Let’s face it: We all think about picking up that one item at a garage sale or flea market for just a few dollars, only to discover that it’s worth much, much more. See what this Minneapolis bargain shopper happily discovered when he shared his Chelsea Clock find with Sean Delaney on an episode of PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow.”

Watch Appraisal: Chelsea Clock Company Tambour No. 3 Clock, ca. 1915 on PBS. See more from Antiques Roadshow.

On some antique or vintage clocks, the solid brass faces were originally engraved and then hand silvered. While cosmetic in nature, the condition of a clock dial can greatly affect its readability so it is important to have your mechanical clock’s dial re-silvered if it loses its original luster.

Our earliest dials were silvered and then hand painted.  The company then experimented with different materials such as copper plated lead and cast copper before settling with the solid brass dial we use today.  Depending on the original application used to make your dial, will determine if it is a candidate for restoration.

The process of  “re-silvering a clock dial” basically involves restoring its original finish and luster.

Antique Clock Dial - Before Re-Silvering

Antique Clock Dial - After Re-Silvering

DIAL RESTORATION PROCESS

Before the restoration process begins, the dial is photographed to ensure all key information is retained.  Then we remove the escutcheons and raised numerals (if applicable).  Next, we refill the etched minute track, numbers and any logos with a black enamel.  The dial is then placed on a turn table, spun and wet sanded to repair any fine scratches or imperfections and prepare it for silvering.

SILVERING

Our restoration technicians employ a proprietary process for silvering using a compound solution that has been in place for generations at Chelsea Clock. Our unique, time honored methods give each clock a fine, even silver color and signature circular texture to the final face appearance.

POLISHING
After the clock’s dial has been restored and re-silvered, we apply a lacquer coating to protect and preserve the finish.  If the dial was hand painted, we re-silver it first and then hand paint the minute track, numbers and company logo prior to lacquering.  Some dials also have a retailer’s name either etched into the dial or ink stamped on.  We are able to replicate the ink stamps using steel plates to transfer the retailer’s name onto the dial.  Once all of these steps have been completed, new escutcheons are fitted to protect the winding holes from key slip ups.

Do you have a clock in need of restoration? We welcome you to send it to us…  Just click here to fill out our repair request form.  A free estimate will be sent to you 7-10 days from the date in which your item is received at our factory. Questions? Click here to submit an inquiry or call 800-284-1778.

Below are some of our most frequently asked questions about caring for your Chelsea Clock.  Do you have a question about your clock?  Visit our FAQ page or simply type your question in the comment section below and we will provide you an answer as quickly as possible. 

Is it possible to over-wind my clock?

No, it is not possible to over-wind a Ship’s Bell or Shipstrike Clock. An under-wound clock will sometimes have an inconsistent chime or may not keep accurate time. When it comes time to wind the clock, be sure to wind both keyholes (clock mainspring and strike mechanism) completely each time (turn the key until you can not turn it any further).

My clock chimes inconsistently. How can I fix this?

More than likely this is caused by not fully winding the clock. To resolve the issue, wind both the clock mainspring (right keyhole) and the strike mechanism (left keyhole) fully. Next, turn the minute hand clockwise to the correct time, stopping at each hour and half-hour point to allow the bells to strike their full count. The hour hand should never be moved manually; all adjustments should be made by moving the minute hand.

How should I care for my clock if I am going on vacation or unable to wind it for extended periods?

If you are not going to be with the clock for over one week, be sure to fully wind both keyholes on the clock. Then insert the black tube into the winding arbor in the front of the clock (provided with the clock’s original packaging). This will ensure that the clock does not wind down completely.  If you have misplaced your black tube you can contact us and we can mail you a replacement or you can cut a plastic straw to fit and insert into the winding arbor.

Guaranteed, Branded Repair for Every Brand of Clock
Save 15% on all Repair Services for a limited time.

Chelsea Clock, one of America’s oldest and most respected makers of fine clocks, barometers and tide instruments, provides high quality clock repair and restoration services at its headquarters in Chelsea, Massachusetts. All professional services are performed on-site by skilled, certified Chelsea Clock technicians. To ensure expert service, optimum performance and lasting quality, Chelsea Clock recommends that all Chelsea Clock products be returned to our facility for fully-warranted, expert repair and restoration.

