Newspaper Advertisements & Articles
Information from Wholesale, Retail, and Manufacturer’s Catalogs
Newspaper Advertisements and Articles
This archive compiles dated newspaper advertisements and articles documenting the public marketing, reception, distribution, and historical treatment of Seth Thomas pocket watches during the company’s production era. It is an important part of the much larger Records, Research, and Sources component of the Seth Thomas Fan Space website; but does not replicate the research evidence exhibited in the sections for retailers, wholesalers, and other contributors to the research record. It also does not replicate the advertisements exhibited in the Private Labels component of this website.
The Seth Thomas Pocket Watch “Came Into Market”
1885
The New Hartford Tribune
News Article
The Seth Thomas Watch came to market at Thomaston last week.
Friday, 1885/12/18 - Page 2
1885
1886 National Advertising Campaign
Following the market introduction of Seth Thomas pocket watches in late 1885, the company launched an extensive nationwide newspaper advertising campaign in 1886. Variations of the advertisements below appeared widely in newspapers across the United States. Representative examples are shown here rather than the full volume of duplicate placements.
1886
New York Herald
Advertisement
General Seth Thomas Watches
Sunday, 1886/10/10 - Page 9
Boston Globe
Advertisement
General Seth Thomas Watches
Saturday, 1886/10/16 - Page 4
New York Tribune
Advertisement
General Seth Thomas Watches
Sunday, 1886/11/21 - page 7
1886
1887
1887
The Missouri Cash Book
Advertisement
General Seth Thomas Watches
Thursday, 1887/01/06 - Page 4
Shepherdstown Register
Advertisement
General Seth Thomas Watches
Saturday, 1886/10/14 - Page 3
Shepherdstown Register
Advertisement
Seth Thomas Model 1
Friday, 1887/12/16 - page 1
1888
1888
The Sheboygan Telegram
News Article
Price Fixing in Jewelry Industry
Blacklisting
Friday, 1888/10/19 - Page 1
The Sheboygan Telegram
News Article
Price Fixing in Jewelry Industry
Blacklisting
Friday, 1888/10/19 - Page 1
The Sheboygan Telegram
News Article
Price Fixing in Jewelry Industry
Blacklisting
Friday, 1888/10/19 - Page 1
1889
1889
Mississippian
News Article
Introducing Seth Thomas pocket watches as peers to the established leading brands
Wednesday, 1889/09/11 - Page 2
1890
1890
The Journal
News Article
United States Navy trial and rating of American pocket watches. Seth Thomas stood first in the U.S. Navy trial.
Tuesday, 1890/02/04 - Page 1
The Springfield Daily Republican
News Article
United States Navy trial and rating of American pocket watches. Seth Thomas stood first in the U.S. Navy trial.
Tuesday, 1890/02/04 - Page 6
1890
1890
The Cincinnati Enquirer
News Article
United States Navy trial and rating of American pocket watches. Seth Thomas stood first in the U.S. Navy trial.
Sunday, 1890/02/23 - Page 20
1891
1891
Oconomowoc Free Press
Advertisement
A. McCormick’s Popular Jewelry Store
Seth Thomas Watches & Clocks
Saturday, 1891/03/28 - Page 3
Statesman Journal
Advertisement
J. H. Haas Watchmaker - Seth Thomas Watches
Saturday, 1891/05/16 - Page 2
1891
1891
Arroyo Grande Herald
Advertisement
John B. Leedham Watchmaker & Jeweler
Depot for Seth Thomas Watches & Clocks
Saturday, 1891/10/03 - Page 6
1892
The Journal
(Meriden, Conn.)
News Article
Purchase of the Cheshire Watch Company facilities by Seth Thomas
Tuesday, 1892/05/24 - Page 1
The Berkshire Evening Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.)
News Article
Purchase of the Cheshire Watch Company facilities by Seth Thomas
Monday, 1892/06/06 - Page 2
The Waterbury Democrat
(Waterbury, Conn.)
News Article
Purchase of the Cheshire Watch Company facilities by Seth Thomas
Monday, 1892/05/23 - Page 2
1892
1892
1892
The Vermont Farm Journal
Advertisement
Seth Thomas pocket watches are among the best American watches.
Saturday, 1892/10/01 - Page 13
The Vermont Farm Journal
Advertisement
Seth Thomas pocket watches are among the best American watches.
Saturday, 1892/10/01 - Page 13
1892
1892
The Vermont Farm Journal
Advertisement
Seth Thomas pocket watches are among the best American watches.
