Chelsea Ship's Bell Clock with Ship's Wheel Mount — Southwest Instrument Co.

A Chelsea Clock Co. "Ship's Bell" mantel clock mounted within a turned mahogany helmsman's wheel stand, with brass spoke handles radiating from a central brass-cased movement. The silvered Arabic dial is double-signed — "Chelsea Ship Bell" below center and "Southwest Instrument Co. / San Pedro" above center — marking its original sale through one of the Port of Los Angeles's principal marine instrument dealers. The slow/fast regulation indicator sits at the nine o'clock position, with winding arbors flanking center for the time train and the ship's bell strike. Case back carries serial 626334, consistent with Chelsea production circa 1948–1955.

Southwest Instrument Co. supplied chronometers, compasses, and ship's clocks to the commercial fishing fleet, merchant shipping, and U.S. Navy vessels operating out of San Pedro through the mid-twentieth century. A retailer-signed Chelsea dial carries documented commercial provenance beyond the standard maker's mark — and this example arrives with its original Chelsea care booklet and product catalog, both showing wear consistent with age but intact. The booklet bears a "Peterson" ownership label, suggesting prior named family ownership. Tested and fully functional: the movement runs well, with the ship's bell striking the traditional graduated pattern on the hour and half-hour. Winding key included.

History

Chelsea Clock Company, founded 1897 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, became the dominant American manufacturer of marine clocks and ship's bell strikers, supplying the U.S. Navy through both World Wars and outfitting commercial vessels across the Pacific and Atlantic trades. The ship's bell strike — one bell at 12:30, two at 1:00, building to eight bells at 4:00 before resetting — translates the watch-keeping rhythm of a working vessel into a domestic timekeeper. By mid-century, retailers in major port cities ordered Chelsea movements with their own names co-signed on the dial: a small premium that turned a catalog clock into a documented piece of regional maritime commerce. The Southwest Instrument Co. signature ties this example directly to San Pedro Harbor.

Inclusions

• Chelsea Ship's Bell clock in mahogany ship's wheel stand
• Winding key
• Original Chelsea "Instructions for the Care of Chelsea Precision Products" booklet
• Original Chelsea Clocks product catalog

CONDITION

Very Good and fully functional. Tested; movement runs well and chimes on the hour and half-hour. Minor scuffing to the brass case and spoke handles consistent with age, no remarkable damage. Mahogany stand presents cleanly with light handling wear.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 12" H × 10.5" W × 5.5" D
• Weight: 10 lbs 12 oz
• Maker: Chelsea Clock Co., Chelsea, Massachusetts
• Retailer: Southwest Instrument Co., San Pedro, California
• Serial Number: 626334
• Movement: 8-day, ship's bell strike (hours and half-hours)
• Dial: Silvered, Arabic numerals, double-signed
• Case: Brass
• Stand: Mahogany with turned brass spoke handles
• Key: Included
• Documentation: Original Chelsea care booklet and product catalog