 32784; ISBN: 09-13902-79-9
18. Field & Company, Marshall; 1896 Illustrated Catalogue of Jewelry & Fashion; 1896; Adams, Quincy, Franklin, 5th Avenue, Chicago
19. Holsman & Alter; Holsman & Alter Catalog; Unknown Date; 179 Madison Street, Chicago Illinois
20. Lapp & Flershem, The Busiest House in America – 1889 Illustrated Catalogue; 1889; Chicago Illinois, USA
21. Montgomery Ward & Company; Catalogue No. 57; Spring & Summer; 1895; Chicago Illinois, USA
22. National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors
22.a The Railroader’s Corner – A Forum for the Discussion of Railroad Pocket Watches; Standard Watches of the Seth Thomas Clock Company; December 1998; National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
23. Oskamp, Nolting & Co.; The Great American Jewelry Catalog; 1905; Cincinnati Ohio
24. Pocket Watch Database
25. Roddin & Company, E. V.; Jewelry, Watches, and Silverware; 1895; The American Historical Catalog Collection
26. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Consumer’s Guide for 1894; 1894; Chicago Illinois, USA
27. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 110; 1900; Chicago Illinois, USA
28. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 111; 1902; Chicago Illinois, USA
29. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 115; 1905; Chicago Illinois, USA
30. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 121; 1910; Chicago Illinois, USA
31. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 123; 1911; Chicago Illinois, USA
32. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 125; 1912; Chicago Illinois, USA
33. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Catalogue No. 127; 1913; Chicago Illinois, USA
34. Sears, Roebuck & Company; Compiled Catalogue; 1905-1910; Chicago Illinois, USA
35. Seth Thomas Clock Company; Seth Thomas Clocks No. 531;1892-1893; 49 Maiden Lane, New York New York.
36. Seth Thomas Clock Company; Seth Thomas Clocks No. 675;1909-1910; 15 Maiden Lane, New York New York.
37. Seth Thomas Clock Company; Seth Thomas Clocks No. 675;1909-1910; 15 Maiden Lane, New York New York.
38. Shugart, Cooksey; Complete Price Guide to American Pocket Watches – First Edition; 1981; Published by Overstreet Pulications, Inc. 780 Hunt Cliff Dr. N.W., Cleveland TN 37311; ISBN: 0-517-543788
39. Shugart, Cooksey; Gilbert, Richard; Engle, Tom; Complete Price Guide to Watches - 2012; Published by Tinderbox Press; ISBN: 978-0-9829487-1-2
40. Shure Company, N.; The Shure Winner Pricelist; 1909; Chicago Illinois
41. Smyth & Company, John, M.; Dictionary of Economy - No. 62; 1909; Chicago Illinois
42. Young & Company; Catalogue of Watches – Illustrated & Priced;1911; Chicago Illinois USA