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Seth Thomas Clocks
Prior to Thomas' mass-production factories, he became well known for his elaborate Grandfather Clocks, as well as some very large tower clocks, including the Seth Thomas Clock Tower at New York's Grand Central Terminal.
Similarly to Anson G. Phelps of The Ansonia Clock Co, who was heavily involved in the metal fabrication business, Thomas realized that if he was to survive he would need his own cheap supply of the raw material required to make clock movements and cases. For this reason he built his own metalwork fabrication mill. Thomas didn't officially incorporate his business until 1853 even though he had been in business since 1813. He was to continue as head of the company until his death in 1859. He was succeeded by his three sons, Seth Thomas Jr, Aaron and Edward. Thomas' three sons were quite visionary in their approach to the business and soon new variations of older clock models started to appear. One of the first was a Regulator Clock that was to prove extremely popular. Production of this particular model would last for almost a decade. Improvements in the field of horology and timekeeping in general led them to introduce spring-driven clocks during the 1850s. A raft of new Seth Thomas clocks was introduced after this as clocks became more affordable and more reliable. Clocks were seen as being the next adornment to homes and the Seth Thomas Clock Co was perfectly positioned to take advantage of this.
You may recognize a Seth Thomas clock by a stamp on the base of many of their clocks, between the years 1880 and 1920. Their 'code' was to write the year in reverse, for example 1901 would be 1091, and then follow that with a letter representing the month. The letters used were from A to L, representing January to December. So if you find this on the bottom of your S. Thomas clock you have a good way to fairly accurately date it. Seth Thomas branched out just before the Second World War and started production of clocks specially made for the Armed Forces, and especially for the Navy where a huge number of clocks was used on board its ships and submarines. In the 1970s Thomas introduced the first quartz clock with its 'Quartzmatic' brand that took clock accuracy to new levels. The Seth Thomas Company is still alive and well today, albeit under new ownership. In 2001 the Colibri Group bought the company and ensured that the name will live on for quite some time yet. Happy Collecting!
Below is a list of current US & UK eBay auctions of S. Thomas Clocks.
* all articles on auction courtesy of eBay ** links open a new window at eBay with product details. US Auctions Top
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Born in 1785 in Wolcott, Connecticut, Thomas found his interest in horology eventually led him to join another respected clock maker, Eli Terry, in 1807. After three years working for Terry, Thomas struck a deal that would allow him to take control of Terry's factory. He also set up a factory in Plymouth Hollow that made wooden clock movements before starting production of metal movements in the 1830s. 
The company was also to become well known for its Tower Clocks. These were huge clocks built for institutions, Government departments and municipal buildings. Their first was completed in 1875 and was to be erected at the Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Other tower clocks were erected in New York and in 1928 they were commissioned to build theirs, and the World's largest clock face, at the Colgate Building in New Jersey. This is a huge clock with each hand weighing in at over a ton and a dial 50 feet in diameter. It is still operating today. 
