Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models Photo Album
- Model 1 -
Production of Model 1 Started at Serial Number 1 and Concluded with Serial Number 10900
Serial Numbers in this Model 1 Photo Album range from 94 to 10867.
Private Label pocket watches in this Model 1 Photo Album include: A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb.; J. M. Heaney - Berlin Wis.; Dan’l Pratt’s Son, Boston; and C. Liebenow & Son - Manitowoc, Wis.
Viewing Images:
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Model 1 Mechanism & Dial View Seth Thomas - Pillar Plates
Serial Number 94 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 94, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a slow train movement and a single patent date, Jan. 13, 85, is engraved on the movement in one line. This early specimen of Model 1 was made with only 1 casing screw across from the stem holding the movement securely in the case. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”. This is the 94th Seth Thomas pocket watch produced. Model 1 serial numbers started at 1 and concluded at 10900.
The movement was incomplete at the time of purchase and has been temporarily supported and supplemented with the following materials (shown below) from Model 3 parts movements: the balance bridge and screw, hairspring, balance wheel, pallet fork, one pillar screw, and the hour wheel. A proper hour wheel and minute wheel are still missing. The search is ongoing for the original Model 1 parts that would make this restoration complete.
The early specimens of Seth Thomas Model 1 pocket watches were made with only 1 casing screw, at the V o’clock position, across from the stem holding the movement in the case; but they also had a small brass pin (shown below) on the outer perimeter of the pillar plate at the VIII o’clock position. This pin inserts into a notch in the watch case (shown below) and helps the casing screw and the winding stem to stabilize the movement in the watch cases of the time that were made to house them.
This Model 1 combination of casing screw and brass pin feature is only shared with the key wound Seth Thomas Model 4, which has the small brass pin (shown below) on the outer perimeter of the pillar plate at the XI o’clock position. All Model 4 pocket watches also had only one casing screw, at the VI o’clock position, and this pin helped to stabilize the movement in watch cases that were made to house them.
This shared feature between the early Model 1 and key-wound Model 4, and the anomaly found in Model 1 serial number 94 having a small, approximately 16-size winding stem, raises the question if there was some last-minute decision to make Model 1 stem wound instead of key-wound or some other design decision. The pin on Model 1 would clearly be in the wrong place for open-face configuration in a key wound/key set watch cases; so a key wound Model one would have been limited to the hunting orientation. Toward the service of normalizing these features we should also realize that there must have been other early 18-size movements from other manufacturers with this pin and casing screw feature since there were already abundant watch cases being made to accommodate that design arrangement.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size Fahys Watch Case Company Oresilver (nickel) paired pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number R380.
Serial Number 586 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 586, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a slow train movement and a single patent date, Jan. 13, 85, is engraved on the movement in one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an 18-size Fahys Watch Case Company Nickel Antimagnetic G-Shield (Giles-Shield) Paired Case, serial number 1224.
The dimensions of the hour wheel do not permit adequate contact with a standard hour hand. The pipe of the hour wheel only reaches half-way up the cannon pinion. The pipe does not extend close enough to the surface of the dial to permit an hour hand to ride upon it. See the photos located below the video.
Serial Number 617 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 617, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a slow train movement and a single patent date, Jan. 13, 85, is engraved on the movement in one line. This early specimen of Model 1 was made with only 1 casing screw across from the stem holding the movement securely in the case. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size Keystone Watch Case Company Silveroid (nickel) pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number 660747.
Serial Number 1257 - 11 Jewels - Grade 55
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 1257, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 55. This is a slow train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on two lines. This early specimen of Model 1 was made with two casing screws to better hold the movement securely in the case. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size Keystone Watch Case Company Silveroid (nickel) pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel. The case’s serial number is 3046576.
Serial Number 2161 - 11 Jewels - Grade 55
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 2161, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 55. This is a quick train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on two lines. This early specimen of Model 1 was made with two casing screws to better hold the movement securely in the case. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is not presently cased.
Serial Number 2374 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 2374, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on two lines. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is temporarily cased in an open-face 18-size Keystone Watch Case Company Silveroid (nickel) pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel while it is being photographed.
Serial Number 2798 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 2798, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on two lines. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size Fahys Watch Case Company Oresilver (nickel) pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number Q2232.
Serial Number 2969 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 2969, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”. The movement’s pillar plate has been replaced at some time with a 15-jewel Model 3 pillar plate with the serial number 61460. Despite being recorded as an 11-jewel movement, with the extra two jewels on the pillar plate it is in reality a 13-jewel movement.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an 18-size Fahys Watch Case Company Oresilver No. 1 (nickel) open-face pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 338512.
Serial Number 4510 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44 - A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb.
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 4510, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The private label movement is signed “A. S. Bleyer, Central City, Neb.”.
Alexander S. Bleyer, born in Austria in 1847, is known to have been a jeweler in Central City Nebraska in the 1870’s and 1880’s. He lived at 94 Lone Tree Lane with his wife, Betty, and their six children. Lone Tree was the name of Central City Nebraska until it was changed in 1875. Records of Alexander Bleyer beyond the 1880’s have not been found at this time. See Wolf’s Nebraska Gazetteer 1879; 1880 US Census for the Town of Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska; and 1885 Nebraska State Census. The photograph below shows what Central City looked like in the early 1900’s.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is presently cased in an open-face 18-size Dueber Watch Case Company Silverine (nickel) pocket watch case with a screw back and bezel, serial number 4158.
Serial Number 4525 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44 - J. M. Heaney - Berlin Wis.
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 4525, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patent dates, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The private label movement is signed “J. M. Heaney - Berlin Wis.”.