Saturday, 1892/10/01 - Page 13
1893
The National Tribune
Editorial / Feature
A Watch for the Million
Thursday, 1893/04/27 - Page 8
1893
1894
The National Tribune
Advertisement
Description of movement specifications.
Thursday, 1894/01/25 - Page 8
1894
1896
1896
Chicago Tribune
Advertisement
Descriptions of stock pocket watches.
Sunday, 1896/05/17 - Page 16
1900
1900
News Chronicle
Advertisement
F. E. Encell & Company
Century USA Pocket Watch
Saturday, 1900/05/05 - Page 4
Featured Historical Event: Discussions by Seth Thomas Watch Company Regarding - Cheshire Watch Company Facilities / Bell Watch Case Company Merger / Mid-Western Location Negotiations
Surviving reports indicate that by 1899 Seth Thomas was considering proposals that may have altered the organization and location of its watch-manufacturing operations, though the precise intended role of the Cheshire facilities and the extent of any planned consolidation remain unclear.
1900
1900
The Kansas City Star
Kansas City, Missouri
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Thursday, 1900/01/14 - Page 1
The Kansas City Star
Kansas City, Missouri
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Thursday, 1900/08/09 - Page 1
The Kansas City Times
Kansas City, Missouri
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Friday, 1900/08/10 - Page 4
1900
1900
News Journal
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Thursday, 1900/08/09 - Page 5
News Journal
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Friday, 1900/08/10 - Page 6
1900
1900
News Journal
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Friday, 1900/08/10 - Page 6
News Journal
News Article
Proposed Relocation of Seth Thomas Watch Company and Merger with Bell Watch Case Co.
Friday, 1900/08/10 - Page 6
1903
1903
American Labor Union Journal
Advertisement
Description of Seth Thomas pocket watch sold by A. B. Conklin.
Thursday, 1903/09/24 - Page 4
1905
1905
The Kansas City Post
Advertisement
G. M. Lewis Jeweler & Optician - Century USA Pocket Watches
Friday, 1905/05/14 - Page 3
1909
1909
The Kansas City Post
Advertisement
Geo. B. Peck Dry Goods Company - Stock Pocket Watches
Friday, 1909/05/14 - Page 3
1910
1910
The Reynolds Journal
Advertisement
Geo. B. Peck Dry Goods Company - Stock Pocket Watches
Wednesday, 1910/10/12 - Page 1
1912
1912
Chicago Tribune
News Article
Chicago Tribune
News Article
1913
1913
Evening Star
Advertisement
Seth Thomas Centennial Watches
Sunday, 1914/11/09 - Page 43
1914
1914
Eastern Montana Clarion
News Article
American Watch Manufacturers
Thursday, 1914/01/15 - Page 2
The Log Cabin Democrat
Advertisement
J. J. Livingston Centennial Watch
Thursday, 1914/08/13 - Page 5
The Daily Nonpareil
Advertisement
American Watch Manufacturers
Sunday, 1914/10/18 - Page 7
1915
1915
The Lincoln Star
Advertisement
Seth Thomas Centennial Watches - C. A. Tucker, Jeweler - The Big Gift Store
Sunday, 1915/02/07 - Page 8
The Indianapolis Star
Advertisement
Seth Thomas Centennial Watches - C. A. Tucker, Jeweler - The Big Gift Store
Sunday, 1915/09/09 - Page 16
Seth Thomas Cuts Watch Production
This 1915 article documents reductions within the watch production department as declining demand triggered large-scale staffing cuts. In 1915 production of Seth Thomas pocket watches ultimately ceased. The highest pocket watch serial number known to still exist is 4068501. That Model 12 private label Republic U.S.A. pocket watch (serial number 4068501) is part of the Seth Thomas Fan collection and can be seen on this website.
1915
1915
Boston Evening Transcript
News Article
Seth Thomas Cuts Watch Production
Monday, 1915/02/15 - Page 7
Master Watchmaker Obituaries
Remarkably, 1915 marked not only the end of Seth Thomas pocket watch production, but also the deaths of the company’s first two master watchmakers, Herman A. T. Reinecke and Charles T. Higginbotham, who passed away within months of one another. Their near-simultaneous deaths coincided with the closing chapter of Seth Thomas pocket watch manufacturing.
1915
1915
Brooklyn Eagle
Obituary
Obituary of Herman A. T. Reinecke
Thursday, 1915/05/06 - Page 3
The Republican
Obituary
Obituary of George T. Higginbotham
Saturday, 1915/09/28 - Page 2