An Overview of the Locomotive Motif in Seth Thomas Pocket Watches
By 
(A Guest Post by Jonathan Luysterborghs). Due to the critical role that high grade mechanical pocket watches played in standards adopted to improve railroad safety during the 19th century; locomotives and railroad related themes make up a popular motif found on many pocket watches of all grades from around the turn of the 20th century. This article will focus on the use of the locomotive motif on pocket watches manufactured by Seth Thomas. Roy Ehrhardt notes in his “Railroad Watches – Identification and Price Guide – 1995” that these are referred to as “Railroad-Marked Watches”.
Pocket watch production by Seth Thomas was limited to the thirty years between 1885 and 1915. Seth Thomas produced a limited number of pocket watches that could be considered “railroad grade”; but produced others that bore the image and/or name of a locomotive painted on the dial and/or engraved on the top plate of the watch movement, visible by opening the back cover of the watch case. Some of the watch cases also bore engravings with a locomotive motif; but watch cases and watch movements were two separate items and were purchased separately, often matched and put together by a local jeweler or “jobber” for the customer. This article will be focused on the pocket watch movements and dials produced by Seth Thomas that bear a locomotive motif. These should not be confused with the high grade pocket watches that kept passengers and crews safe while traveling on the rails across America, and they certainly do not bear the valor associated with those railroad grade pocket watches or the workers who were required to obtain and maintain them at their own expense. That is why I will refer to the watches presented in this article as having Locomotive Motif instead of as Railroad-Marked Watches.
Seth Thomas did produce a limited number of the high-grade pocket watches that met the standards of the Railroad Safety Board. Among them were all of the Seth Thomas Maiden Lane grade pocket watches, the Model 5 grade 260, and the Model 5 grade 382 as shown below in the 1913 No. 701 Seth Thomas Watch Movements—Centennial Edition Trade Price List.
Seth Thomas also manufactured other high grade pocket watches that met the standards of the Railroad Safety Board; but the focus of this article is not on the actual railroad grade watches manufactured by Seth Thomas. The focus of this article is on the non-railroad grade pocket watches manufactured by Seth Thomas that have a Locomotive Motif.
It may sound like an overly simplified approach to learning; but by carefully examining the pages of the Pocket Watch Database dedicated to images of each model of our favorite manufacturers’ watches we can pick up invaluable bits of information and history that is difficult to find anywhere else.
As a fan of Seth Thomas pocket watches I have found that the locomotive motif can be a tricky one to trace in any reference source or collection of reference sources that you choose. By searching in the pages of the Pocket Watch Database the following private label Seth Thomas pocket watches can be found with a locomotive on the dial and/or the movement: Bosell Couri, Biddeford, ME.; Century U.S.A.; Engine Special; Liberty U.S.A.; R.R. Special U.S.A.; Seth Thomas; Trainmens Special; and T & M Special.
A brief description and photographic illustration of each Seth Thomas private label utilizing the locomotive motif is presented here. All of the watches described here have locomotives on their dials. Less than half have locomotives engraved on their movement. Some of the locomotives on the dials have train numbers visible, none of the locomotives engraved on the movements have train numbers. There is plenty of variation between the locomotives depicted on the dozen Seth Thomas pocket watches presented.
Bosell Couri, Biddeford, ME.
Bosell Couri, Biddeford, ME. – Private Label – Model 5 – Ser # 225562 – 15 J – Micro-Regulator – Grade: 159
The combined information from the 1900 U.S. Census, the 1905 Death Record of Bosell Couri, and the Portland Maine City Directory tells us that after emigrating from Syria; Bosell Couri was a jeweler in Portland Maine until his death in 1905 at age 31. He was a jeweler with a close family member, probably a brother, Bshara G. Couri who continued to be a jeweler after the death of Bosell Couri. There are pocket watches with the locomotive motif bearing the signature “B. G. Couri Special” that were produced by other watch manufacturers. This Bosell Couri private label pocket watch, serial number 225562, was purchased from a seller in Ragalna, Italy on the island of Sicily. Ragalna is near Catania.