John M. Heaney was a jeweler at 102 Huron Street in Berlin Wisconsin, opening his store in 1872. The 1870 US Census shows that prior to this he was also a jeweler in Saxeville Wisconsin. John M. Heaney was born in December of 1837 in Ireland and came to the United States in 1860. He and his wife, Mary, had two daughters and two sons. John M. Heaney died on March 24,1924 and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is not presently cased.
Serial Number 4988 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 4988, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is presently cased in an open-face 18-size Keystone Watch Case Company gold-filled pocket watch case with a hinged back and bezel, serial number 1269542.
Serial Number 5863 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 5863, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is presently cased in an open-face 18-size Illinois Watch Case Company nickel pocket watch case with a screw back and bezel, serial number 0603235.
Serial Number 6305 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44 - Dan’l Pratt’s Son, Boston
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 6305, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is one of the first few private label pocket watches manufactured by Seth Thomas. The private label movement is signed “Dan’l Pratt’s Son, Boston”. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line.
The movement presents with an 18-size unsigned Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
Daniel F. Pratt, son of Daniel Pratt, jr the prolific clock maker and horologist, ran the family clock store from 1885 until 1916. He did business under the name “Daniel Pratt’s Son” at 335 Washington Street and later from 53 Franklin Street. The photographs below were taken near the front of 335 Washington Street looking north in 1906. Dan’l Pratt’s Son, Daniel F. Pratt, must have known the Siegel Brothers, because their store was located at 387 Washington Street. In one of the photographs below, you can see the address on the marquis of a blueprint maker, 345 Washington Street.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size H. Muhr Sons Watch Case Company Silveroid (nickel) pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 943879.
Serial Number 6492 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44 - C. Liebenow & Son - Manitowoc, Wis.
This 1886 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 6492, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is one of the first four private label pocket watches manufactured by Seth Thomas. The private label movement is signed “C. Liebenow & Son”. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
C. Liebenow & Son is a private label pocket watch produced by Seth Thomas in 18-size open-face Model 1 and Model 6. According to Roy Ehrhard in his Identification and Price Guide of American Pocket Watches – 1999, this private label was also manufactured by Illinois Watch Company in 16-size hunting Model 1, and Hamilton Watch Company in 16-size hunting Model 1A.
C. Liebenow & Son were jewelers located at 9 North 8th Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Newspaper advertisements and articles related to C. Liebenow & Son have been found to span the time from 1878 until 1899.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size Keystone Watch Case Company 14k 20-year gold-filled J. Boss pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 5004235.
The photograph below shows the interior of the C. Liebenow & Son store at 9 North 8th Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin as it was at the turn of the 20th century.
All of the articles and advertisements shown above appeared in The Manitowoc Pilot.
The top-left advertisement appeared on Thursday February 14, 1878, on page 3. The top-center advertisement appeared on Thursday August 18, 1881, on page 3. The top-right advertisement appeared on Thursday November 19, 1885, on page 2.
Serial Number 6862 - 11 Jewels - Grade 55
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 6862, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 55. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an open-face 18-size Keystone Watch Case Company Silveroid (nickel) pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number 3324024.
Serial Number 7589 - 11 Jewels - Grade 44
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring, and simple/plain regulator. Its serial number is 7589, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 44. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is presently cased in an open-face 18-size Dueber Watch Case Company Silverine (nickel) pocket watch case with a hinged back and bezel, serial number 1263672.
Family provenance provided by the seller about the original owner, her great-grandfather:
"His name was George Washington Emery and he was born April 15, 1868, in White County Illinois. He emigrated to Oregon for land, and that is where he met my great grandmother, Josephine Sarah Bonham, born in 1874 in Willow Branch, CA. They Married in Summer Lake, Oregon in June of 1892. In 1893, they had their first of 9 kids. 8 boys and 1 girl. They worked the ranch together until his death in June of 1939. Portions of the original ranch still remain in the hands of extended family today.
When my great grandfather passed, my great grandmother gave it [the pocket watch] to the youngest son, who was my grandfather. He gave it to my dad and when my dad passed, I received it. I don’t have children of my own or siblings. It made more sense to me that someone who really had an interest in it, have it. I know I have found that person."
The pocket watch remained in the family until 2026, when it entered the Seth Thomas Fan Collection.
Serial Number 9332 - 15 Jewels - Adjusted - Grade 101
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 15 jewels, and it is adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 9332, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 101. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an 18-size hunting Keystone Watch Case Company gold-filled pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number 1458616.
Serial Number 10396 - 11 Jewels - Grade 55
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 10396, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 55. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”. There were 504 Seth Thomas Model 1 pocket watch produced after this one. Model 1 serial numbers started at 1 and concluded at 10900.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas #1218 Roman dial with a ring minute track and black five-minute marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in an 18-size hunting Fahy’s Watch Case Company Oresilver No 1 (nickel) pocket watch case with screw back and bezel, serial number 5171622.
Serial Number 10409 - 11 Jewels - Grade 55
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 10409, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 55. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is not presently cased.
Serial Number 10867 - 11 Jewels - Grade 55
This 1885 Seth Thomas open-face 18-size Model 1 pocket watch was manufactured with a gilt finished 3/4 plate, 11 jewels, and it is non-adjusted. The movement is stem wound and lever set, with a flat hair spring and micrometric regulator. Its serial number is 10867, and its grade is Seth Thomas numbered grade 55. The movement is signed “Seth Thomas Thomaston, Conn.”. This is a quick train movement and two patents, Jan. 13, 85 & Sept. 1, 85, are engraved on the movement on one line.
The movement presents with an 18-size Seth Thomas Roman dial with a ring minute track and no marginals. It is fitted with Seth Thomas #1281 blued spade hands, 18-size.
The movement is cased in a Coin Silver pocket watch case with hinged back and bezel, serial number 3212.
