If you’ve ever found an old clock in an attic or a dusty corner of an estate sale, your first instinct was probably to look for a name. When you see Seth Thomas, there’s a certain weight to it. It’s one of the most iconic names in American horology, but honestly, just seeing the name on the dial doesn't tell you the whole story. To really know what you have, you’ve gotta look at the paper.
The paper labels inside Seth Thomas clocks are like a thumbprint. They’ve been used since the early 1800s to tell owners how to wind the thing, who made it, and where the factory was located. But here’s the kicker: people constantly misread them. They see a "Patent 1880" date and think they’ve found a masterpiece from that exact year. Usually, they haven't.
The Secret Language of the Date Code
Most folks don't realize that Seth Thomas actually had a secret code for dating their clocks between 1881 and 1918. If you flip your clock over or peek at the bottom of the case, you might see a tiny ink stamp. It looks like a jumble of numbers and a letter—something like 7981 D.
No, that's not a serial number. It’s a date in reverse.
Basically, you read the year backwards. In that example, 1897 is the year. The letter at the end? That’s the month. A is January, B is February, and so on. So "7981 D" means the clock was finished in April 1897. It’s a simple trick, but if you don't know it, you're just guessing.
Why "Plymouth Hollow" vs "Thomaston" Matters
One of the easiest ways to narrow down the age of a Seth Thomas clock is to look at the location printed on the label.
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Seth Thomas started his shop in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut back in 1813. He was a powerhouse in the community. In fact, he was so important that in 1875—sixteen years after he died—the town actually changed its name to Thomaston in his honor.
This is a huge clue for you.
- If the label says Plymouth Hollow, the clock or the label design predates 1875.
- If it says Thomaston, it was made after 1875.
It’s a small detail, but it’s a hard line in the sand for collectors. You’d be surprised how many "antique" clocks are dated incorrectly because someone ignored the town name.
The "Adamantine" Confusion
In the 1880s, Seth Thomas introduced something called Adamantine. It was basically a high-tech (for the time) celluloid veneer designed to look like expensive marble or wood. These clocks are everywhere today. They usually have labels on the back, like the famous Label 295 or No. 298A.
The mistake people make is looking at the patent date on these labels—often September 17, 1880—and assuming that's the birth year of their clock. It isn't. That patent date just refers to when the Adamantine process was protected. Those labels were used for decades. You’ve gotta look for that ink-stamped date code we talked about earlier to get the real truth.
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Variations You'll Actually See
Labels weren't one-size-fits-all. Depending on the era and the style of the clock, the paper changed:
- Early Wood Works (1813–1840s): These are the holy grails. The labels are often large, covering much of the backboard inside the case. They usually feature the name of the printer (like Elihu Gere of Hartford) at the bottom. The typography is very "early Americana," and they often explicitly mention "Patent Brass Bushings" or "Wooden Movements."
- The Middle Era (1850s–1870s): Once the company incorporated as the Seth Thomas Clock Company in 1853, the labels became more standardized. You’ll see more mentions of "Eight-Day" or "Thirty-Hour" movements. The paper is usually a brownish-orange or off-white.
- The 20th Century (1900–1930s): Labels started getting smaller and more functional. You might see "Guarantee and Directions" labels inside the back door of a tambour (humpback) mantel clock. By the 1930s, you start seeing the "Plymouth" brand name appearing on labels, which was a sub-brand Seth Thomas used for a while.
Identifying Reproductions
Here is something you really have to watch out for. Because these clocks are popular, people sell reproduction labels. If a label looks too perfect—no yellowing, no "foxing" (those little brown spots), and no smell of old paper—be skeptical.
An original 19th-century label was printed with a letterpress. If you run your finger over it (very gently!), you might feel a slight indentation from the type. Modern inkjet or laser-printed labels are perfectly flat and often have a weird, bluish tint to the black ink.
Also, look at how the label is attached. Old labels were often put on with a flour-based paste that turns brittle and dark over a century. If it looks like it was stuck on with a glue stick last Tuesday, well, it probably was.
How to Preserve Your Label
If you’ve got an original label, please, don't try to "clean" it. You will ruin it. The paper is incredibly acidic and fragile.
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- Avoid Moisture: Don't use damp cloths near the label.
- Don't Re-glue: If a corner is peeling, leave it be or consult a pro. Modern adhesives can soak through the paper and leave permanent grease stains.
- Keep it out of the Sun: UV light is the enemy of 100-year-old ink. If your clock has a glass door that shows the label, keep it away from direct windows.
Honestly, the label is often worth as much as the movement to a serious collector. It’s the "provenance" of the piece. A Seth Thomas clock with a shredded or missing label is just a clock; one with a crisp, readable Plymouth Hollow label is a piece of history.
What to Do Next
If you’re staring at a Seth Thomas clock right now, grab a flashlight. Look at the very bottom of the case or the back of the wood. Look for that four-digit stamped code.
If you find a code like 0981, you now know it's from 1890. If you see "Thomaston" but no code, you're likely looking at something from the 1870s or something much later after the coding stopped.
Check the movement itself too. Many 20th-century movements, like the Type 89, are stamped with their own production dates (e.g., "10 40" for October 1940). Compare the date on the movement to the style of the label. If they don't match, you might have a "marriage"—a movement from one clock put into the case of another. It happens more often than you'd think.