Vintage Clocks for Sale

Vintage Chelsea Clocks For Sale

Chelsea Clock Museum has long been a source of historical information to those interested in marine clocks produced by Joseph H. Eastman and the family of companies that evolved from the Harvard Clock Company. In an expanding effort to help collectors desiring to obtain exceptional marine clocks, Chelsea Clock Museum will display clocks for sale on this page. Clocks shown here are clocks selected for quality and rarity. Additional details and pricing information may be obtained by contacting the Curator of the Chelsea Clock Museum. If you are seeking a special marine clock please contact the Chelsea Clock Museum to be placed on the want list. Let the experience of the Chelsea Clock Museum work for you.

John Hale Bellamy American Eagle Clock. This commemorative edition clock– which celebrates the enduring American spirit – is masterfully hand carved by West Newbury, Massachusetts, sculptor Vincent Harrild in the style of famed nautical woodcarver John Haley Bellamy. Commissioned by Chelsea Clock, Harrild pays homage to Bellamy by creating original works of art that echo the highly stylized, precisely carved eagles for which the former Maine native is world renowned. Each carving in the American Eagle Series is painstakingly crafted by Harrild from 150-year-old reclaimed eastern white pine, a large soft-wood pine native to the New England region. The artist employs many of the same master carving techniques as Bellamy to carefully reveal the rich character and subtle narrative of each design. Harrild also uses time-honored methods of hand-applied pigment patination and meticulous 23-karat-gold leafing to colorize each carving, ensuring his creations remain true to Bellamy’s trademark palettes.
4.5" Ships Bell Chelsea Clock with engraved roman numeral dial.

8.5" Chelsea Clock Company Ship's Bell Clock, U. S. Navy, Circa 1948. In 1948, Chelsea was commissioned to make this type ship's bell clock with a 12/24, 8.5 inch engraved dial. The production clock in an inset case included an amplifier to project the chime over a speaker system. See an example of the production clock below. This clock is the prototype of the clock below and housed in a normal hinged bezel red brass ship's bell case. This clock, as the factory prototype is unique. The movement and case as prototypes are not marked with serial numbers. The dial has factory engraving, U. S. Navy. The case is mounted in a fine walnut ring for wall mounting. A rarity of the first order.

8.5" Chelsea Clock Company Automatic Ship's Bell Outfit. Dial fully engraved with 12/24 layout, steel blued hands. Case is inset hinged bezel type with original satin nickel finish. Mechanical movement is mint perfect and in good running order. Chelsea made this type clock circa 1948 in very limited quanities for the U. S. Navy for shipboard use and Pan American World Airways for use in their air terminals. This clock comes complete with the only known factory amplifier and speaker system. A transducer in the back of the case picks up the vibration of the gong and sends it to the amplifier for amplification and on to the speaker. Comes with one speaker but the system can handle multiple speakers. The clock comes with its factory designed 18" mahogany surround for wall mounting and also a birdseye maple stand for shelf mounting. The system is fully operational and in good working order. The tone of the ship's bell thru the speaker system is wonderful. Matching serial numbers, 559066, listed in Demeter's book, "Chelsea Clock Company, The First Hundred Years" on page 117. Demeter states that these outfits are "Extremely Rare". This outfit would be an exceptional addition to your nautical theme room, boat house, radio room, or yacht club. Comes with supporting documentation from Chelsea on system setup and operation dated 1948.

SOLD

10" Boston Clock Company Engine Room Clock with matching Revolution Counter and builder's Plate from C&G Cooper Company, circa 1890. Matching red brass clock and revolution counter manufactured by Star Brass Manufacturing Company with Boston Clock Company movement. This pair would be near impossible to duplicate, revolution counters in this size are extremely rare and with a matching clock even more so. The pair come mounted on mahogany stands which measure 16" high. The builders plate measures 5.5" by 9" and is signed "The C&G Cooper Co., Builders, Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S.A." The clock dial is signed "Star Brass Manufacturing Co., Boston, Mass. and Boston G", which stands for 7 jewel gold plated movement. The clock hands are finely tapered and retain the original bluing. The revolution counter is signed "C&G Cooper Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Revolution Counter, Star Brass Manufacturing Co., Boston, U.S.A." The revolution counter is complete with the attachment lever. This grouping is unmatched for rarity and presentation. Ready for mounting in your boiler room or display on the stands.

