The Model 22*

Close-up of a Seth Thomas watch mechanism showing gears and inscriptions.

1913 to 1915

As late as 1910 there was no mention of a 12-size watch being made by Seth Thomas in any of the known catalogs, so it's interesting that the factory would design one so late in the game. The Model 22 debuted in 1913 with the Centennial Trade List, offered in just two jewel counts on nickel plates and available as a complete factory-cased watch only.

* This is an assigned model number

Grade Lookup*

Click on the charts below for more information.

The watches logged in the Serial Number Table are all verified examples.

These charts are for public use and for personal research, not for the Pocket Watch Database to plagiarize.

Model 22 SN Table (pdf)

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Model 22 Run Chart (pdf)

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* Search returns are based on similar verified examples within a few serial numbers using the smallest accepted block of ten watches, which is how many ebauches (unfinished movements) a wooden factory tray could hold. Movements were occasionally pulled from the run for private labels and upgrades, so search returns are sometimes incorrect.

Grade Assignment

There were only two known grades - both nickel and open-face but with different jewel counts. All reported examples are pendant-set.

Master Grade Chart

The Centennial Grade

The Centennial Series was a named grade produced in three models, including the 12-size Model 22 family. While the standard Seth Thomas movements have two different jewel counts of 7 and 15, the Centennial grade evidently always carried 7 jewels. There are two variants having to do with the plate font; a simple block font used on all Centennials and a Gothic font on nearly all of those with factory markings.

Grade Totals

39,300

Roughly 39,300 of the Model 22 were made in a single unbroken block from SN 3258701 to 3298000, the vast majority of which were the 7-jewel Centennial grade.

Type in your grade designation from the Grade Lookup above for the number of runs and the approximate total produced. There is a fine distinction between the 7-jewel Grade 326s that are Centennials and those that are factory-marked, so for a breakdown of the two totals scroll back up and click on the Run Chart.

Manufacture Dates

1913 to 1915

The first known record of the 12-size Model 22 was in the 1913 Trade List, advertised as part of the Centennial Line in one of three sizes. It continued in the 1914 catalog supplement, the only pocket watches still being offered by the company, and by 1915 the company was offering them at 50% off.

Period Ad Cuts

1913

The Centennial catalog.

1915

The 1915 catalog insert pertaining to leftover Centennial stock, courtesy of the Smithsonian Museum of American History Library.

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