As the largest clock repair facility in the United States, Chelsea Clock is proud to service a wide variety of well-known brands. Clocks are thoroughly examined by our onsite technicians before a free estimate is provided.

Unfortunately, we only repair electric clocks made by Chelsea Clock, and not those made by other manufacturers.  For the repair of electric clocks by brands other than Chelsea Clock, you may wish to visit www.awci.com or www.nawcc.com for a listing of repair personnel or shops.

To help avoid unnecessary returns of non-Chelsea mechanical and quartz clocks, we always ask our customers to first email photos of their timepieces to us at repairs@chelseaclock.com. Having images of the front, back and inner workings of the clock beforehand allows our technicians to see what type of movement the piece has and if it can be repaired here at Chelsea Clock.

Among the basic repair services Chelsea Clock provides include the:

• Disassembling and cleaning of the clock’s working movements/components
• Replacement and refurbishing of worn or broken components and jewels
• Fitting and installation of new mainsprings
• Oiling, regulating and accuracy testing of movements (testing period takes approximately 2 weeks)

Visit www.ChelseaClock.com/repair-and-restoration for more information about expert Chelsea Clock repair and restoration services and to download a repair quote request form.

Mention Code SUMMER-PROMO, and save 15% off any Repair and Restoration Service now through August 31, 2011.

We have a bustling factory here at Chelsea. Making clock parts, assembling clock mechanisms, building new clocks, and repairing and restoring antique clocks. We receive clocks in our workroom to repair every day – and every clock has its own story.

Every once in a while, we receive a clock with an exceptional owner and story to go along with it that stops us in our tracks. Whenever that happens, sure enough you’ll find a bunch of us huddled around a technician’s workbench, hearing the retelling of that story through the clock repairs in progress. In a series of blog entries, we want to share some of these stories with you as they come up.

Sara Whitaker Hale sent us a vintage 4 1/2″ Commander, (a Ship’s Bell clock from the early 1900s)  for repair last February.

This clock belonged to her remarkable father Morris M Whitaker, and we have just got to share some of the story she told us with you…

Morris Whitaker was a Naval Architect and innovative boat builder in New York City in the early 1900s. He first went to Yale, then Cornell to study Naval Architecture, and finally to the London College of Diesel Engineering. He was the first person to put a diesel engine in a “motor launch.” He built the first boat to transport trains across the Ohio River, and his firm built many cruisers for use in the Great Lakes region. He was retained to help the Russian Government rebuild their fleet after their defeat by the Japanese navy in 1919. (He decided not to go when he heard the Bolshevik revolution had broken out.) He was Franklin Roosevelt’s wooden ships advisor when Roosevelt was Secretary of the Navy. In addition to designing boats, he also designed motorboat-building plants.

Throughout his career, he was very active in motorboat racing on the Hudson – in particular those out of the New York Motor Boat Club at West 149th Street. He officiated historic races of some of the first recorded pioneering women sailors, organized the storied July 1908 race for the Harmsworth Trophy, and designed boats for and participated in many other prominent boating races.

Amazing, right? Wait, there’s more…

In July 1909, Morris Whitaker was on board the Kitcinque in Vinyard sound sailing with the boat’s new owner, Frank D Gheen and his crew on a trial run and the engine caught fire. As the boat began to sink, the group realized the lifeboat only held fewer people than were on board. A veteran sailor, Whitaker felt responsible for the others and voluntarily remained in the water, holding onto the side of the life boat for 11 hours before they were rescued. Later, Gheen gave Whitaker this Chelsea clock in gratitude for his valiant actions. His daughter, Sara Hale Whitaker inherited the clock from her father and has since taken great care to keep it in top condition, sending it to Chelsea for routine maintenance and service.

Kitcinque as depicted in 1909 issue of The Rudder magazine

Interestingly enough, Gheen had owned 4 previous boats christened “Kit” hence this one was the 5th (“cinq” in French, “cinque” in Italian).

Some things are best left up to professionals, but there are a few things you can do at home to maintain your mechanical clock and minimize the need for premature or unnecessary repairs.