SOLD

12" Eastman/Vermont Pendulum Regulator, circa 1897. Dark oak case in all original finish. This clock is the prototype of the Chelsea Pendulum #1 regulator which was one of Chelsea's most popular clocks. Chelsea used this case design for their early clocks with slight modification to the bezel profile. This bottom bracket was used on Eastman, Vermont, and early Chelseas. The movement on this clock is unsigned but is exactly like movements that Eastman made while at the Eastman and Vermont Clock Companies. The wonderful original dial surface is signed H. N. Lockwood, Boston. Lockwood was a retailer and it was often common for such retailers to request that the movement be unsigned. The factory records of the Fairhaven/Vermont Clock Co. show that the first clock manufactured by Fairhaven in 1897 was a Pendulum #1 Regulator and sold to H. N. Lockwood, Boston. Original steel blued hands, case finish and tablet are as you would like to find them, untouched. Excellent timekeeper and a rare example Eastman's work.

SOLD

10" Chelsea Mahogany and Metal (aka Commander) Ship's Bell Shelf Clock, circa 1905. One of the earliest 10" M&M Chelsea shelf clocks known. Serial number 15257 sold to Black, Starr & Frost, New York on April 4, 1905. This clock features many details only used on the first such clocks, ie, wide flared bezel and key lock case with original locking key. The original untouched special dial is signed "Black, Starr & Frost, New York, Ship's Bell". The polished yellow brass case and dark mahogany base make for an outstanding presentation. The clock stands 17" high. 10" clocks such as this example are among the rarest of early Chelsea clocks, even rarer and harder to find than the 12" examples.

SOLD

4.5" Chelsea Library Desk Clock, circa 1906. Early and rare form of Chelsea desk clock. This clock was patented in 1906 and the matching serial numbers, 20xxx, date it to the first year of production. Details including coined edged flat bezels, fine beading on the base, and fancy feet set this style clock apart from the more common base and ball model. Original silvered and engraved roman dial, signed S. Nordlinger & Son, Los Angeles. Only a hand full of these clocks are known today, offered in only the 1906 and 1911 catalogs, the added expense of production resulted in their quick elimination and subsequent rarity. The case of this clock is yellow brass and has been recently polished and lacquered. The movement is house strike and in good working order. A wonderful example of Chelsea's exceptional early design skill.

SOLD

12" Chelsea Wardroom Pilot House Wall Clock, circa 1917. The largest of all the Chelsea wall clocks, this beautiful red brass case measures 18 3/8" and including the mahogany surround 22". This is one of only three known 12" wardroom clocks and one of only two with the desirable pilot house movement and dial. This treasure was recovered from the trunk of a car in 2006, where it had languished for over 50 years. Now fully restored, this clock is a testament to the material used in Chelsea clocks and the skill of Master Clock Maker, Leonard Taube, who lead the restoration. Serial number 106463 was originally sold to Marshall Field & Co., Chicago in 1917. The red brass case is flawless, the bezel closes like a bank vault door. The silver engraved dial is signed "Chelsea Clock Co., Boston, U. S. A." The original steel hands and seconds bit are beautifully blued. The combination of rarity and impressive size is unequalled in a Chelsea marine clock.

SOLD

12" Chelsea Pilot House Wall Clock, circa 1926. A clock for the collector who appreciates an all original surface clock. Original near mint surface engraved dial signed "Grogan Company, Pittsburgh" in the lower field and Chelsea in the large seconds bit. The case has original Copper Plate finish, "quite like pure copper" as described in the Chelsea catalog. The hands retain their original flat black paint, correct for this vintage clock. Matching case and movement serial numbers 165438, dating the clock to 1926. This clock is rarely found with all untouched original surfaces. Overhauled movement keeps excellent time. The clock comes with a mahogany stand for shelf display. 12" Chelsea clocks are the most sought after and this is the best original clock on the market.

