1904 Seth Thomas Watch Material
The 1909-1910 Seth Thomas Catalogue of Clocks No. 675 dedicated only one, the last, page to pocket watches. On that page they provided insightful clarification of descriptive information for collectors. Three cased pocket watches are shown across the top of the page, each with a different class of dial and hands. They highlight the differences between “regular dial numerals and hands”, “heavy dial numerals and hands”, and “railroad dial numerals and hands”.
The twelve pocket watch movements include (left to right and top to bottom):
0-Size Model 20 - Grade 1 0-Size Model 20 - Grade 3 6-Size Model 15 - Eagle Series 6-Size Model 14 - Grade 119
18-Size Model 8 - Grade 36 18-Size Model 5 - Grade 47 18-Size Model 5 - Grade 57 18-Size (Model 5) Grade 149
18-Size Model 5 - Grade 182 18-Size Model 5 - Grade 382 18-Size Model 5 - Grade 260 18-Size Model 5 - Maiden Lane
This catalog page also provides an historical reference to a governmental assessment and comparison of watches for us by the United States Navy in which Seth Thomas “stood first” and “averaged the best” among all one hundred thirty-eight competing brands.
“’The United States Navy desiring to buy twenty moderate-priced watches, invited the leading American manufacturers to send watches for trial and rating at the Naval Observatory in October and November last. One hundred and thirty-eight watches of different makes were sent in. It has been officially announced that a Seth Thomas Watch stood first in the trial and the Seth Thomas Watches averaged the best’. Philadelphia Times, Feb. 18 1890.”
I could not find this reference in the February 18, 1890 edition of the Philadelphia Times; but did find it published on Page 5 in Philadelphia Times on Feb. 19 1890.