Newly discovered Grade 49 Model 5

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The Model 4

Close-up of a vintage Seth Thomas pocket watch mechanism with gold and blue details.

1888 to 1902

The Model 4 was Seth Thomas's only known key-wind model, and it's very surprising that a key-wind watch would follow the stem-wound Model 1, but it was one of the four new models designed under Charles Higginbotham's tenure at the company. Only a few thousand were made and could be used in either open-face or hunting configuration, depending on the style of case.


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 4 SN Table (pdf)

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Model 4 Run Chart (pdf)

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Model 4 Private Labels (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

Grade 11

The Model 4 was designated as Grade 11, and all were gilt with seven jewels. The only known design change was the addition of a key guard, which appeared somewhere around the third serial number block.

Master Grade Chart

Grade Totals

11,000

Roughly 13,000 of the Model 4 were made in twenty separate runs, starting at SN 35001 and ending at 718200,  giving it the widest range of the lower five models.


Type in your grade designation from the Grade Lookup above for the number of runs and the approximate total produced.

Manufacture Dates and Lookup

1888 to 1902

The earliest known publication for the Model 4 was 1888, which also followed the departure of the Model 1. There were ads for the Model 4 as late as 1896, but production continued throughout the Old Eagle Series run and into the serial number range of the New Eagle line, which began at SN 700001. A final run of a hundred was produced at SN 718101, likely just to have a key-wind choice on hand for those customers who still preferred them. There are no reported advertisements of the Model 4 past 1900.


Type in the serial number to see when yours was made. All date returns are based on catalogs and period advertising. 

The Model 4 Parts List

Small quantities of Models 2, 3, and 6 have been reported with keyed arbors, and it's not known if those are transitional pieces that can still be stem-wound or if they are key-wind only.


If they are stem-wound they would contain the standard winding parts like the arbor, yoke, crown wheel and idlers, but although technically able to be wound with a key, any of these oddball examples would still be classed by model according to their serial numbers and found on the SN charts on those particular pages.

Period Ad Cuts

1888

The only known catalog listing showing the Model 4.

1889

W W Mansfield & Co price list.

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Pocket Watch Restoration

Your antique watch can be restored! Have it looking great again and running like it just left the factory.

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