Chelsea Clock Company 'Mariner' Yacht Wheel Ship's Bell Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1953
This nautical desk clock, identified by the source as the 'Mariner' model by Chelsea Clock Company of Boston, Massachusetts, dates to circa 1953. Constructed in the form of a ship's steering wheel with eight turned brass spokes, the case is mounted onto a wood base with polished metal trim.
The silvered dial features black Arabic numerals, spade hands, a slow/fast regulation slot beneath the 10 o'clock mark, dual winding arbors, and the marking 'CHELSEA SHIP'S BELL'. The seller reports an 8-day jeweled movement striking ship's bells on a tuned gong.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Circa 1953
- Type
- Ship's bell desk clock
- Maker
- Chelsea Clock Company
- Model
- Mariner
- Movement
- 8-day jeweled movement with ship's bell strike
- Dimensions
- 10 1/2″H x 8 3/4″W x 4 1/2″D
- Place recorded
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- Chelsea Clock Company
Design
- Visible features
- • Eight turned brass spokes radiate outward from the bezel to form a yacht wheel. • A horizontal slow/fast regulation index marked 'S' and 'F' is located below 10 o'clock. • Two winding arbors with brass grommets sit at approximately 3:45 and 7:15 on the dial. • The dial reads 'CHELSEA SHIP'S BELL' in black lettering above 6 o'clock. • The clock mechanism and helm are supported by a shaped brass stanchion on a stepped dark wooden plinth.
- Identity and Model Form
- The desk clock is identified by the source as the 'Mariner' yacht wheel ship's clock produced by the Chelsea Clock Company of Boston, Massachusetts. The source dates the piece to circa 1953, noting production in the early 1950s. Visual observation shows a maritime ship's helm format, with eight turned brass spokes radiating outward from the bezel to form the yacht wheel. The clock mechanism and helm are supported by a shaped brass stanchion mounted on a stepped dark wooden plinth.
- Dial and Exterior Display
- The clock features a silvered dial described by the source as having engraved and enameled Arabic numerals and spade hands. Observation confirms the dial reads 'CHELSEA SHIP'S BELL' in black lettering positioned above 6 o'clock. Two winding arbors with brass grommets sit at approximately 3:45 and 7:15 on the dial. In addition, an arched horizontal slow/fast regulation index marked 'S' and 'F' is visible directly below 10 o'clock.
- Mechanism and Material Contradiction
- The seller describes the internal movement as an 8-day jeweled movement striking ship's bells on a tuned gong. The internal components, serial number, and movement state are not visible in the provided photographs and remain unexamined directly. The source text exhibits an internal contradiction regarding case material: the narrative section states the case is 'drop forged brass', while the summary listing specifies 'Drop Forged Steel on Wood Base and Back'.
Identification
- SKU
- ROSA 387 P
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The movement and interior components are unexamined as no movement photograph is provided.
- Research required: The source text contains an internal inconsistency regarding case material, noting 'drop forged brass' in the prose description and 'Drop Forged Steel' in the item summary bullet points.