Sizes of Seth Thomas Pocket Watches

When measuring a pocket watch, it is important that you measure the pocket watch movement (mechanism) without including the size of the pocket watch case. It is equally important that your measurement is of the “pillar plate”, which is beneath the watch’s dial and hands.  You should not be measuring the “top plate”, which has the engraved patterns and movement markings, and where you can often see gears, wheels, screws, and springs.  The top plate is usually a couple of sizes smaller than the pillar plate; so you cannot get an accurate reading by measuring there. 

As with measuring anything else, the measurement needs to be expressed and communicated in the relevant measurement scale. In some regions of the world millimeters and lignes have been the standard units of measure for pocket watches. Since this article is providing information about American-made pocket watches; the correct system of measurement to use would be the American Movements Sizes scale.

The American Movements Sizes scale is based upon the Lancashire Guage where a small measurement (1/30 of an inch) is added to the basing figure of one inch to establish the actual size of the next larger named size; so the expressed sizes are additive, not relative, to one another.  An 18-size pocket watch is not three times as large as a 6-size pocket watch.  It is twelve units (1/30”) larger. The various established watch sizes are expressed as a number hyphenated with the letter “s” after it, with “s” standing for “size”.  The smaller numbers represent a smaller watch than the larger numbers. Sizes below 0-size are expressed as 3/0-size, 6/0-size, and so forth all the way down to 21/0-size. 

Fortunately; Seth Thomas produced watches in only five sizes.  The photo below shows those five sizes.

18-size

16-size

12-size

6-size

0-size

In “addition” to these sizes, 18-s, 16-s, 12-s, 6-s, and 0-s; Seth Thomas manufactured some “compact” models and some “snug” models. 

Some of the 6-size pocket watch movements were manufactured with a longer setting lever, enabling them to accept the same size dial as is used on a 12-size watch.  The later 6-size pendant set movements did not need to be modified at all to accept the larger dial. These watches are referred to as 12X6 movements by collectors and watchmakers. They were marketed to the public as thinner, less bulky 12-size pocket watches. Most pocket watch dials are slightly smaller than the pillar plate that they rest upon to reduce chipping and breakage of the enamel dial; so a dial for many 12-size watches measures only about 10-s.  The dial on the 12X6 movements are 10-s, just like the 12-size movements; but they protrude past the 6-size pillar plate.  Specially adapted 12-size watch cases are required to accommodate the 12X6 movements which are really just 6-size movements with a longer setting lever to extend beyond the edge of the oversized dial. The resulting benefit of the 12X6 movement is really the ability to sell the 6-size watch in a somewhat compact 12-size watch case to people who don’t want to read the smaller 6-size watch dial.

You can notice in some advertisements for the Centennial grade watches that a “4-size” watch is listed.  In other literature you can notice that a 6-size “snug dial” is referenced. These two phrases are connected in that the Seth Thomas “4-size” pocket watch is really their 6-size pocket watch with a “snug dial” and a “snug case”.  The snug dial is the same size as other 6-size dials; but its painted features are moved closer to the center, away from the perimeter of the dial, and its seconds bit is smaller. The watch movement with the “snug dial” is then placed into a slightly scaled down 6-size watch case with a smaller exterior dimension, a smaller bezel opening, and a smaller seconds hand; making the watch appear to be a true 4-size watch.

This is a 6-size Seth Thomas Lever Set Model 18 private label “Republic U.S.A.” movement that was manufactured with a longer setting lever to accommodate a 12X6 dial and a compact 12-size pocket watch case.  You can see the over-sized dial extending beyond the diameter of the pillar plate in the center photograph. You can easily see the setting lever extending beyond the perimeter of the pillar plate in its closed position, and its extended reach in the open position in two photographs at the right hand end of the block. 

This illustration appeared on page 803 of the 1910 Fall edition of the Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog to help customers visualize the different pocket watch sizes that they could purchase [*30] .

These are three 6-size Seth Thomas Pendant Set Model 24 movements. Left to right you can see a 12X6 version, the Standard Version, and a Snug version. Enclosed in their cases they appear to be three different sizes.

Left to right you can see a 12X6 version, the Standard Version, and the Snug version. Still enclosed in their cases; but viewing the top plate it is clear that they are the same size movement; but the 12X6 version is placed in an expanded case, and the Snug version is placed in a scaled down case with reduced dimensions.

With the bezels removed or open it is clear that the 12X6 dial is a larger dial than the other two dials.  Without the bezels it is also more apparent that the only differences between the standard dial and the snug dial are the radius of their minute tracks, the size of the hands, and the size of the seconds bits.

When removed from their cases it is obvious that the 12X6 dial extends beyond the perimeter of the 6-size movement, while this is not the case on the standard version.

With the dials removed it is obvious that the movements that were fitted with the 12X6 dial and the standard dial are actually the same size.

18-Size Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models

Of the 24 Seth Thomas pocket watch models, thirteen models are 18-size.

Click here to view Model 1 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 1 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 2 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 2 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 3 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 3 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 4 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 4 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 5 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 5 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 6 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 6 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 7 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 7 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 8 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 8 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 9 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 9 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 10 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 10 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 11 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 11 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 12 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 12 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 13 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 13 Photo Album.

16-Size Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models

PENDANT SET MODEL No. 21

16-SIZE

There was one Seth Thomas pocket watch model manufacture in 16-size.

Click here to view Model 16 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 16 Photo Album.

12-Size Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models

MODEL No. 22

12-SIZE

MODEL No. 23

12-SIZE

There were 2 Seth Thomas pocket watch models manufactured in  12-size.

Click here to view Model 22 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 22 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 23 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 23 Photo Album.

6-Size Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models

There were seven Seth Thomas pocket watch models manufactured in 6-size.

Click here to view Model 14 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 14 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 15 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 15 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 16 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 16 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 17 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 17 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 18 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 18 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 19 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 19 Photo Album.

Click here to view Model 24 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 24 Photo Album.

0-Size Seth Thomas Pocket Watch Models

0-SIZE MODEL No. 20

There was one Seth Thomas pocket watch model manufactured in 0-size.

Click here to view Model 20 Specifications.  Click here to view the Model 20 Photo Album.