Movement record · United States

Chelsea ship's bell clock movement

Partially verified

Spring-driven marine clock movement with a striking train

Technical specifications

Diameter: Clock movement; dimensions vary by model
Height: Not recorded in the sources consulted
Jewels: Typically unjewelled or minimally jewelled
Frequency: Platform escapement rates vary by model
Power reserve: 8 days
Winding: Key wind
Setting: Key set
Escapement: Platform lever escapement
Balance: Balance and hairspring
Complications: Ship's bell striking

Identification features

Chelsea markings and serial numbers on the movement
Ship's bell striking sequence rather than hour striking

Known variants

Ship's bell and time-only versions

Servicing notes

Cleaning, lubrication, mainspring and pivot work belong with a qualified watchmaker working from calibre-specific documentation. Conserve original parts: replacing a worn component with a modern substitute changes the object, and refinishing plates or dials destroys evidence.

General guidance only. Antique movements should be serviced by a qualified watchmaker.

Historical significance

A standard American marine clock movement, widely used at sea and closely documented by the maker's own records.

Diagram

Schematic: escapement arrangement. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

de Carle, D., Watch and Clock Encyclopedia
Period trade material catalogues and calibre reference compilations (edition-dependent)
Published manufacturer technical documentation where available

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.