As a result, clockpluss.com have compiled all the information you need to know about Antique Seth Thomas Mantle Clock, their identification, and value in this post.
Identification Of Seth Thomas Antique Mantel Clock
Mantel clocks, so named because they frequently hang over fireplace mantels, were one of the company’s most well-liked clock designs. It follows that you have the greatest likelihood of having this kind.
Finding out how old your clock is and determining if it is an antique or new item are the next steps. The following factors must be considered in order to accomplish this:
Labels
To determine whether you have a genuine Seth Thomas Mantle Clock or not, start by looking for a label. Thomas used a number of creative branding strategies for his clocks, so you will need to look in multiple places for different parts.
It is highly likely that a complete paper label or label remnants will be present. This may be located on the inside, the back, or the bottom of the clock’s case.
Another approach is to carefully examine the pendulum inside the clock if a paper label cannot be located. Thomas’s name is occasionally etched on the pendulum.
Alternately, take a closer look at the clock face. On a handful of the watches he created, Thomas’ name was inscribed directly above the number 6. Particularly, clocks produced between 1881 and 1888 or after 1913 exhibit this.
You might be able to locate a metal plate to repair the problem if it persists. In addition to the bottom, this can also be seen elsewhere, like inside the clock. A patent number and an engraving of the Seth Thomas label should be present on the plate.
Construction
Check the type of wood that was utilized to create your mantel clock.Up until around 1888, Seth Thomas used walnut veneer to make his clocks. In 1888, he began employing oak, walnut, and cherry in his production. Around 1913, he began using both mahogany and oak to make clock boxes.
Learn about the numerous clock movements. Wooden mechanisms were utilized in the early Seth Thomas Mantle Clock, but by 1842 brass mechanisms had taken their place.
The dial face’s hands should be given particular attention because they are a distinctive element that is easy to recognize. Up until 1875, a design was placed to the clock hands about a third of the way from the top that resembled a small bird with wings and a tail jutting out. Later clock hands had an arrow with a spherical bottom, a slightly bent tip. One-third of the way up the other clock hands, a circle was visible.
Evaluate The Materials And Style
Seth Thomas Mantle Clock employed a range of materials over the course of his career as a clock maker. With time, the fashions evolved. Examine your clock and consider the elements that make it up. According to Collectors Weekly, the following modifications to the components will assist you in dating your clock:
- Mahogany frames with elaborate carvings—In the latter history of the business, Seth Thomas Mantle Clock began framing clocks around 1830.
- Seth Thomas Mantle Clock dating back hundreds of years typically have wooden mechanisms. They often come with scroll-patterned embellished casings.
- Brass movements—In 1842, the company switched from the original wood mechanisms to brass ones.
- Seth Thomas started utilizing adamantine veneer, an early plastic veneer, on the clock faces in 1882.
Date Stamps
You undoubtedly want to know the age of your mantel clock as well. In truth, this procedure is rather simple because the majority of vintage Seth Thomas Mantle Clock have a date indication on the bottom.
You might be perplexed when you discover your date stamp, but don’t worry—the code isn’t as weird as it might seem!
These four numerals are the clock’s reverse date, or the year it was produced, as you can see from the date stamp.For instance, a code starting with 5481 indicates that the clock was made in 1845.
The final part of the date is the letter that comes after the numerals. The day of the month denoted by this letter was when the clock was made. The first letter of the alphabet, A, which stands for January, is connected to the 12th letter, L, which stands for December, via the letters A and L.
Seth Thomas Mantle Clock Value
The cost of mantel clocks can vary greatly. You are aware that the Seth Thomas Mantle Clock Company produced clocks for nearly two decades in a variety of shapes and sizes. Of course, not all of them have the same worth. The worth of the vintage Seth Thomas Mantle Clock in today’s market could be estimated using these rules.
Determine A Date
It should not be surprising that the most expensive clocks are antiques, especially those that Seth Thomas Mantle Clock himself built. If you can tell the date the clock was made, whether from the label, style, or date stamp, you have a crucial component in figuring its worth.
Analyze The Condition
Like any other antique, a Seth Thomas clock’s condition has a significant impact on its value. Consider what follows:
- Function: The clock’s primary concern should be its functioning. Does it still keep the time correctly? Does it strike and chime properly when wound, as we previously described? If you say yes, your clock will probably be worth more.
But even if it doesn’t exactly operate as well as it used to, there is still something you can do about it. You could take it to a clock repair shop, and they’d be able to fix it with parts from an old clock. A reliable, accurate clock is more valuable. It could be fixed by a clock restorer using parts from an old clock.
- Glass condition: The glass may have problems. Perhaps the continual use has cracked or chipped it. If so, the value of the clock would be diminished. However, if your glass is still in good condition, you should consider yourself fortunate. Because glass that looks beautiful adds value whereas glass that is broken or cracked subtracts.
- Wood condition – Following consideration of the glass condition, pay attention to the wood condition. Has it been broken or crazed, or was the restoration simply done incorrectly and damaged the object? Sadly, this could have a negative impact on the value of your clock. Despite the fact that a wood case with a nice patina may cost more, faults, cracks, and subpar restoration work may reduce its value.
- The subsequent item is the state of the clock face. An indication that your clock will be more valued is a readable, well-lit clock face. However, a sign that exhibits signs of deterioration is far from ideal. It is worth a lot if the clock face is still legible and operational. If it shows signs of heavy use or restoration, it will be off-putting.
The clock’s overall condition can be calculated using the average of the evaluations it received in the four categories of glass condition, function, wood condition, and clock face. If your clock is in great condition, it might be very valuable!
