Seth Thomas
A Pillar of American Horology From Wooden Works to Corporate Twilight
Few names in American timekeeping resonate as deeply as Seth Thomas, a man whose career bridged the earliest days of mass-produced clocks and the rise of modern American industry. Born in 1785 in Connecticut, Thomas learned the trade under Eli Terry, one of the fathers of clock mass production. When he purchased Terry’s factory in 1810—located in a small village then known as Plymouth Hollow—he laid the foundation for what would become an empire of American horology.
By 1813, the business formally took the name Seth Thomas Clock Company, and the little factory town would eventually be renamed “Thomaston” in his honor in 1875. In the early years, the company produced wooden-geared shelf clocks typical of the era, but as technological advances swept through New England, Seth Thomas became one of the first major manufacturers to transition fully to brass movements. This pivot was crucial: brass mechanisms elevated accuracy, durability, and output, enabling the company to dominate both domestic and international clock markets throughout the 19th century.
The Brass Age and an Expanding Empire
By the mid-1800s, Seth Thomas had become synonymous with industrial precision. Their catalog expanded rapidly, including:
Regulator wall clocks, widely adopted in railroads and schools
Tower clocks, with pieces installed in courthouses, churches, and civic buildings across America
Marine clocks and chronometers used by navigators
Early alarm clocks, which they helped bring into everyday American households
Their tower clocks, in particular, defined American public timekeeping. One of the most notable examples is the movement in the old Madison Square Garden Tower, completed in 1891—a triumph of engineering that demonstrated the company's unmatched reputation.
After Seth Thomas himself died in 1859, the company carried on under family leadership, expanding production and refining their signature American aesthetic: restrained elegance, reliable engineering, and accessible pricing.
Surviving Wars, Fashion, and the Changing American Home
Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company weathered dramatic changes in domestic tastes and economic cycles. They adapted to:
The rise of electric clocks
Shifts from Victorian design to Art Deco and mid-century minimalism
The booming demand for office and factory clocks
Increasing foreign competition beginning in the 1950s
Their alarm clocks became an enduring cultural symbol—rugged, affordable, and built to last. For many families, a Seth Thomas bedside clock was the first timepiece they ever owned.
Absorption Into Corporate America
The postwar years were difficult for most American clockmakers, and Seth Thomas was no exception. In 1931, the company was purchased by the General Time Corporation, a conglomerate that included Western Clock Company (makers of Westclox). Through the mid-20th century, “Seth Thomas” lived on primarily as a brand under General Time, continuing to produce mantel clocks, wall clocks, and electric models.
However, by the 1970s and 80s, the quartz revolution and growing overseas competition began hollowing out the American clock industry. Ownership changed hands repeatedly:
1979: General Time was acquired by Talley Industries
1998: The company declared bankruptcy
2001: The brand was purchased by The Colibri Group
2009: Colibri itself folded, leaving “Seth Thomas” without an operating manufacturer
A Legacy That Ticks On—Even Without a Factory
Today, the Seth Thomas name still appears on some licensed products, but there is no longer a functioning Seth Thomas factory, nor a dedicated firm producing the movements. The historic Thomaston factory closed long ago, and the brand that once defined American clockmaking is now largely a relic of collectors, restorers, and museums.
Yet the legacy endures. Original Seth Thomas clocks—whether a humble schoolhouse clock or a monumental tower clock—remain treasured artifacts of American craftsmanship. Their mechanisms, many now more than a century old, continue to tick with the steady confidence that once made them the gold standard of American timekeeping.
