How do I identify my Seth Thomas clock?
- Look for the remains of a label or the full paper label on the clock on its back, bottom or inside.
- Study the pendulum inside the clock to determine if it has an etching on it.
- Turn over the clock carefully and look for a metal plate that identifies the clock as a Seth Thomas clock.
How do I fix my pendulum clock?
Look at the hour and minute hands closely. If they are touching the “time train” may be jammed which prevents the pendulum from swinging. To repair, push the hour hand slightly towards the dial in order to clear the minute hand, but make sure it doesn’t touch the dial.
What are regulator clocks called?
A pendulum clock is a clock that uses a pendulum, a swinging weight, as its timekeeping element.
How do I set the time on my regulator clock?
Use the nut at the bottom of the pendulum to rate the clock. Loosen the adjustment nut to slow the clock down or tighten the nut to speed it up. If the hands are sticking or meeting up at any time during the day, gently level them out over the face of the clock with a small set of needle nose pliers.
Why do clocks say regulator?
Railroad employees would synchronize their pocket watches to these regulator clocks several times a day. This helped to reduce the number of train collisions. By the 1920s, American manufacturers were displaying the word “Regulator” on the clocks’ glass-front door as a testament to their heritage.
When was the last Seth Thomas Clock made?
On February 15, 1876 Randall T. Andrews, Jr., a Thomas relative and workman in the factory, received a patent on an improved mechanism. This was put into production and utilized on all later perpetual calendar clocks until the last model was dropped in 1917.
How do you date a Seth Thomas mantle clock?
Many Seth Thomas clocks from 1881 to 1918 have a date code stamped in ink on the case back or bottom. Usually, the year is done in reverse, followed by a letter A–L representing the month. For example, April 1897 would appear as 7981 D.
What makes a pendulum stop swinging?
A pendulum stops oscillating because it loses energy when it is converted into heat. Even without air friction, the friction which exists with the point around which the pendulum rotates causes the system to lose kinetic energy and eventually stop.