Seth Thomas Research

Seth Thomas ResearchSeth Thomas ResearchSeth Thomas Research
  • Home
  • Lookup
  • Models
    • Model 1
    • Model 2
    • Model 3
    • Model 4
    • Model 5
    • Models 6 and 7
    • Models 8 and 9
    • Models 10 and 11
    • Models 12 and 13
    • Model 14
    • Models 15 to 19
    • Model 20
    • Model 21
    • Model 22
    • Model 23
    • Model 24
  • Grades
    • Private Labels
    • Contact Grades
    • Total Production
  • Learn
    • Dials
    • Cases
    • History
    • Records
    • Specifics
    • Swiss Fakes
  • Extras
    • Store
    • Buying
    • Appraise
    • Restoration
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • Lookup
    • Models
      • Model 1
      • Model 2
      • Model 3
      • Model 4
      • Model 5
      • Models 6 and 7
      • Models 8 and 9
      • Models 10 and 11
      • Models 12 and 13
      • Model 14
      • Models 15 to 19
      • Model 20
      • Model 21
      • Model 22
      • Model 23
      • Model 24
    • Grades
      • Private Labels
      • Contact Grades
      • Total Production
    • Learn
      • Dials
      • Cases
      • History
      • Records
      • Specifics
      • Swiss Fakes
    • Extras
      • Store
      • Buying
      • Appraise
      • Restoration
    • Contact
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

  • My Account
  • Signed in as:

  • filler@godaddy.com


  • My Account
  • Sign out

Seth Thomas Research

Seth Thomas ResearchSeth Thomas ResearchSeth Thomas Research

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • Lookup
  • Models
    • Model 1
    • Model 2
    • Model 3
    • Model 4
    • Model 5
    • Models 6 and 7
    • Models 8 and 9
    • Models 10 and 11
    • Models 12 and 13
    • Model 14
    • Models 15 to 19
    • Model 20
    • Model 21
    • Model 22
    • Model 23
    • Model 24
  • Grades
    • Private Labels
    • Contact Grades
    • Total Production
  • Learn
    • Dials
    • Cases
    • History
    • Records
    • Specifics
    • Swiss Fakes
  • Extras
    • Store
    • Buying
    • Appraise
    • Restoration
  • Contact

Account


  • My Account
  • Sign out


  • Sign In
  • My Account

The Dials

Duff & Sollace

 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 October in 1897, when a fire destroyed their small factory at the corner of Center and Litchfield Streets in Thomaston. 


Single-piece pressed dials from Switzerland were by far the most common after the turn of the century and were used for most of the named grades and all the lower-grade models. Single-sunk dials are assembled from two pieces of copper soldered together, which are fairly scarce and much thicker than imitation dials, and were installed on just about every Model 1 through 4. Double-sunk dials were assembled from three pieces of copper and are rare, especially the Gothic-font variants, found on only the highest grades, including Henry Molineux and Maiden Lane. Fancy dials were also single-pressed and are very hard to find, using gold or silver filigree on top of a colored base.

No Ferguson dials have been reported so far.

Their Factory

The Duff & Sollace Dial Co was organized on November 19, 1895 in Thomaston, Connecticut by George Duff with a capital stock of $5,000. The new venture, led by Joseph Sollace, began supplying enamel dials for the nearby Seth Thomas watch factory. The firm relocated to a small machine shop owned by Charles Smith the following year, which was destroyed by a fire on the night of October 25, 1897.

Dial Feet Locations

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.


The 18-size Hands

The 18-Size Dials

  • Pressed Dials
  • Heavy Dials
  • Single-Sunk Dials

  • Double-Sunk Dials
  • Fancy Dials
  • 24-Hour Dials

  • Montgomery Dials
  • Metal Dials
  • Contract Dials

The Imitation Pressed Dials

No. 1216

No. 1216

No. 1216

Roman, pressed seconds, black marginals

No. 1217

No. 1216

No. 1216

Arabic, pressed seconds, black marginals

No. 1224

No. 1216

No. 1224

Roman, pressed seconds, red marginals

No. 1225

No. 1225

No. 1224

Arabic, pressed seconds, red marginals

No. 1226

No. 1225

No. 1226

Roman, pressed seconds, RR, red marginals

No. 1227

No. 1225

No. 1226

Arabic, pressed seconds, RR, red marginals

The Heavy Pressed Dials

No. 1220

No. 1220

No. 1220

Heavy Roman, pressed seconds, no marginals

No. 1221

No. 1220

No. 1220

Heavy Arabic, pressed seconds, no marginals

No. 1222

No. 1220

No. 1222

Heavy Roman, no seconds, no marginals

The Single-Sunk Dials

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Roman, cut seconds, no marginals