SOLD

10" Chelsea/Ashcroft Marine Wall Clock, circa 1912. Chelsea movement serial number 84076 cased by the Ashcroft Manufacturing Company, New York, for the Board of Education, New York City. Red brass, key lock, hinged bezel case. Fully engraved 10" dial with stylistic Arabic numerals, signed Board of Education, New York City, Boston Movement, 7 Jewels, and the Ashcroft MFG Co. badge. Original painted aluminum moon style hands. The clock has been fully restored and is in exceptional condition and an outstanding time keeper. To date this clock is the only such example known to exist. Chelsea Clock Company records show that movement 84076 was sold to Ashcroft on July 31, 1912. The clock comes with a mahogany stand for shelf display. On the stand the clock is 16" high.

SOLD

12" Chelsea Clock Company Inset Marine Clock. The last known 12" clock to be made in this style, circa 1958. Red brass inset case serial number 629817 with matching serial number 12E movement. Mahogany wooden surround for wall mounting. Hand painted dial in mint, original, untouched condition signed "Chelsea Clock Co., Boston". Since 1941, when Chelsea stopped catalog offerings of time only marine clocks in 12" size, production of these massive clocks has been by special order only. This is the only known 12" clock of this style. See the attached list of known 12" clocks. This clock is a rarity of the first order.

SOLD

10" Chelsea Clock Company Tambour #3. In one word this clock is massive. This clock weighs over 100 pounds. The original finish copper bronze case measures 32" wide by 16.5" high. Matching case and house strike movement serial number, 115765, circa 1918. The original untouched dial is signed H. Rattermann, Jr., Cincinnatti. Herman Rattermann, Jr. owned a large chain of funeral parlors that exist to this day. This clock was ordered by Rattermann directly from Chelsea Clock Company. Tambours of this size are extremely rare and in untouched original condition like this example, nearly impossible to find today. Pictures do not do a clock like this justice. This was the largest size tambour clock made by Chelsea and one of the most expensive at $320 in 1918. These large tambours are perhaps the rarest of the grand Chelsea clocks.

In the 1850's the Ratterman family emigrated from Germany. Several of the Ratterman brothers settled in Cincinnati while others continued down the Ohio River to Louisville. Two of the brothers, George and Herman, settled near 8th and Green Street. They established in 1864 an undertaking establishment at 11th and Market as G. & H. Ratterman, Carpenters and makers of Fine Coffins. In 1902, John B. Ratterman, son of George took over the business at the age of 24. He married Lillian Ackerman in 1904 and together had 12 children consisting of ten boys and two girls. They moved into the Ackerman home at 2114 West Market Street in 1914. The family moved to the upper floors and the first floor became the first real home for funeral in the city of Louisville. Funerals from a home for funerals became a new concept brought about by changing social norms. Even so, up until World War II, some families still preferred the deceased to be returned to the home for visitation, wake and funeral.. Eventually John B. Ratterman paired up his sons to start other locations. Lexington Road was the first in 1939, operated by John Jr. and Carl. In 1947 Joe and Cletus opened the Fourth Street location and in 1977 expanded to the Southside Drive location. In 1963 Emmett and Oscar opened a Funeral Home at Bardstown Road and later expanded to Cane Run Road in 1974.

The Fourth generation of Rattermans' now operates the six locations in Louisville with the same dedication and commitment that has become a tradition of excellence over the last 135 plus years. A tradition of service from one family to another.

SOLD

12" Cheslea Clock Company #3 Regulator, circa 1908. Golden oak finish case in outstanding original condition. Near mint original surface dial signed "Chelsea Clock Co., Boston". Steel blue moon hands and seconds bit complete the best dial you could ever expect to find. These regulators are very rarely found and the condition of this makes for an exceptional combination of rarity and condition. The original engraved silvered beat scale is signed CCCo. This beat scale was only used on the #3 and #5 regulator. #3 regulators were made in mahogany, cherry, golden oak and dark and light quarter sawn oak cases. The majority of the clocks sold were in the quarter sawn oak cases, golden oak being one of the hardest to find today. This tight grained smooth wood just glows. These clocks were sold in limited numbers to the U. S. Treasury Department and were soon discontinued in favor of the smaller and cheaper, #1 pendulum regulator. The large bob, exposed brass weight, and seconds bit are features of the #3 regulator, not offered on the more common #1 pendulum regulator. An excellent time keeper.

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