Rare Seth Thomas Pillar & Scroll Clock ca. 1822

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You are not just bidding on a clock, but a piece of American History . This clock was made by the original Seth Thomas shortly after he opened his own factory in Plymouth Hollow, CT made ca. 1822 and is known as "The Patent Breaker" clock. It's made exactly like it's less rare contemporary the Eli Terry Pillar and Scroll clock. Condition: Whether this is your first, or one of many "Pillar and Scrolls" in your collection, I am certain you will love this clock for it's history, and beauty!! Finish appears to be original All glue blocks are in place. Great bold label. Upper and lower glasses original wavy glass, with the lower glass being a terrific repaint on the original old wavy glass The top left scroll was replaced, but done in such a fashion to replicate the warp on the right scroll. The warp is only seen on true untouched Thomas clocks, and the restorer did a great job of recognizing and replicating and preserving this age flaw. Feet and apron are original. T is one point missing on the right side of the apron (typical for these clocks to be missing one or both points) The wooden dial has a great appearance with hand painted floral design. It has an extra set of holes w the clock was "updated" with a brass movement some time in the late 1800's. Brass finials are replacements The wooden works are complete, and in good condition. The name Seth Thomas is symbolic of value and excellence of craft, and the variety of sophisticated styles it has produced since 1813. As the longest established clock maker in the United States (nearly 200 years), Seth Thomas is recognized as one of the most respected brands of clocks in the world. After the revolution, not much British brass was being sent to the new country. Terry found his way down to Connecticut and established the first clock factory in America . He utilized a water wheel to generate power for his machines and made his movements out of wood. Noble parts like pivots, escape wheels and verges were made of metal. He used close grained, high-resin woods like apple and pear for wheels and pinions. Oak was used for the plates. Seth Thomas was born on August 18th, 1785 and died on January 28th,1859. He worked for Eli Terry making cases until 1810 when he and Silas Hoadley bought out Terry's factory and continued making long case clocks as Thomas and Hoadley until 1813. In December 1813 Thomas bought out Heman Clark's clock making business in Plymouth Hollow. Thomas continued Clark 's wooden movement tall clock production. In 1817 Thomas began making the wooden movement shelf clock. In 1818 the young apprentice, Seth Thomas, fell in love with and eloped with Eli Terry's daughter (much to Eli's chagrin) and relocated (or was run out of town by Eli) to the next town. With him, he took his father-in-law's teachings and established his own clock factory. Seth embraced new ideas and technology and eventually bought out old Eli's business, he purchased the right to manufacture the shelf clock developed by Eli Terry. In 1822, Thomas and Terry had a misunderstanding about Terry's patent rights which in 1827 resulted in a law suit against Thomas. You'll note on Thomas' Pillar and Scroll clocks made after 1827 have the phrase "Invented by Eli Terry" on the label. Terry later dropped the suit. These were cased in pillar and scroll cases until 1830, when the bronze looking glass and other styles became popular. The Pillar and scroll clock originally sold for only fifteen dollars and, although money was scarce after the War of 1812, demand was so great that Seth Thomas paid Terry a thousand dollars for a license to make this type of clock. The arrangement was apparently profitable, for each man made a profit of six thousand dollars the first year. When the clock business was slow, Thomas had his workers perform farming operations until they were needed once again in the clock works. Wood movements were phased out in 1845. In 1853 Mr. Thomas incorporated the Seth Thomas Clock Company, so that the business would outlive him. Mr. ... read more

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