Early US Navy Pilot House clock

[River Rat 1]

Just bought this. This will be the last clock I ever buy after seeing the quality of the US shipping board pilot house clock wanted the US Navy version. This one was made in 1919 just missed WW1 but might have been in WW2. They are huge well-built clocks don't see these for sale often. Been told they were on capital ships like aircraft carriers and battle ships. Normally on the bridge or wardroom. Had to use 75-pound pitcher frame hooks and a stud in the wall for my other one. If you notice the second bit were the second hands at different spot than the US shipping board clock.

[manayunkman]

Very nice clock, what’s the diameter ?

[River Rat 1]

10-inch diameter

[River Rat 1]

The clock is missing the reflector that screws hold it on the dial a round hoop that goes around the dial. Might contact Chelsea to see if they have the part.

[River Rat 1]

Found the missing part 8.5-inch reflector and ordered it. So, I should get the clock sometime this week and the part. Think I did OK after seeing the price of another that sold.

[manayunkman]

On 11/6/2023 at 10:19 AM, River Rat 1 said:

10-inch diameter

That’s a good size.

 

There was an old restaurant in central PA that had a 12’’ diameter ships clock that sold for $6500.

[aerialbridge]

Sweet.   My best friend of 25 years is a master clock maker, which helps as that's my other hobby.   He's got several old USN chronometers, have to see if he has one of those.

[River Rat 1]

I can imagine the weight of a 12 inch one of solid brass the 10-inch size surprise me of the weight. 

[River Rat 1]

Received it today better in person.

[aerialbridge]

Nice collection and good with the Brass-O!  Are they 8 day runners?

[River Rat 1]

There all 8-day runners. Some of the early Seth Thomas US Navy clocks before the 20 century some of those 1–3-day runners I read but most made during the 20 century are 8-day runners. When I was in the US Navy, we used (never dull) to polish the brass on the quarter deck works better than brass-o.

[River Rat 1]

Just got a new book on Chelsea clocks they had a section with some of the logbooks from Chelsea with serial numbers and date of sale there a possibility of 1918 so could have been used in WW1 from some of the sale dates need to order a certificate from Chelsea for date of sale to the Navy. The book has a lot of info on Chelsea clocks hard to find for a fair price got it for 135.00 seen it for sale for over 300 bucks since it's out of print. It's called Chelsea Clock Company the first 100 years by Andrew and David Demeter. Should get the missing part for the dial called a deflector on Wednesday.

[River Rat 1]

My serial number is 123128 from the serial numbers on the page below the ones close are from August 1918 a few months before the end of WW1. Might be earlier will have to get a certificate of origin from Chelsea for a more exact date. Bet Chelsea had a separate book for clocks sold to the Navy wished that was in the book. The book does have the records for the early Coast Guard like the Light House service, US Life Saving Serice, but the US Navy would of been to large for the book might be why.

[River Rat 1]

Got that part for it last week. And a photo of the wardroom on the USS New Mexico a battleship in the time period this clock was put on capital ships you can see a pilot house clock on the bulkhead. My grandad was on this ship. And before photos at the bottom.

[manayunkman]

Some hard to find clocks.

 

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[River Rat 1]

I was able to get a few parts for the from Chelsea since there still in Business. The reflector that gets screwed on the newer one had holes in the wrong place had to have new hole put in. Then the grummet was missing were you wind it got one of those and now the clock looks better.