My WWII Era Ships Clock

[b06tmm]

The recent pocket watch thread got me motivated to pull out my old ships clock. This was given to me by my father, which was given to him by my cousin.

My cousin was a captain in the Merchant Marines, and as much as I would love to spin a good yarn, I don't know the ship or what type it was. Regrettably, my father and everyone that would've known the history of this clock have passed.

Here are some pictures:















I used to keep this highly polished but Hurricane Katrina set me back about 40 years and that's the reason it was in the garage. It still keeps time accurately but the bell function doesn't work. More specifically, when I try to wind that spring (left side of face) it doesn't "catch" and the key wants to return back to where it was. It did work until it fell of of my wall while I was trying to mount it.

Anyway, I have a tub of Brasso and a lot of time so I think I'll have the movement serviced and then polish it up!

[cornerstore]

I have a Chelsea clock as well ,recent gift from my deceased father in law.There is a site you can check your number against to find the year of manufacturing. Yours looks much older than mine, some are extremely valuable to collectors .

[b06tmm]

Hi Patrick, I checked an online database with the serial number and it showed 1940 ~ 1944, which was a busy time for ship building.

Neat fact: The Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. made the Glomar Explorer, which was designed as a CIA vessel to recover a Soviet Submarine.

[FeelingTheBlues]

I've been working on cuckoo's, Westminster clocks, American clocks, Korean, German...you name them! I've loved working on all of them and would most definitely enjoy having a ship clock (I haven't seen an actual one yet). You sure have a nice timepiece Tim.

[cornerstore]

Originally Posted by b06tmm

Hi Patrick, I checked an online database with the serial number and it showed 1940 ~ 1944, which was a busy time for ship building.

Neat fact: The Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. made the Glomar Explorer, which was designed as a CIA vessel to recover a Soviet Submarine.

CIA only buy the best. Here is the one I received, it tracks two time zones.

[cop414]

Looks great Tim. Thanks for the pics. I'd love to see it all polished up.

[SUBversive]

That is an awesome one. Wow one if those is on my want list very cool.

[Frosty]

[East Bay Rider]

That's very cool.

[skprd13]

Very cool! Hope to see her polished up and mounted one day!

[JasoninDenver]

Nice piece there.

I was in an antique store in Healdsburg, CA that had a consignment of ship clocks from a collector's estate. There were some very cool pieces, but the cheapest was $800 and nowhere as nice as yours.

[scottIN]

Very cool. I sell Chelsea clocks (corporate market). Nice that that one is mechanical - a lot of them (even at $500) are quartz now.

[b06tmm]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments, it is appreciated.

Originally Posted by cornerstore

CIA only buy the best. Here is the one I received, it tracks two time zones.

That clock is AWESOME! Can you show more pics?

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Nice piece there.

I was in an antique store in Healdsburg, CA that had a consignment of ship clocks from a collector's estate. There were some very cool pieces, but the cheapest was $800 and nowhere as nice as yours.

Wow, that's nice to know! I did cursory search on these yesterday and figured a couple hundred.

Originally Posted by scottIN

Very cool. I sell Chelsea clocks (corporate market). Nice that that one is mechanical - a lot of them (even at $500) are quartz now.

Hi Scott, is there a reference where I can get a better timeline on when this could have been produced?

I do have a couple of questions for everyone though - Should I polish the case and leave the dial alone? Should I not polish the case?

Thanks again, Tim...

[cedargrove]

Very nice clock. Love those Breguet hands. Congrats.

[Laszlo]

Wow, impressive.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by b06tmm

Hi Patrick, I checked an online database with the serial number and it showed 1940 ~ 1944, which was a busy time for ship building.

Neat fact: The Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. made the Glomar Explorer, which was designed as a CIA vessel to recover a Soviet Submarine.

The retooling of, and use for covert recovery was masked as a marine geology exploration to extract manganese nodules from the ocean floor for the Howard Hughes company.

Cool story, as cloak and dagger as it gets in the height of the cold war!!

Really cool looking clock, and it would be great to get it restored!
http://www.chelseaclock.com/Clock-Services

[b06tmm]

Hi Marc, thanks for the link! Once she runs down I'll be sending it in for a restoration estimate.

I also requested a "certificate of origin" for it.