No. 1219

Unknown number

Unknown number

Arabic, cut seconds, black marginals

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Roman, cut seconds, red marginals, cursive

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Arabic, cut seconds, RR, red marginals

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Arabic, cut seconds, RR, red marginals, radial

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Arabic, cut seconds, RR, red subs, Gothic

The Double-Sunk Dials

No. 1229

No. 1229

No. 1229

Arabic, double sunk, red marginals

No. 1230

No. 1229

No. 1229

Roman, double sunk, RR, red marginals

No. 1231

No. 1231

No. 1231

Arabic, double sunk, RR, red marginals

No. 1231

No. 1231

No. 1231

Arabic, double sunk, RR, red subs, Gothic

The Fancy Dials

No. 1234

No. 1234

No. 1234

Fancy Roman, pressed seconds, 1st quality

No. 1235

No. 1234

No. 1234

Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 1st quality

No. 1235

No. 1234

No. 1235

Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 1st quality

No. 1235

No. 1235

No. 1235

Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 1st quality

No. 1237

No. 1235

No. 1237

Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 2nd quality

No. 1237

No. 1235

No. 1237

Fancy Arabic, pressed seconds, 2nd quality

The 24-Hour Canadian Dials

No. 1238

Unknown number

Unknown number

Roman, pressed, black 1-12, black 13-24

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Arabic, cut seconds, black 1-12, black 13-24

No. 1240

Unknown number

No. 1240

Roman, pressed DS, black 1-12, red 13-24

No. 1241

Unknown number

No. 1240

Arabic, pressed DS, black 1-12, red 13-24

No. 1244

Unknown number

Unknown number

Roman, double sunk, black 1-12, red 13-24

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Arabic, DS, black 1-12, red 13-24, red subs

The Montgomery Dials

No. 1227

No. 1227

No. 1227

Arabic, imitation DS, red marginals

No. 1245

No. 1227

No. 1227

Arabic, double sunk, black 1-12, red 13-24

The Metal and Embossed Dials

Painted

Embossed

Painted

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.

Metal

Embossed

Painted

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.

Embossed

Embossed

Embossed

To see more Republic dials visit the Models 15 to 19 page and scroll down to the Republic section.

Models 15-19

The Contract Dials

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.

Master Grade Chart

Athabasca

Garden City

Chautauqua

Chautauqua

Garden City

Chautauqua

Garden City

Garden City

Garden City

Monarch

RR Special

Garden City

RR Special

RR Special

RR Special

Sentinel

RR Special

RR Special

Special Motor Service

Special Motor Service

Special Motor Service

Trainmens Special

Special Motor Service

Special Motor Service

20th Century

Special Motor Service

20th Century

The 18-Size Hands

The factory had the ability to stamp delicate steel hands with great precision.

The hardening and bluing processes were performed in the basement kiln.

No. 1281

Unknown number

Unknown number

Hour and minute, spade, blued, 1st quality

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Seconds, ball tip, blued, 2nd quality

No. 1282

Unknown number

Unknown number

H/M, spade, blued, RR, 1st quality

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

H/M, spade, blued, RR, Maiden Lane only

No. 1283

Unknown number

No. 1283

Seconds, spade, blued, 1st quality

No. 1284

Unknown number

No. 1283

H/M, Fleur-de-Lis, blued, 1st quality

No. 1285

Unknown number

Unknown number

H/M, Morning Glory, blued, 1st quality

Unknown number

Unknown number

Unknown number

Hour and minute. open kite, blued

No. 1287

Unknown number

No. 1287

Hour and minute, Louis XIV, gilt

No. 1288

No. 1288

No. 1287

Seconds, Louis XIV, gilt

No. 1291

No. 1288

No. 1291

Hour and minute, spade, blued, KW only

No. 1292

No. 1288

No. 1291

Hour and minute, spade, blued, extra broad

All photos and data protected by copyright. 


© 2025 - Seth Thomas Research v3.2.18m

Seth Thomas Highlights

The rarest regular-production two-tone pattern of all, made in one block of seventy - and then never again.

Other Rare Examples