Posted 14 years ago
Glenda
(1 item)
This was clock of my great grandfathers that is now hanging on my wall. I love it, but I can't find any dates on it. My mother told me it was a Seth Thomas and it's been in the family for a very long time. I have no idea what the value of it is or how old it is or where to locate a date on it. There is a number of 8981J on the back along with directions on how to make it strike. etc and it's labeled "Eight Day Half Hour Strike" I'd love to know more specifics and the value of it. It's a beatiful clock, still in working condition.
the serial number you have there could possibly be an anagram of 'J' possibly for Jerome & Co,but if you are certain that it is a Seth Thomas clock then it may be the month of manufacture, ie: January, June or July, the number may be in the reverse order and could indicate the year of manufacture, ie: 1898
Tim is on the right track. Seth Thomas clocks used this type of date code for a number of years starting in the 1880's through the 1910's. Reverse the four numbers and that is the year. In this case it is in fact 1898. The month of manufacture corresponds to the letter used in the date code. January would 'A', February would be 'B', etc. In the case of this clock, 'J' means that it was made in October, so the date your clock was made is October, 1898
And if you don't know yet, eight day is how often you must wind it and half hour strike is it not only chimes the hour but a shorter sound on the half hour.
The clock looks attactive from here.
Good Luck!