The Chelsea Clock Company was established in 1897 in Chelsea Massachusetts, and their quickly became the pride of foreign and domestic dignitaries; have served our armed forces with reliable clocks and instruments on both land and sea; as instruments of a variety of uses have been indispensable for countless government projects; and all the while being a popular clock to own for either the office or home. And Chelsea clocks are also of keen interest to collectors of antiques and vintage instruments.
Collectors’ items have common traits: their design may be a seminal art form; they may be useful as everyday objects; their age, if old, would add to their value; and, if applicable, their historic provenance further the value even more. And with clocks made by Chelsea there is one more trait: size. With Chelseas size matters and the larger the model, the rarer and more collectable they are.
Although the Chelsea Company made clocks for domestic use almost since their inception just before 1900, it may be that the sudden lack of demand for their ships clocks after the termination of World War II (during which their production was at its height) and their recognition of the large domestic market for their products, they decided to accelerate their marking of clocks for the public. The Chelsea Company took on a new life with their renewed domestic production with making a vast array of clocks for home and office.
I have repaired and restored a number of Chelsea Clocks throughout my career so I often stop to ask myself why people who own these clocks value them so highly. I think there are two reasons: the performance as timekeepers and their beauty as everyday objects.
Many of the Chelsea clocks we have repaired date to the early 20th century. Except for routine maintenance, many have run since their original purchase. Because they were so popular few were ever put into storage the next generation to find, they were constantly running or at least on display. Unless some previous repairer damaged it, the original platforms were intact and without difficulties. The most they needed were bushings and possibly a mainspring. My grandmother was given a Chelsea “Admiral” model as a wedding gift in 1909 and as a youngster I remember it as it ran in their dining room. My father inherited it and I received it from him at his passing. I now have it displayed, still running and keeping time. Chelsea clocks deserve their reputation for reliable and durable performance.
But probably what attracts collectors the most about Chelsea clocks is their appearance. Their desk clock sets such as the Claremont with its ships wheel design and the use of both polished brass and anodized brass set a standard of mannish beauty and high quality. While their solid brass castings, such as the Admiral series, while using engraved dials has always been admired as a bold and straightforward standard design, yet their more elaborate designed cases were always done with restrained taste and pleasant proportions.
Please take the time to look over the fine Chelsea clocks we have in our sale. There are some nice large brass cased ships clocks; some desk sets, having ships bells clocks or just timepieces, both with barometers. Included is a very rare mantel model with a solid brass case which we have not seen before.
