EA 814 – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 11 – STF Serial# CENTURY11D – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 813C – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 12 – STF Serial Number CENTURY12C – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 814A – Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 13 – Serial# 173701 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 821 – Century U.S.A. – 6-size – Model 18 – Serial# 983024 – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

EA 822 – Century U.S.A. – 6-size – Pendant Model 24 – Serial# 3071734 – 7 Jewels - Grade 320

It has been reported to me that my imagery of this watch has been placed on another Seth Thomas pocket watch website in violation of copyright law.

Century U.S.A. is a private label in Seth Thomas 18-size Model 10, Model 11, Model 12, and Model 13, and 6-size hunting Model 18 and 6-size open-face Model 24. Access the Seth Thomas Photo Album by Model Number to see more Century U.S.A. pocket watches.

Century (Factory Named Grade) - Century U.S.A. Private Label

EA 813– Century U.S.A. – 18-size – Model 10 – STF Serial# CENTURY10B – 7 Jewels - Factory Named Grade Century

In the Sears, Roebuck & Company 1896 Spring Catalog No 102 Seth Thomas pocket watches were not a big story. There were no images of Seth Thomas movements or dials. They were included in the list of choices for watch movements to fill the advertised watch cases as the low-end seven jewel option. It wasn’t until the 1898 Fall Catalog No 107 (shown below) that images of Seth Thomas movements were on display in the Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog. The first images included two seven-jewel Model 10 private labels, Pan-American and Century U.S.A., both lauded for their reliability. The Century movement and glitzy case combination was marketed as a “Trading Watch”; before that definition included the installation of fake jewels covering the pivots on the top plate, and false movement markings claiming 17, 21, or 23 jewels and that the movement was adjusted.

Century 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 & Co.