Seth Thomas Wall Clock

I acquired this one in 2023 at a store, a bit like a thrift store that specialized in furniture, fixtures, and physical media. At first I wasn't sure about it, I'm not a big fan of the look and I had no idea if it would function. (Later I would discover a method for testing weight driven clocks such as these without mounting.) But I decided on it and my partner offered to buy it as a gift. I'm glad I chose it, as it turned out to make a wonderfully unique addition.

The case of this one, I'll admit is not my favorite. It's very boxy and the finish doesn't look good. There's a sense of 1980s traditionalism in there that leaves me wishing for a real piece from the era it's attempting to recreate. However, it makes up for this with the movement, which I think is very interesting. This is a gravity driven movement, meaning the power is derived from the force exerted on those large brass weights. The chains travel up to a set of ratchet wheels, meaning the other side of the chain can be pulled to bring the weights back to the top, "winding" the clock.

There is some unfortunate wear to the third wheel, the one that ultimately drives the hands. There's substantial arbor shake there, to the point where it nested into the worn hole and began to bind, stopping the clock. A thorough cleaning and oiling was enough to restart it, but it would be best to rebush that arbor to extend the life of the movement further.

The chimes sound like a sigh of relief. The rubber hammer heads do surprisingly well! It has a near perfect tone with no voicing work needed. There are three hammers, and strike one first, then the other two in unison, completing the chord. The quiet subtlety of this chord matches the very quiet heartbeat, and gives the room a very cozy vibe. Like a flower print sofa.