USS Wando US Navy Tug deck clock

[River Rat 1]

I am usually cheap but not on this one probably spent my whole year collecting budget on this one. It's rare to find a early US Navy deck clock with the ships name on it. I have seen some at ships antique stores some years ago that had some early Navy deck clocks with the ships name and wished I had one. Well, saw this doing a search for a vintage early US Navy deck clock and found this. Been going back and forth with the dealer who been in the business for 40 years. Called a big time Chelsea collector on another forum did my homework saw it sold a few times on the net. And another Chelsea collector that I know who knows the seller sent me more info on it. So, I bought it. Should get it in a few weeks. This clock was made around 1917 by Ashton Valve co they used their own cases with a Chelsea movement. The USS Wando served in WW1 and WW2 on both coast of the USA. See link below about the history of the Tugboat. When in the Navy was time to transfer to another ship, I ask my detailer the person who assigns you to your next command for tug duty got a dam ammo ship instead. Well, I now have something from a Tugboat second prize. Will post better photos when I get it. I got one other deck clock with the ships name on it would post it but it's from the HMAS Australia was a cruiser on the back of clock captain's cabin it has the claim as the first ship to get hit by a kamikaze in WW2 the captain did not make it was the Leyte Gulf now if that clock could talk.

 

USS Wando (AT-17) - Wikipedia

[River Rat 1]

The USS Wando AT-17

[River Rat 1]

This is most likely an engine room clock. Ashton Valve Co also made gauges about the size of this clock so probably sold them in pairs. The gauge would be for the boiler the clock and gauge would be side by side so the watch section could log the time and pressor of the boiler. My clockmaker has a antique gauge the size of my clock has it hooked up to his air compressor in his garage a cool set up.

[River Rat 1]

A few more photos from the seller. And how it would have been mounted in the engine room but not as fancy. I guess this is how deck clocks got their shape from the gauges used in engine rooms.

[River Rat 1]

A cool site the Chelsea clock museum here is the navy and light house service and early coast guard clock on this link if link don't work just search the Chelsea clock museum. They have the first Iowa battle ships engine room clock before the WW2 Iowa.

 

https://chelseaclockmuseum.com/us.html

[hink441]

Absolutely beautiful Navy Clock. 👍👍

[ludwigh1980]

Wow, as an antique steam and pressure gauge collector as well as a ships clock collector this is quite the treat to see. I did not know they had ships clocks specific to ships especially a U.S. Navy vessel. Exceptional piece. Thank for taking the time to post it here on the forum.

[River Rat 1]

Will get it next week. I will post better photos when I get it. But the seller did do nice photos.

[River Rat 1]

Tried to do this link at the top but did not work. Here is the history of the USS Wando AT-17 tugboat. They had bigger crews on tugboats back then 23 crew.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wando_(AT-17)

[aerialbridge]

Congrats on a great find.    So that's about a 6 and half inch dial in an 8 inch case?   Considering you've got an investment in this clock,  I'd order the Chelsea origin certificate to see who the original buyer was, presumably it'll say Ashton Valve and movement only.    Navsource shows Wando was out of commission from 1922 to 1933, then in service until '46 and sold in '47 for about four grand to a Puget Sound shipbreaker.    I wonder when the clock was "liberated" from Wando,  when it was first decommissioned in '22 (or while it was mothballed for 10 years), or after '46?    I'll bet when the tug  was recommissioned in '33, that beautiful clock was long gone.   It looks like it had no more than 5 years use, or up to its first decommissioning.   Maybe dial resilvered at some point?  Regardless,  a real great find for any naval clock collector. 

[River Rat 1]

10- inch case 8 -inch dial the USS Wando (Tug No. 17) was laid down on 14 June 1915 by the Charleston (S.C.) Navy Yard; launched on 7 March 1916; and commissioned on 3 April 1917

[River Rat 1]

Well, got it a few days ago. I had a plaque already made up for it and on the wall it went. Still messing adjusting the time have a special key to adjust F and S a little tougher without a lever with notches. Thinking of getting a clock timing machine to time all my clocks.

[River Rat 1]

To compare size here it is next to a 6-inch diameter that you see more of on ship. These pilot house size clocks are just BIG and really show their presence on the wall. What I call the WOW factor. I know they have 10-inch dial Chelsea deck clocks those must be really big since my case is 10 Inches imagine a 10-dial with a 12 inch or bigger case.

[River Rat 1]

Just got the certificate of origin from Chelsea. Wanted to make sure the movement started out with this clock. The movement was bought by Ashton Valve co on July 26, 1915, from Chelsea clock co, the keel of the USS Wando was laid on June 15,1915 glad even the time frame matches. The movement an 8-day marine mechanical E movement.