"Often a Chelsea is handed down through generations and the inheritor is curious about the clock's history, or a collector of antiques comes across a Chelsea at an auction and is anxious to determine its age to estimate its value. Chelsea Clock offers a Certificate of Origin for any Ship's Bell Clock ever produced by the company. The certificate reveals the date the clock was made, who it was first issued to, as well as the name of the clock. Each certificate is embossed with a Chelsea stamp of approval and is hand signed by JK Nicholas, President and CEO. Serial and model numbers are required for verification."

[cornerstore]

Originally Posted by b06tmm

Hi Marc, thanks for the link! Once she runs down I'll be sending it in for a restoration estimate.

I also requested a "certificate of origin" for it.

"Often a Chelsea is handed down through generations and the inheritor is curious about the clock's history, or a collector of antiques comes across a Chelsea at an auction and is anxious to determine its age to estimate its value. Chelsea Clock offers a Certificate of Origin for any Ship's Bell Clock ever produced by the company. The certificate reveals the date the clock was made, who it was first issued to, as well as the name of the clock. Each certificate is embossed with a Chelsea stamp of approval and is hand signed by JK Nicholas, President and CEO. Serial and model numbers are required for verification."

Good info. I will take some better pics. of mine as you mentioned and post them soon . I just had it overhauled by a Rolex watchmaker who specializes in old clocks ,it was about $350 cdn pesos

[b06tmm]

Originally Posted by cornerstore

Good info. I will take some better pics. of mine as you mentioned and post them soon . I just had it overhauled by a Rolex watchmaker who specializes in old clocks ,it was about $350 cdn pesos

Looking forward to the pictures!

After many hours scouring the Chelsea site, I've figured out yours is a radio room clock.




"The sinking of the Titanic resulted in the Radio Act of 1912, requiring 24-hour radio watches at sea. The disaster also led to this clock design, which features two 3-minute periods marked in red to mark a silent period when only emergency radio messages could be transmitted. Two green markings designate silent periods during which time one would listen for coastal distress signals."

Here is one with the green markings.

[b06tmm]

Just a quick update - this morning I shipped my clock to Chelsea for a full restoration. I'll be notified of the cost once it's examined.

I'll update this again when I get a quote.

[cornerstore]

Originally Posted by b06tmm

Looking forward to the pictures!

After many hours scouring the Chelsea site, I've figured out yours is a radio room clock.




"The sinking of the Titanic resulted in the Radio Act of 1912, requiring 24-hour radio watches at sea. The disaster also led to this clock design, which features two 3-minute periods marked in red to mark a silent period when only emergency radio messages could be transmitted. Two green markings designate silent periods during which time one would listen for coastal distress signals."

Here is one with the green markings.

Thanks for the information

[77T]

Beautiful clocks and timeless design

[Old Expat Beast]

Here's a Polish ship's clock that I picked up from a street market in Hong Kong about 25 years ago.

[Casey VP-26]

Nice Clock Tim. I have several Chelsea clocks now and I have bought and sold many over the years. Chelsea is a quality clock and always wanted by collectors especially the ships bell strike.

Good decision sending it to Chelsea, You will be very happy. Please keep us updated and post photo when returned. (before and after photo will be very interesting).

Good Luck.

[ltmgeller]

Very cool

[wantonebad]

Can't wait to see that beauty fully restored!!

[b06tmm]

Just got an email from Chelsea and it's too late to call them...

The movement service is $725.00, the refinish of the case is $220.00, and a refinish of the face and hands are $127.00.

Total is $ 1,027.80.

I'm going to authorize this tomorrow morning and will hopefully not shoot the clock because of the chimes, EX: Navy.

[Lion]

Gentlemen, all are very nice Ship's Clocks and it would be cool to own one or a few and hang them up on the walls in the living room.....

[b06tmm]

Originally Posted by Lion

Gentlemen, all are very nice Ship's Clocks and it would be cool to own one or a few and hang them up on the walls in the living room.....

Leo, my clock means something to me as it's been in the family.

My plans are to remove any regular clocks and force friends to decode the Navel chimes in my house..

[Lion]

Originally Posted by b06tmm

Leo, my clock means something to me as it's been in the family.

My plans are to remove any regular clocks and force friends to decode the Navel chimes in my house..

Good for you...sounds like a great plan and fun too. It will be interesting for you to tell your friends about the history of your Family Heirloom and its use on the "High Seas." Then quiz them on what all the chimes mean when they come over. I'm glad you have sent it to the company(Chelsea)to get it worked on and fixed. It will be very exciting I'm sure when you receive it back and can mount it on the wall in your living room or any other room.....

My intentions were not to upset you and I apologize to you if my comments and thoughts offended you in anyway...
Take care.....Leo