CHELSEA WW II U.S. NAVY MARK I
DECK CLOCK
COMPLETE EXAMPLE 3 PIECES

 

DIMENSIONS: 5
1/2″ Diameter of face 3
1/4″ Deep 8″ Full Diameter Weight 10 lbs 6
oz

 

Presented

is another outstanding example of a
Chelsea, back winding, Navy MK I Deck Clock
with a hinged front that is complete
with both backing plates making up 3 pieces. Originally, one plate acted as a water
tight cover and shock absorber and the other mounts it to a bulkead
or wall. It is unusual to get this clock with its
back cover plate and more so with the original mounting plate making this an even rarer

exception. The Chelsea version of what was supposed to be a
standardized mil-spec design is more refined and has a different
hinge arrangement than the thousands of nickel plated clocks that were
made by Seth Thomas. This clock is in polished brass with
a lacquer coating to preserve its luster. The movement, serial
number 286932 dates from 194. It is keeping good time compared to a
quartz comparison watch.

 

 

Navy MK I DECK clocks of WW
II were manufactured in accordance with

military specifications 18C-11 and 18C -13. This Chelsea example
has modifications which are unique. The front section holds the
movement and has an integral stud on the backing plate that acts
as the hinge. This compares to the more common Seth Thomas version
which uses a removable pin, and has a chrome plated case. In both
designs, the back of the front section has all the controls on the
rear.

 

Chelsea clock has an integral stud on the mounting plate as a hinge plus shock damper. 3 pieces total   Typical Seth Thomas MK I casting uses a separate pin as a hinge

 

Both Andrew Demeter in his
definitive book, “Chelsea Clock Company,
the first 100 years” and Marvin Whitney in his encyclopedic
work, “MILITARY TIMEPIECES” say that
these clocks were chromium plated up to 1941 when cases were
switched to Bakelite, a phenolic.

 

 

 

Movement of clock in pristine condition

 

 

A Mark I Deck clock made by Chelsea is a rare find, as is a
clock of this age and service at sea to be found with all its parts. It
is a great find for a collector of military pieces or as an important
gift.

 

Beneath
the hand arbor is etched:

MARK I DECK
CLOCK

U.S. NAVY

(NO) 9346
1941

(
NO) represents the Naval Observatory which
means the clock not only met the military specifications, but also
met the stringent standards of this institution which maintains
the Nation’s Time Standard. At the bottom of the dial it is marked
Chelsea.

The following
controls are accessed on the back:

• Fast – Slow adjustment. To
  regulate turn towards S to Slow and vice versa
• Stop – allows to precision
  setting with master clock
• Set – moves hands
• Wind – a key is included
  

MOVEMENT:It has a Chelsea Model 17K, 11
jewel 8 day movement that is wound, set and adjusted through a
slotted dust cover at its rear which closes. A separate start/stop
mechanism allows it to be synchronized with a master time
piece.

The removable vibration dampener
backing plate is attached to the bulkhead plate by six
screws and holds the front case secure by a wing nut
dog. 

Opposing views of this special MK I Deck clock