ST Molineaux
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The Henry Molineaux grade was Seth Thomas' highest grade watch in my opinion. Others would argue that the Maiden Lane full plate movements are superior. This particular example has less elaborate damaskeening than some and does not have a two tone treatment. The jewelling on this watch is unusual. I have taken pictures of the movement partially disassembled to show the features. I have not pulled off the canon pinion to see if the center arbor is jeweled under the dial. However, the pallet arbor is cap jeweled under the dial, but not cap jeweled on the pallet cock. There are cap jewels on the escape wheel both on the back plate and under the dial. Counting the jewels, there are 7 in the escapement, 3 on the pallet arbor, 4 on the escape wheel, 2 on the 4th wheel, 2 on the 3rd wheel and either 1 or 2 on the center arbor. The total jewelling is either 19 or 20 depending on the unknown jewel on the center arbor under the dial. Another interesting characteristic of this watch is the position of the dial feet. It was bought with a replaced dial that had one foot sawed off. However, even if all 3 feet were on the dial and in the right positions, one of the feet would be nonfunctional since there is no provision for a dial foot screw to hold it. Its location is also very strange since it is directly radial from the 4th wheel arbor where it would be very difficult to install a dial foot without interfering with the seconds bit. A friend had a new old stock Seth Thomas dial for the Molineaux grade with the proper 2 feet and it has been fitted to the watch. There is a patent date under the balance on this watch of December 6, 1897. It refers to a patent by Higginbotham on the mainspring attachment. The device provides a brace and free end of the mainspring that improves the constancy of force from the mainspring. The patent may be seen at the link on the left. The watch was listed when I purchased it as 17 jewels.
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