Seth Thomas Clock Company. The “Umbria.” 15-day runner. 226003.
This is an interesting-looking wall clock with historical significance, crafted circa [1903], reflecting early 20th-century design and craftsmanship. The case is constructed in oak. Its light finish accentuates the open grain of this popular wood choice. The case measures 40.5 inches long. The top is fitted with an architecturally shaped pediment that centers a single turned wooden finial. The top section of the case frames the dial. Its access door is equipped with glass that protects the dial. Its sides incorporate a reeded vertical molding. The lower box is also fitted with a door. Behind it is the area where the brass-faced pendulum bob swings back and forth. At the bottom of the case is a decorative plinth. The dial is painted on tin and is ten inches across. The condition is excellent. Here you will find the maker's name and trademark. It also features a seconds indicator.
The robust movement is a double-spring time-only design and will run for 15 days on a full wind. It is heavily constructed in brass and features a Graham deadbeat escapement and Geneva Stop winding mechanism. This movement is secured to an iron bracket, which is similarly mounted to the backboard as that of the Seth Thomas Number 2 model.
This clock has been carefully preserved and retains its original oak case, dial, and movement, with no significant restorations noted. Its excellent condition and documented history authenticate it as a genuine early 20th-century piece, making it a valuable addition to any collection.
Why Umbria? The Seth Thomas Clock Company made a wide variety of clock models. Many had common names. Some had more creativity. A series of clocks was named after American cities and was called the city series. Others were named after presidents and European royalty. Umbria is a region in central Italy. This model may have been named after that region.
Inventory 226003.
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.
