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Seth Thomas offered a remarkable selection of glass-enamel dials in different styles and fonts, manufactured by the local firm of Duff & Sollace until late in 1897, when a fire destroyed their factory.
After the fire, the company used Swiss-made dials for all of the named grades and lower-grade models. Single-sunk dials, two pieces of copper soldered together, were installed on just about every Model 1 through 4. Double-sunk dials are quite rare, especially those with Gothic fonts, and were used only on the highest grades of the Model 5. Fancy dials using gold or silver filigree on top of a colored base were pressed and are also very hard to find. No genuine Ferguson dials have been reported so far.
The Duff & Sollace Dial Co was organized on November 19, 1895 in Thomaston, Connecticut by George Duff with capital stock of $5,000. This new venture, led by Joseph Sollace, began supplying enamel dials for the nearby Seth Thomas watch factory using a small machine shop owned by Charles Smith at the corner of Center and Litchfield Streets in Thomaston, which burned down on the night of October 25, 1897.
An 18-size dial will fit either open-face or hunting configurations. They came with only two dial feet at 13 and 45 minutes prior to 1900, when a much-needed third foot was added near the 34-minute-mark.
Roman, pressed seconds, black marginals
Arabic, pressed seconds, black marginals
Roman, pressed seconds, red marginals
Arabic, pressed seconds, red marginals
Roman, pressed seconds, RR, red marginals
Arabic, pressed seconds, RR, red marginals
Heavy Roman, pressed seconds, no marginals
Heavy Arabic, pressed seconds, no marginals
Heavy Roman, no seconds, no marginals
Roman, cut seconds, no marginals
Arabic, cut seconds, black marginals
Roman, cut seconds, red marginals, cursive
Arabic, cut seconds, RR, red marginals
Arabic, cut seconds, RR, red marginals, radial
Arabic, cut seconds, RR, red subs, Gothic
Arabic, double sunk, red marginals
Roman, double sunk, RR, red marginals
Arabic, double sunk, RR, red marginals
Arabic, double sunk, RR, red subs, Gothic
Fancy Roman, pressed seconds, 1st quality
Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 1st quality
Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 1st quality
Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 1st quality
Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 2nd quality
Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 2nd quality
Roman, pressed, black 1-12, black 13-24
Arabic, cut seconds, black 1-12, black 13-24
Roman, pressed DS, black 1-12, red 13-24
Arabic, pressed DS, black 1-12, red 13-24
Roman, double sunk, black 1-12, red 13-24
Arabic, DS, black 1-12, red 13-24, red subs
Arabic, imitation DS, red marginals
Arabic, double sunk, black 1-12, red 13-24
Painted metal dial were an aftermarket item from the Roaring Twenties, when the Art-Deco style was in full swing. They were evidently designed to replace damaged porcelain originals, and are quite rare.
The Republic is so far the only reported contract grade that has its own metal and embossed (raised) dials, available in both 6 and 18-size.
To see more Republic dials visit the Models 15 to 19 page and scroll down to the Republic section.
Most of the contract grades came with matching dials (not including private labels), and the company offered replacements for the same cost as the standard dials. The train motif was common and used on the RR Special, Engine Special, and Trainmen's Special.
The factory had the ability to stamp delicate steel hands with great precision.
The hardening and bluing processes were performed in the basement kiln.
Hour and minute, spade, blued, 1st quality
Seconds, ball tip, blued, 2nd quality
H/M, spade, blued, RR, 1st quality
H/M, spade, blued, RR, highest grades only
Seconds, spade, blued, 1st quality
H/M, fleur-de-lis, blued, 1st quality
H/M, morning glory, blued, 1st quality
Hour and minute, open kite, blued
Hour and minute, Louis XIV, gilt
Seconds, Louis XIV, gilt
Hour and minute, spade, blued, KW only
Hour and minute, spade, blued, extra broad
The rarest regular-production two-tone pattern of all, made in one block of seventy - and then never again.