144.           $500

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 32-inch walnut case (including the reproduction finials) has a polished finish; the door glass is old and likely original, as is the Fashion gold lettering.  Both dials hold old and possibly original paint, and both show some soiling that I could not remove; the inset seconds bit dial is paper, as is typical.  The hands are proper replacements (the seconds bit and calendar hand are original).  The calendar door lacks a button handle to open and shows no signs of ever having had one.  There is a cutout in the front door to accommodate a handle.  There is no white label on the back of the door (not uncommon), and there is the usual circular gilded incising around both dials.  Note also the proper flat dial rings.  The 8-day time-and-strike movement is signed Seth Thomas, with an 1875 patent date.  It is pinned to the cast iron frame, as is typical.  It is running and striking on the cathedral gong.  There is a proper long-drop pendulum with a damascened brass bob (usually nickel), and a beat scale at the bottom.  The calendar hand and weekday roller are advancing nicely.  The roller papers are probably replacements.  There is no “Do Not Oil” label on the backwall, and it is possible that the backboard is a replacement.  A good example.  $500–$1000.