169.           $900

Seth Thomas Clock Co. “Fashion No. 5”, 1887-1889.  Once Seth Thomas started marketing Fashion clocks directly, rather than selling them to the Southern Calendar Clock Co., the clocks underwent rapid style and structural changes in just a few years.  Many collectors have devoted considerable effort to assigning model numbers to the changing versions of this venerable clock, but it should be noted that neither the SCCC nor ST ever assigned model names or numbers to the Fashion clocks they sold; they were all “Fashion clocks”.  The “Fashion No. 5” appears to be the first ‘model’ that was both sold to the SCCC and marketed directly by ST.  This coincided with the switch to a long-drop pendulum in these clocks, which also necessitated moving the pendulum to the back of the case, mounting the movement on a cast-iron frame, and making the case 1 inch deeper, at 6.5 inches.  With this change they also added a calendar door on which the calendar dial was mounted.  Within this ‘model’ there were numerous variants, but they all utilize this long-drop movement with minor stylistic changes to the case, movement, and dials.  The pertinent characteristics of this example are:  a flat time dial with the seconds bit dial not inset (all other examples I have sold have an inset seconds bit), “flat” nickel dial rings, large Fashion lettering on the glass, a full hooded top, and the movement mounted to the cast iron base with screws (most No. 5 examples have the movement mounted with pins).  (In earlier nomenclature this clock might have been termed a No. 7 or a No. 8; for a similar, but not identical example, see here.)  The 32-inch walnut case has a slightly gritty finish and has been overcoated with a glossy varnish. The finials may be replacements; the door glass appears to be original, with the original lettering.  The dials, always an issue with ST clocks, hold very old paint, with some chipping and a great deal of scattered minute losses.  The lettering on the dials is consistent with the lettering found on original dials, and the hands are the proper ST  hands used on these clocks. The 8-day, time-and-strike, spring-driven movement is marked with the ST logo and “Made in U.S. America”, as is found on other examples. It is running strongly and striking on a cathedral gong, and the weekday roller is advancing; however the date hand is not advancing and will need attention.  The pendulum stick is wood, as it should be, and the nickel bob is damascened.    There is the usual “Do Not Oil” label inside and a white instruction label on the back of the door.  This is a nice example of a less-common ‘model’ of Fashion clocks, coming at the end of the Fashion clock era; AAC has sold four clocks like this for an average of $1319, and most recently for $1000.  $900–$1500.