Seth Thomas Historical Timeline

Seth Thomas Historical Timeline

Overall, the Seth Thomas Historical Timeline is a great way to familiarize yourself with background information that may pertain to your clock. The Seth Thomas factory made countless clock movements during and prior to the second world war. Of course, the high quality standard made the company a great success. Furthermore, after the war they did not make any movements. They subsequently chose to use alternate makers. Alternate movement makers were chosen to produce the movements for their Seth Thomas clock cases.

Start of German made movements

So, the clocks were Seth Thomas however, the clock movements were now made in Germany. They were now German instead of American. For the most part, the German movements that they chose to use for Seth Thomas were made by Hermle clock company or Kieninger. Of course, Seth Thomas would match the units to the clock case and sell them under their company name.

A long History

All in all, Seth Thomas had a long history of clock making. Although there was an exchange in the name from one company to another throughout the years, they are now extinct. The timeline shown below will take you for a walk through the changes Seth Thomas went through.

Seth Thomas Historical Timeline

1785

Seth Thomas starts in Wolcott, Ct by James Thomas.

1807

James Thomas begins working with Eli Terry as a clockmaker apprentice near Waterbury, CT. Because Terry got an order to make 4,000 clocks.

1813

James Thomas opens his own Seth Thomas shop in Plymouth Hollow, CT.

1842

Seth Thomas starts using brass clock movements which were put in Ogee Clocks.

1853

Seth Thomas Clock Company becomes a corporation.

1859

Death of Seth Thomas, now run by his three sons, Seth Thomas, Jr., Aaron, and Edward.

1866

The town of Plymouth Hollow changes its name to Thomaston in honor of Seth Thomas

1884

Establishment of Seth Thomas Watch Company

1931

Seth Thomas Clock Company becomes part of The General Time Instrument Company by the great grandson of Seth Thomas

1932

The Thomas family no longer controls The General Time Instrument Company

1949

Seth Thomas Clock Company becomes part of General Time. This is the start of all those electro-mechanical clocks with the wooden cases.

1968

General Time becomes part of Talley Industries. This is when they were using German movements made by Hermle, Kieninger, Urgos or sometimes Jauch.

2001

General Time ends and Colibri buys the assets of Seth Thomas

2009

Colibri Group discontinues all business with clocks

As a result of these facts, this is the end of Seth Thomas Historical Timeline.

End of Seth Thomas

Given these points, the Seth Thomas Clock Company had a long run and a wild ride. Hopefully this history was an interesting account of where, or how, your clock came into existence. Of course, The company name may now be found on silly things like lighters and some quartz clock dials. However, what we offer and sell are the Seth Thomas units made in Germany. These are the units General Time and Tally Industries sold under the Seth Thomas name but put Hermle clock movements in the clock cases. These German units are high quality and last 25-30 years without much complaint.

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Updated on: 27/12/2024