Posted 9 years ago
rossjim
(1 item)
I am trying to find out some information, I inherited this clock from my grandparents. I remember as a child in the early '50s my grandfather telling my dad that the repairman had fixed the clock but told my grandfather he didn't know how long it would last, and to be very careful with it. It still works and keeps fabulous time, although I am now having to wind it twice a week. It was out in 2006 for major overhaul and cleaning for almost a year.
I suspect it may have been a wedding present to my grandparents in the 1910 to 1915 time period since their oldest son was born in the mid teens.
I should have mentioned it iis a Seth Thomas.
Hi rossjim,
Welcome to Collectors Weekly.
Your heirloom Seth Thomas *may* be a version of the model they called "Hallie" from circa 1909-1915. I say *may* because the illustrated example in my reference book appears to have rounded columns, not flat columns like those used for your grandparent's clock. The "Hallie" measures 11 inches high and 16 inches wide. What are your clock's measurements?
Whether your clock is a listed model or not found in any of the commonly available catalog re-print/references, it is a Seth Thomas Adamantine Mantel Clock. Here is a short informative webpage which you may be interested in: http://clockhistory.com/sethThomas/products/adamantine/
Hope that helps a little. Thanks for sharing your heirloom with us.
You've nailed it (or struck the hour) exactly. Great to know. There was no identifier except for 890 engraved on the clockworks. While I want to remember it as a mahogany red color, it is now brown. Perhaps 100 years will do that.
While I am not a clock collector, I seem to have ended up with a few along with my Seth Thomas: my parent's Normandy chime mantle clock from around 1940 (brand unknown), my great-aunt's 1900ish unknown brand musical chime alarm clock (Belle of New York) which won't stop until it runs out if you mistakenly wind the alarm, a '60s Dumai mantle Westminster chime. I had a friend's 1916 Eaton's catalogue wood engraved mantle clock, which his father had bought back then. It bonged LOUDLY. I have returned it to his family. And a small cookoo clock which has been in and out of a very good clock repair shop for over a year and a half now.
Of course my desktop Mac has Big Ben Westminster chimes which ring out every quarter of an hour.
Luckily, I have very few overnight guests.
Again thanks for your confirmation.
You're very welcome! Sounds like you do have quite a few clocks around. One quickly gets used to their presence but overnight guests rarely do. :)
That may be an "89 D" movement. The 89 "XX" series was a very successful workhorse for Seth Thomas. When properly maintained, they are good, reliable time-keepers. Does your movement have a solid rear plate?
Adamantine can and does fade with time. For this reason, you should try to keep it out of strong light. If you are ever inclined to do so, you can carefully and temporarily remove one of the front feet (a couple of screws hold them in from the bottom) and you'll see the original color underneath the metal.