Chelsea Clock Company

Catalog Sequence 1897 through 1944

Prior to 1906 Chelsea Clock Company advertised their clocks in magazines such as "The Rudder" and "Country Life In America". During the early years of the company Chelsea spent the better part of their creative energy in designing and patenting numerous clock movements and cases. By 1906 these design efforts had been completed and Chelsea presented these ideas to the world in their first catalog, Catalog A of September 1, 1906. Over the next century Chelsea would add to this first catalog as new items were added or removed and prices were changed. Chelsea catalogs were noted by letter until 1928 when they were subsequently noted by number starting with catalog #14.  Catalog E of October 1911 is the second known catalog of the Chelsea Clock Company. Catalogs B, C, and D are unknown to present day collectors, and evidence exists that indicates that these letters were not issued to full size catalogs, but were issued to supplemental catalogs for autoclocks, etc.. Catalogs I and J also are unknown presently and the short period (2 years), between catalogs H2 and K, would make the publishing of two full size catalogs for this short period seem excessive. Perhaps these catalogs were supplemental catalogs for autoclocks or just price changes. A significant change to the catalog designation system occurred in 1928, coinciding with the death of the founder of the company, Charles H. Pearson. After 1928 catalog designations changed from letter designations to number designations beginning with catalog #14. It is interesting to note the correlation of the numbers and letters prior to 1928 and that the subsequent number designation matches perfectly as if the numbering system had begun with the first catalog.   

* Original Catalogs Property of Chelsea Clock Museum

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