Two Seth Thomas “Plymouth” Tambour Mantel Clocks, 1938 and 1945
January 19, 2010 . by AdminThese two “Plymouth” tambour mantel clocks made by Seth Thomas came into my shop just a couple of days apart. They are similar but have different movements. Both have lively hour and half hour strike on two chime rods.
Plymouth was a name that Seth Thomas put on some clocks ca. 1930 – 1950. If anyone has details of this, please let me know.
Our first example is labeled 89IM on the movement. This is a variation on the popular No. 89 movement having hour and half-hour strike, with two hammers that simultaneously strike on two chime rods. The date code is 37-11 which represents November, 1937. The label on the back door has the date 5/21/38 (May 21, 1938) hand written on it. This is probably the date the clock was sold.
Our second example has the later Seth Thomas time and strike movement that was introduced to save on cost. It is labeled 10-40 and 4503, which could be date codes for October 1940 or March, 1945. If anyone can help me interpret these numbers, please let me know! Similar movements have been seen with model number A-200 on them. The label says:
Guarantee and Directions
Covering Clocks Equipped With
4300, 4500 and 4600 Series 8-Day Pendulum
Strike Movements in Tambour Cases
Both cases are 20 inches wide and 9 1/4 inches tall, with bezels measuring approximately 6 1/4 inches outside diameter. Both have “fake inlay” printed on the case front. Both have aluminum dials. The older dial has embossed numerals, but the numerals on the newer dial are printed only. Both clocks have instruction labels inside the back doors and are illustrated below.
Movement Summary
- The No. 89 movement was introduced about 1900, and was made in many variations.
- It was replaced in the late 1930s or the early 1940s with the second movement shown above. This has smaller plates and gears and was probably a cost reduction. It is not as good, as it seems to need quite strong mainsprings to run well.
- In 1955, a flood badly damaged the Seth Thomas factory. They phased out movement manufacturing and began importing many movements from Germany. They used many Hermle movements.
I am looking for a winding key for my seth thomas plymouth model tambour mantle clock. I see from your most excellent and informative website that I need some #s to help locate an appropriate key. The #s on the face are raised. The face is aluminum looking. Is it(the face)suppose to be painted white? There is some tarnish/paint looking material in a few places. There is no printed label on the back inside cover. There are maybe (I’m not home to look at the clock ) 5(?)rods (chimes)in the back on the bottom with a little metal piece that may act as a stabilizer – it folds down across them – when the clock is moved. This clock chimes on the 1/4, 1/2 and full hour with the chime lasting longer at each 1/4 of the hour. I will send you the #s ASAP. I really have no “official” info about this clock. Any referral of info would be apperciated.
Thank you, in advance, for your help.
I have a plymouth mantel clock inside the door it says Mo.4300,4500,4600 in tambour cases is that the info i need to replace the movement?
There is no new replacement for this movement. An older clock like this should have the movement repaired, not replaced (unless it is replaced with the same type of old one).