<h1>Seth Thomas And Antique Mantle Clocks</h1>

The mantle clocks designed and produced in the 1800’s and early 1900’s were usually made with such care and craftsmanship that they became the objects of desire for collectors. The quality and beauty of the antique mantle clocks make them both practical and desireable. This makes the antique mantle clock an ideal heirloom. Many clocks have passed from generation to generation keeping accurate time and providing decorative beauty for many, many years after the clock was designed and built.

One example of a clockmaker whose works have stood the test of time is the Seth Thomas Clock Company. The Seth Thomas Clock Company was organized prior to the Civil War, on May 3, 1853 to succeed the earlier clock making operation of it’s founder. Seth Thomas (1785-1859) had been manufacturing clocks at the site continuously since 1814.

Aaron, son of Seth Thomas, became President following the death of his father in 1859. He began to add new products to what had been a conservative line. About 1862, the firm purchased the patent rights of Wait T. Huntington and Harvey Platts of Ithaca, New York and added three models to their line that year. The earliest of the clocks indicate only three patent dates on the dials, September 19, 1854, November 17, 1857 and January 31, 1860. The fourth and final patent of March 1, 1862 is seen on most of their calendar clocks manufactured until 1875 or 1876. On February 15, 1876 Randall T. Andrews, Jr., a Thomas relative and workman in the factory, received a patent on an improved mechanism. This mechanism was put into production and utilized on all later perpetual calendar clocks until the last model was dropped in 1917.

The Seth Thomas Clock Company remained prosperous into the 20th Century and was considered the “Tiffany’s” of Connecticut clock manufacture. Regarded highly, not only by their customers but even by their competitors. Between 1865 and 1879 they operated a subsidiary firm known as Seth Thomas’ Sons & Company that manufactured a higher-grade 15-day antique mantle clock movement. During that period they were major supporters of a New York sales outlet known as the American Clock Company. They also became a major manufacturer of tower and street clocks after 1872 and in between 1915 were manufacturers of jeweled watches.

On January 1, 1931, the firm became a subsidiary of General Time Instruments Corporation.  This marked the passing from control of the Thomas family. The firm’s decline continued over the next 50 years and finally moved from Connecticut to Norcross, Georgia about 1975. It was reported in 1988 that the firm was all but dissolved and, finally, in 2003, the in-house collection of the firm was sold to private collectors.

Collecting of these beautiful time pieces has much more to do with craftsmanship, mechanical workings and even sentimentality than it does with knowing the time of day. Today, the Seth Thomas antique mantle clock is one of the most desired of the collectible clocks. Because of it’s history and it’s timeless beauty it never goes out of style. It also adds incredible beauty to your home decor. You can invest in a Seth Thomas clocks knowing you have made an investment in a timeless classic. There are many other types of clocks, but the Seth Thomas clock makes for a good beginning in the world of clocks.