Seth Thomas 10 Inch Drop Octagon wall clock. A schoolhouse clock in a mahogany case. 225088.
This “Drop Octagon Ten Inch” was made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, Connecticut. These octagon-shaped head case clocks are commonly called “Schoolhouse” clocks today because they were installed in numerous schoolrooms nationwide. The Seth Thomas version of this clock is, in my opinion, the model by which all others are judged.
This is a special example because the case is made of mahogany and features a subtle ribbon-grain pattern. Mahogany examples are not often available on the market. The vast majority of school clocks seen today feature oak cases. The fact that this example is mahogany suggests it was made for a residential or office setting.
The spring-powered movement is of brass construction. It is a time-only design and features a die-stamped front plate with the Maker’s name, “S. Thomas / Thomaston, CT. / U.S.A.” and the Maker's trademark, ST, in a diamond surrounded by a circle. The number “81/4” is located in the lower right corner and refers to the pendulum length. This movement is spring-wound, fitted with a Geneva Stop winding mechanism. This model is designed to run for eight days on full wind. The lead pendulum bob is covered in brass. The bob can be viewed through the opening in the painted design on the lower glass in the front of the case.
The brass dial bezel has been cleaned and is fitted with protective glass. The painted tin dial measures 10 inches in diameter. It features Roman-style hour numerals along a closed minute ring. The manufacturer’s name, “SETH THOMAS,” is painted on the front in an Old English font. “Made in the U.S.A.” is painted at the bottom.
The Maker’s setup label is pasted on the backboard of the clock. It lists the place of manufacture as “Thomaston, Conn., U.S.A.”
This clock measures approximately 21.5 inches long. This is an outstanding example.
This schoolhouse clock was made circa 1910.
It is inventory number 225088.
Seth Thomas was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, in 1785. He was apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner and worked building houses and barns. He started in the clock business in 1807, working for clockmaker Eli Terry. Thomas formed a clock-making partnership in Plymouth, Connecticut, with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley as Terry, Thomas & Hoadley. In 1810, he bought Terry's clock business, making tall clocks with wooden movements. Seth chose to sell his shares in the partnership in 1812, moving in 1813 to Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, where he set up a factory to make metal-movement clocks. In 1817, he added shelf and mantel clocks. By the mid-1840s, He successfully transitioned to brass movements and expanded his operations by building a brass rolling mill and a cotton factory. In 1853, He incorporated the business but continued to be the majority shareholder. This clock business expanded until it became one of the "BIG Seven" in Connecticut. Their product line had offerings that competed at every price point, from kitchen clocks to precision regulators. Seth Thomas died in 1859. The community of Plymouth Hollow so revered him that they changed the name on July 6, 1875, to Thomaston in his honor. After his death, his son, Aaron, took over the company's leadership. Aaron is credited with increasing the business by adding a number of new case styles and improving production methods. The company went out of business in the 1980s.