Century U.S.A. with Locomotive (Trading Watch)
Century U.S.A. – Trading Watch – Model 12 – Ser # 1066094 – 7 J – Micro-Regulator – Century Grade
These photographs are of Century U.S.A. Trading Watch dial that is attached to a R.R. Special movement.
Century U.S.A. was a private label watch that Seth Thomas manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Co. to sell in their mail order catalog. While they did sell other trading watches; I have not yet seen this one advertised in any of their catalogs. I’ll keep looking.
Engine Special
Engine Special – Trading Watch – Model 12 – Ser # 1083797 – 7 J – Micro-Regulator – Century Grade
Engine Special was a trading watch that Seth Thomas manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Co. to sell in their mail order catalog.
“Engine Special” is a Private Label Trading Watch in Seth Thomas Model 12 produced by Seth Thomas for Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their catalog. The Engine Special has 7-jewels, a micrometric regulator, and is a non-adjusted movement fitted with pivot covers resembling raised jewel settings; but holding only a ruby-colored translucent bead, and with false movement markings indicating that the movement has 23 jewels and that it is adjusted.
Liberty U.S.A.
Liberty U.S.A. – Private Label – Model 12 – Ser # 1300196 – 7 J – Simple Regulator – Century Grade
Liberty U.S.A. – Private Label – Model 12 – Ser # 1300131 – 7 J – Simple Regulator – Century Grade
On the Arabic version of the Liberty U.S.A. dial the locomotive does not display any number. On the Roman version of the Liberty U.S.A. dial the locomotive displays the number 10.
Pettit’s Special Railway – E.E. Pettit
Pettit’s Special Railway – E.E. Pettit – Private Label – Model 2 – Ser # 67410 – 15j – Micro-Regulator – Grade: 197
R.R. Special U.S.A.
R.R. Special – Private Label – Model 12 – Ser # 1105623 – 7 J – Simple Regulator – Century Grade
These photographs are eBay images found in the Pocket Watch Database Images feature.
Locomotive with Seth Thomas Signature
Seth Thomas – Private Label – Model 5 – Ser # 212068 – 15 J – Micro-Regulator – Grade: 159
Seth Thomas – Private Label – Model 5 – Ser # 210801 – 17 J – Micro-Regulator – Grade: 182
Access image alongside the PWD data sheet.
Seth Thomas – Private Label – Model 5 – Ser # 232285 – 21 J – Micro-Regulator – Grade: 290
These photographs are eBay images found in the Pocket Watch Database Images feature.
These photos are Jones & Horan Auctions images found in the Pocket Watch Database Images feature.
Trainmens Special
Trainmens Special – Trading Watch – Model 12 – Ser # 1010272 – 7 J – Micro-Regulator – Century Grade
Trainmens Special – Trading Watch – Model 12 – #TRAINMENS12A – 7 J – Micro-Regulator – Century Grade
Other Trainmens Special (Model 12): 1001904, 1010883, 1037136, 1062341, 1063520
Trainmens Special – Trading Watch – Model 13 – #TRAINMENS13A – 7 J – Micro-Regulator – Century Grade
“Trainmens Special” is a Private Label Trading Watch in Seth Thomas Model 12 and Model 13, produced by Seth Thomas for Sears, Roebuck & Company for sale in their catalog. The Trainmens Special has 7-jewels, a micrometric regulator, and is a non-adjusted movement fitted with pivot covers resembling raised jewel settings; but holding only a ruby-colored translucent bead, and with false movement markings indicating that the movement has 17 or 23 jewels and that it is adjusted.
T & M Special
T & M Special – Private Label – Model 5 – Ser # 231337 – 17 J – Micro-Regulator – Grade: 182 Special
For other T & M Special: 209128, 213268
Closing Thought
The importance of making historical background information freely available to all who have interest in the roots of the American clock and watch industry cannot be overstated. Information that is not freely shared not only confounds the research of present day horologists; but will likely become information forever lost to the future generations of horologists.
The Pocket Watch Database, serving as a collective repository for the studies and research of many, is playing the greatest role in collecting, organizing, consolidating, and freely disseminating invaluable information to the horological community and the public at large.
I am grateful to Nathan Moore, Founder and Administrator of the Pocket Watch Database, for the opportunity to share information about Seth Thomas pocket watches.
