Marked Grades
Seth Thomas Grades: Numbered Grades
Seth Thomas Marked Grades
Seth Thomas manufactured pocket watches from 1885 until 1915, in 24 models and in an untold number of grades. It is accurate to report an untold number of grades because the records of design and production were almost completely destroyed in the great Connecticut Flood of 1955, and a number of existing movements have been documented that do not match any of the grades described in existing factory records or advertisements.
The undisputed expert resource in determining what a non-documented Seth Thomas grade would have logically been called is the Pocket Watch Database. By entering the serial number of a movement in the serial number search box at the upper right-hand corner of the Pocket Watch Database page and hitting enter you will be presented with an extremely detailed, and accurate Database Lookup Report listing every specification for that movement that is known to exist. The only time that you might receive an inaccurate report is when insufficient data points are available to create an historically accurate data table for the search engine to explore. That is why this Seth Thomas Fan Space website implores collectors to upload photographs and data related to all Seth Thomas pocket watch movements in their collections to the Pocket Watch Database.
No. 282 - Nickel and Gilt, 17 Jewels, Breguet Hair Spring, Patent Micrometer Regulator, Adjusted to Temperature, Isochronism, and Three Positions. Steel Escape Wheel, D. S. Railroad Dial and Hands. Polished dust band. Lever Set…………………………………………………..
No. 382 - Same as No. 282; but Adjusted to Five Positions. Lever Set…………………………………
No. 248 - Nickel, 21 Jewels, Breguet Hair Spring, Patent Micrometer Regulator, Adjusted to Temperature, Isochronism, and Three Positions. Steel Escape Wheel, D. S. Railroad Dial and Hands. The Pallet Arbor and Escape Pinion are Cone Pivoted and Cap Jeweled. Polished dust band. Movement is Closely Timed and Finely Finished Throughout. Lever Set………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
No. 260 - Nickel, 21 Jewels, Breguet Hair Spring, Patent Micrometer Regulator, Adjusted to Temperature, Isochronism, and Six Positions. Steel Escape Wheel, D. S. Railroad Dial and Hands. The Pallet Arbor and Escape Pinion are Cone Pivoted and Cap Jeweled. Polished dust band. Movement is Closely Timed and Finely Finished Throughout, and is Recommended for the Most Exacting Service. Lever Set……………………………………………………
$15.00
18.00
20.00
25.00
The Four Seth Thomas Marked Grades
There are four Seth Thomas numerical grades that never need to be disputed because they are Marked Grades, movements with the grade marked on the top plate. The four Seth Thomas Marked Grades are No. 248, No. 260, No. 282, and No. 382 all shown in the block of photographs above.
Specimens of each of the Marked Grade movements are described in greater detail below.
The 1905 Illustrated Price List No. 655, Seth Thomas Watch Movements
The 1905 Illustrated Price List No. 655, Seth Thomas Watch Movements. Trade Price List September 15, 1905 describes: Seth Thomas Watch Movements with Breguet Hairspring, Cut Compensation Balance with Timing Screws, and Safety Pinion. In the category of “18 Size, Full Plate, Open Face”, four movements with numbered grades stand out from the others as extraordinary. They are:
Understanding Pocket Watch Adjustment
Pocket Watch Adjustments for Position
The 6 Standard Positions
The six basic positions are typically defined by the orientation of the DIAL and the location of the winding crown, called the PENDANT:
Dial Up (DU): The watch is lying flat on a surface with the dial facing upwards.
Dial Down (DD): The watch is lying flat on a surface with the dial facing downwards.
Pendant Up (PU): The watch is held or standing vertically, with the crown pointing straight up (at the 12 o'clock position).
Pendant Down (PD): The watch is held or standing vertically, with the crown pointing straight down (at the 6 o'clock position).
Pendant Right (PR): The watch is held vertically, with the crown pointing to the right (at the 3 o'clock position).
Pendant Left (PL): The watch is held vertically, with the crown pointing to the left (at the 9 o'clock position).
The Most Common Adjustment Configurations
3 Positions: Usually includes Dial Up, Dial Down, and Pendant Up.
4 Positions: Typically includes Dial Up, Dial Down, Pendant Up, and Pendant Down.
5 Positions: Includes Dial Up, Dial Down, Pendant Up, Pendant Left, and Pendant Right. This was the standard requirement for most American railroad watches after 1908.
6 Positions: Includes all six orientations listed above.
Other Common Pocket Watch Adjustments
An adjusted pocket watch is generally also calibrated for TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS, how heat and cold affect metal expansion, and ISOCHRONISM, how well it keeps time as the mainspring winds down.
Examples of Seth Thomas Marked Grade Movements
Serial Number 211890 - 21 Jewels - Marked Grade 248 - Adjusted to Three Positions - Marked Grade No. 248
This 1905 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 5 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished full plate, 21 jewels, and it is adjusted to three positions. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a Breguet hair spring, and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 211890, and its grade is Seth Thomas marked grade 248. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas #1229 double-sunk Arabic dial with a hash marks minute track and red five-minute marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands 18-size.
The movement is cased in an 18-size Dueber Watch Case Company open-face Coin Silver pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number 322829.
Serial Number 210670 - 21 Jewels - Marked Grade 260 - Adjusted to Six Positions - Marked Grade No. 260
This 1903 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 5 pocket watch was manufactured with a nickel finished full plate, 21 jewels, and it is adjusted to six positions. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a Breguet hair spring, and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 210670, and its grade is Seth Thomas marked grade 260. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas #1229 double-sunk Arabic dial with a hash marks minute track and red five-minute marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands 18-size.
The movement is temporarily cased in an 18-size Fahys Watch Case Company open-face Oresilver (nickel) pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 338512 for photographic purposes only.
Serial Number 223338 - 17 Jewels - Marked Grade 282 - Adjusted to Three Positions - Marked Grade No. 282
W. D. Heath Special for R.R. Service
This 1904 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 5 pocket watch was manufactured with a two-tone finished full plate, 17 jewels, and it is adjusted to three positions. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a Breguet hair spring, and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 223338, and its grade is Seth Thomas Marked Numbered Grade 282. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size private label “W.D. Heath Special For R.R. Service” Arabic dial with a hash marks minute track and red five-minute marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands 18-size.
Walter D. Heath, born October 1866 owned a jewelry store in Lakeport New Hampshire. The store was located at 773 Union Avenue. Mr. Heath sold watches, clocks, phonographs, musical goods, and he was an optician. He and his wife, Maude, lived at 7 Hill Street in Lakeport. Walter D. Heath died on January 24, 1948, at the age of 82. The two postcards below show the immediate area of 773 Union Avenue during the time that Walter D. Heath owned his jewelry store.
The movement is presently cased in an 18-size Fahys Watch Case Company watch open-face Oresilver No. 1 (nickel) pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 338512.
Serial Number 350071 - 17 Jewels - Marked Grade 382 - Adjusted to Five Positions - Marked Grade No. 382
This 1912 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 5 pocket watch was manufactured with a two-tone finished full plate, 17 jewels, and it is adjusted to five positions. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a Breguet hair spring, and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 350071, and its marked grade is Seth Thomas numbered Marked Grade 382. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas #1241 Arabic 24-hour Canadian dial with red 24-hour numerals and a hash marks minute track with no marginals, fitted with Seth Thomas #1291 blued spade & whip railroad hands 18-size.
The movement is cased in an 18-size Crescent Watch Case Company Coin Silver open-face tilt-out pocket watch case, serial number 211. Patented Nine, 9, 1885.
