Fully Serviced Vintage Seth Thomas Metronome Conductor 1980s Brown Plastic Case, Metal Movement

This is a Fully Restored and Working, Seth Thomas wind-up Metronome, Conductor Model with its original instruction label still attached! Please note that I have several identical units of these restored, fully serviced and ready for your use: The pictures shown here are representative of the exact model of this metronome you will receive. If you wish to see some pictures of the exact unit that you will receive, please contact me prior to purchase.

The durable case is made out of thick solid brown plastic with solid metal trim plate signed by Seth Thomas in fancy old English script. It was made sometime either in the 1970s or early 1980s and Seth Thomas started producing metronomes in the late 1800's. The company was known for their high quality clocks, and their quality shows in the solid brass movement in this metronome! This fully serviced metronome runs strong like it was brand new. It is complete with no missing parts, and a solid case with no loose parts, or splits. Metronome functions now as well as it did when new. There may be a few usage signs like faint scuffs or paint flecks on the thick plastic case or removable dust cover. This is exceptional working condition for its 40 year old age, and you would probably have a hard time finding one of these in better cosmetic and mechanical working condition with the movement fully serviced as this one looks like it wasn't used much, if at all.. Those sellers that do this detailed movement service will say so in their listings. The rest of the case looks smooth with wear consistent of this being vintage. The surface texture of the case is matte, hides fingerprints well, and all surfaces have been cleaned thoroughly.

It has an excellent condition, signed Seth Thomas "ST" in a diamond trademark beat scale that may have only slight wear due to the sliding weight rubbing it. When packing for shipment, I also put padding between the weight and the metal beat scale on all my metronomes to prevent the parts from rubbing together during shipping. The Made in US America movement runs like new. It has a wide, very visual pendulum swing with the original chrome plated steel sliding weight to adjust the tempo and a very even, loud ticking sound as it runs. Only a classic mechanical metronome produces the solid and desirable ticking sound that can't be matched by electronic devices producing cheap sounding tones and beeps.

The brass movement was just cleaned, adjusted and oiled, saving you $65-$120 over other "as found" metronomes. The movement's condition is actually more important to a musician than the look of the exterior case. Note the lack of lint and built up grease and dirt on the close-up picture of the metronome movement. Other seller's metronomes described as being in very good working condition (if you are lucky to even get a close up picture of the movement) may show those signs of never being serviced. As such, not many of the other metronomes you may find elsewhere get the proper kind of servicing of the movement and you may soon have issues with those other metronomes that have not been serviced. This is a labor intensive service where the entire movement was disassembled, cleaned, each gear was inspected for damage, pivots polished, hard brass bushings added where needed (pressed in from the inside of the movement), mainspring cleaned and lubricated, and re-assembled. This was done for you so you can enjoy it right away rather than waiting on a repair shop. After cleaning, the entire movement was oiled with synthetic clock oil, and then tested. It will not need cleaning again for about 10 to 20 years. Everything remains original to this movement to preserve its future antique value, as Seth Thomas no longer produces metronomes. The mainspring barrel is unique in that there is a slipping clutch to prevent overwinding, a very useful feature. These metronomes with the slipping clutch like this and the No. 10 models are silent winding clockwise direction to wind. No ratcheting or clicking being heard while winding is perfectly normal. Sometimes the mainspring makes sounds when it tightens and again after 9 full turns of 360 degrees in each full turn. I usually count 18 half turns since it is nearly impossible for the hand to make one 360 revolution without releasing the key. This instrument was also just calibrated at 80 beats per minute so that it is most accurate at medium tempos and will run for well over 3500 beats per full winding. Mechanical metronomes are not as accurate at all tempos and should not be compared to an electronic or digital one. Whether wound only a couple of turns or fully wound, it keeps an even beat whether the sliding weight is set to 40 or 208 - a challenge to find in other metronomes described as "working perfectly". Note: When set to speeds slower than around 50 BPM, the accuracy can be off 4-6% because the notches in the pendulum stick are extremely close together, making it harder to pick the right notch for the desired BPM setting on the beat scale behind the pendulum stick.

Has the cover door in great condition, and the original latch post that holds the door closed so that it doesn't fall off when the metronome is tipped forward. The latch post is at the top of the cover just above the instructions. So to open the cover, it should be grasped at the top and pulled out towards you, not up or sideways. Has a 100% complete instruction label on the cover which is all readable, and the label is all original. This is rare to have an instruction label, many are torn or missing by now. Part of the label is bubbly, but it seems firmly attached everywhere else. There may be variation between each metronome in bubbling and/or glue residue used to secure the label, but it is all there with all the important instructions readable. The winding key is original. The bottom may have either new or the original felt cushion strips, (if possible I try to keep the original felt) to protect the surface this metronome is place upon. There may or may not be the original bottom model number sticker present. If these minor cosmetic details are important to you, and you wish to see some pictures of the exact unit that you will receive, please contact me prior to purchase. The metronome measures about 8 inches high (as measured from the feet to the very top tip) and 4 inches wide.

Many music teachers recommend the mechanical metronome due to its visual swinging pendulum similar to the way the music conductor moves his or her hands. This metronome must have been cherished its entire life, and it is looking for a new home on your piano or organ, and most of all, it runs great! Perfect for the collector, or for music lessons. This would also make a great present! A great tool for a budding young musician.

If you are looking to purchase a Maelzel type metronome to use in your own music practice sessions, you have come to the right shop! My restored metronomes keep an even beat when put on a level surface whether the sliding weight is set to 40 or 208 - a challenge to find in other metronomes described as "working perfectly". Note that I'm also a musician in the Livingston Symphony Orchestra who uses a mechanical metronome, so I know what it takes to properly service a metronome. I have yet to find a clock repair horologist that does BOTH the professional repair of mechanical metronomes AND actually use a mechanical metronome for their own music practicing.

This is a practical metronome, unmatched by any electronic or plastic ones made today. The newer ones from Germany or France being made now or within the last decade or so, tend to use plastic in the movement and/or case and feel cheap. Those ones are not built to last and are not able to be fully disassembled for servicing in the future. Also, with their plastic gears having their mainsprings enclosed in plastic barrels, those cannot be lubricated without eventually damaging the plastic. This American made Seth Thomas metronome listed in my shop is for one with its clockwork movement being made of all brass and steel, allowing it to be serviced in the future, if needed.

These vintage metronomes amaze me, they are built to last. There are no plastic parts (other than the thick plastic outer case) in the clockwork movements, only brass plates and gears with steel pinions, pivots and arbors. In fact, this is the same kind of brass movement that is used in the Seth Thomas wood-cased metronome model number 10 that I have listed separately in my "Metronomes" shop section or in my sold items. They hold their value and are an excellent investment to add to your collection and estate. No Seth Thomas clock collection is complete without one of these metronomes by this famous clock maker.

Note, I have listed this at a price point to reflect the quality of the restoration work and investment. This is important when you consider that most metronomes you currently find listed here have never been completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, calibrated, put into an even beat, and have the tarnish removed from the brass parts. It would be a challenge to find a vintage metronome in better cosmetic and mechanical condition than the one you are looking at right now. From a smoke free and pet free home. Thank you in advance for your business!