Seth Thomas

Background

He was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, United States on August 19, 1785.

Career

He was apprenticed early to a joiner, learned cabinet making, and, in 1807, entered the clock business when he began to work for Eli Terry in Greystone, Connecticut.

In 1810 Thomas and Silas Hoadley formed a partnership to make tall wooden-movement clocks. Thomas sold out his interest to Hoadley in 1812 and moved to Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut. There he founded what became the Seth Thomas Clock Company and began to produce wooden-movement clocks by mass-production methods. Thomas was not an inventor or an innovator; his success was due rather to a shrewd business acumen. After Eli Terry had secured a patent in 1814 for his shelf clock, Thomas paid Terry $1, 000 for the right to use the patent for his own production. Thereafter Thomas produced many kinds of shelf clocks, changing designs as styles changed. All were powered with wooden movements until 1838, when Chauncey Jerome produced a brass movement that Thomas adopted. By 1850 he was making spring-driven clocks.

In 1853, with a capital of $75, 000, he organized the Seth Thomas Clock Company, which, after his death, was carried on by his son, Seth Thomas, and later by his grandson and great-grandson, both named Seth Thomas.

Achievements

• He was a pioneer of mass production at his Seth Thomas Clock Company.

Connections

Partner:

Silas Hoadley

Son:

Seth Thomas

Grandson:

Seth Thomas