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Seth Thomas Clock Company

American

Seth Thomas was an industrious clockmaker and pioneer of mass production in the United States. He founded the highly successful Seth Thomas Clock Company, which operated for more than 200 years. Over these two centuries, the company created mantle clocks, wall clocks and table clocks that were known for their masterful craftsmanship and on-trend designs.

Thomas was born in 1785 in Wolcott, Connecticut, to Scottish immigrants. At the time, Connecticut was a growing hub of American clockmaking. Though he left school at an early age, Thomas apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner in Plymouth. In the early 1800s, he made his first clock out of laurel wood from the mountains around his home.

In 1807, Thomas partnered with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley to form a clock company called Terry, Thomas & Hoadley. Over the next three years, the firm produced around 400 wall clocks. In 1813, Thomas sold his share of the company and moved to Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, where he established his clock factory. He gained a reputation for producing beautiful grandfather clocks and tower clocks. 

When Thomas died in 1859, his son, Aaron, took over the company. The Seth Thomas Clock Company continued operating successfully for several more decades. In 1913, it produced the four-faced tower clock that still stands in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. 

In 1875, Plymouth Hollow was incorporated under the name Thomaston in his honor. The company went out of business in 2009. 

Find antique Seth Thomas clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$645
Materials
Related Creators
Antique 19th Century Early American Seth Thomas Tall Case Grandfather Clock
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Seth Thomas long case clock, circa first half 19th century. Features an American poplar case in Early American styling with an open pediment, c...
Category

Early 19th Century American Colonial Antique Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Poplar

Antique Seth Thomas Adamantine Victorian Faux Marble Shelf Mantel Clock
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Seth Thomas Adamantine Victorian Faux Marble Shelf Mantel Clock. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 11" H x 16" W x 7" D.
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Wood

Chrome Art Deco "Chrono Lite-12" Commercial Neon Wall Clock by Seth Thomas, Cir
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Seth Thomas Art Deco 16” Diameter "Chrono Lite-16" wall clock featuring a black dial with Original Green Gas Tube Neon under bubble style glass and a stainless steel streamline case....
Category

1940s American Vintage Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Brown Wooden Wall Clock from Seth Thomas, 1980s
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Kojetice, CZ
Wall clock produced by Seth Thomas Clock Company in USA during the 1980s. It features a brown wooden veneered clockface and aluminium hands. The piece has been converted into a batte...
Category

1980s American Industrial Vintage Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Seth Thomas English Gothic Style Mahogany Bracket Clock C1910
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Seth Thomas English Gothic Style Mahogany Bracket Clock C1910 Measures- 15"H x 10.5"W x 7.5"D
Category

Early 20th Century Gothic Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Smoked Lucite Vision Pendulum Wall Clock by Seth Thomas
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mid-century modern smoked lucite wall clock by Seth Thomas, likely from the 1970s. The clock has a brass face and pendulum, black and red hands, and black numbers. In good vintag...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Metal

Seth Thomas, American Wall Clock, 19th Century
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Rosewood wall clock, decorated with a mirror and a bird painted with the technique of fixed under glass in the lower part. It bears the manufacturer's labels Seth Thomas...
Category

19th Century American American Classical Antique Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Wood

Seth Thomas, American Wall Clock, 19th Century
Seth Thomas, American Wall Clock, 19th Century
H 33.08 in W 16.15 in D 5.12 in
Antique Seth Thomas Oval Mantel Clock with Crystal Case
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique oval mantel clock by Seth Thomas with crystal case.. Measures - 9.5"h x 7.25"w x 5.75"d.
Category

Early 20th Century American Seth Thomas Clock Company

Materials

Crystal

Browse all Furniture from Seth Thomas Clock Company
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Seth Thomas Clock Company Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$995Mantel ClocksBrass, Enamel, Glasscirca 1900
2025$1,050Mantel ClocksMahogany, Rosewoodc1840
2024$235Mantel ClocksOak1976
2024$301Wall ClocksGlass, Bakelite1950s
$645
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$235-$1,050
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Seth Thomas Clock Company

Seth Thomas Clock Company furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Seth Thomas Clock Company furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Seth Thomas Clock Company furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Seth Thomas Clock Company were created in the industrial style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by General Electric, Stanley Szwarc, and Karen Brown. Prices for Seth Thomas Clock Company furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $326 and can go as high as $9,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $855.
Questions About Seth Thomas Clock Company
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024
    To identify a Seth Thomas clock, check its movement for a maker's mark. You may need to remove the back of the clock to access it. During the 19th and mid-20th centuries, the clockmaker usually used its full name in script or block letters to mark its pieces. Later clocks are more likely to display either an S centered with a diamond or the initials ST positioned in a circle. If you have trouble finding a marking, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can perform the identification process for you. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Seth Thomas clocks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
    To tell the date on a Seth Thomas clock, look for a code on the bottom or case back. Most pieces will show the year of production first, with the numbers reversed. Then, you'll usually see a letter. These letters correspond to months, with A representing January, B representing February and L corresponding to December. For example, a date code that reads 31F's manufacturing date would be June 1913. If you need help with the dating process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. Find a collection of Seth Thomas clocks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Sadly, Seth Thomas clocks are no longer made. The luxury clockmaker closed its doors in January 2009 and is no longer in operation. Find a collection of Seth Thomas clocks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To date a Seth Thomas mantel clock, examine the gears inside. If the movement is wood, the production date of the clock is somewhere between 1817 and 1830. Clocks made after 1881 may feature an ink code date stamp on the case back or bottom. A licensed appraiser can provide assistance with determining the exact manufacturing year. Shop a variety of expertly vetted Seth Thomas mantel clocks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024
    Yes, some Seth Thomas clocks are worth something. The company created mantle clocks, wall clocks and table clocks that were known for their masterful craftsmanship and on-trend designs, and many collectors continue to seek them out to this day. How much a particular clock will be worth depends on its age, style, materials, type and condition. To find out how much yours may be worth, consider consulting a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop a range of Seth Thomas clocks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, the Seth Thomas Clock Company is no longer in business. When the Seth Thomas Clock Company was founded in 1813 it quickly became known for its offerings of longcase, mantel, wall and table-top clocks. There are still many secondhand options for Seth Thomas Clock Company clocks through verified retailers, including 1stDibs.

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