1.  Wind Regularly.  

While our clocks will run for more than one week (7 days), we do suggest that you wind the clock the same day each week for consistent time keeping and prevent the strike train from jamming.

2.  Wipe the case often with a soft cloth to keep dust and fingerprints from harming the finish.  

Do not use any polishes or cleaners on the case or dial as this will compromise the protective coatings.  Most paste polishes tend to leave a residue that will have a corrosive effect on the metal of the case, dial and can occasionally get into the movement and harm it.  If a polish is needed for the outside casing we would recommend using a small amount of pledge sprayed on a cloth first – not directly onto the case. 

3.  Monitor the clock’s time keeping.  

While there is a regulator to help with fine tuning your mechanical clock’s time keeping, once adjusted the clock should run well for many years.  If you find the clock needs frequent regulation this may be a sign that the clock needs service.

4.  Never attempt to oil the clock yourself

...Or spray the movement with any type of lubrication as this will cause more harm than good to your clocks movement.

If you encounter any issues, from time keeping to strike problems with your Chelsea Clock , don’t try to fix it yourself.  Call us!  We are here to help and serviceour customer’s needs.  Click here to submit an inquiry or call 800-284-1778.

Our Clock technicians service both new and antique clocks right here at our factory in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Each clock we service is first completely disassembled and thoroughly cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaning process, which removes any old oils and debris from your clock’s working movement. Next, our technicians carefully inspect each component for damage, wear or breakage.  We burnish and polish pivots, replace or restore worn bushing holes and service or  replace mainsprings.  The escapement, which is the heart beat of the clock, is also disassembled and cleaned for service by our senior watch technician who looks for any damaged components that need repair/replacing.  Once all has been fully serviced, we will reassemble the escapement to the movement, regulate, and accuracy-test your instrument for a minimum of two weeks. All repair work is guaranteed for two years. Whether your clock is 5 or 100 years old, our clock technicians will have your clock performing as if it were new.

Every day we receive clocks that require our care.  A well adjusted clock will run tip top for many years, but like all things requires service from time to time.  We suggest having your mechanical clock serviced every 7-10 years.  Our expert clock technicians provide clock repair and restoration services for both Chelsea and hundreds of other clock brands.  Some of the most common service requests by our customers include…

• Clock starts running fast or slow
• Chimes stop or are out of sequence
• Case or dial needs refinishing
• Glass is cracked and needs to be replaced  

 There are four important things to consider before deciding where to have your antique clock serviced… 

1.  EXPERIENCE & REPUTATION:  How long has a clock maker been in business, what is their background, and do they specialize in certain types of clocks?  

At Chelsea Clock, we have been manufacturing and repairing clocks right here in Chelsea Massachusetts since 1897.  There is no one who knows our clocks better than us!  We are one of the few remaining original clock companies in America, and the only to offer a branded clock repair service.  Our clock repair and restoration technicians are among the finest clock technicians in the country.  They have studied at and apprenticed with the best schools and clock makers all over the world, and maintain nationally recognized certifications to keep their skills current with changes in the industry.  In addition to servicing clocks made by Chelsea, they have a wide range of clock making and repair skills for instruments manufactured by hundreds of other makers. 

2. KNOWLEDGE:  Does the clock maker know your particular clock, how it works, and how to fix it?  

At Chelsea Clock, we can fix almost any mechanical clock you send our way.  The unique skill set required to repair a Chelsea is passed down through generations, from one technician to the next.  Many of the clocks we fix are our own Chelsea Clocks.  We’ve had clocks come back for repair 50 years after we made them and had people in the factory here recognize them.  That’s how well we know our clocks.  But our experience does not stop with Chelsea – we also service many other timepieces from different manufacturers such as Seth Thomas, Waterbury, Ansonia, Sessions and Ingraham to name a few. Click here to see a complete list of clock brands we are skilled in servicing.  If you have another brand clock, give us a call.  We can walk through your needs, source or make parts if need be.  We know our clocks. 

3.  PARTS:  Sometimes antique clocks require specific parts that clock makers don’t keep in stock all the time, so it can take months to get your clock back.  

Since we make many of our parts here on premises, we can assure you we will be able to fix your Chelsea clock in a timely fashion.   We also have a team of specialists to help us with cosmetic work such as hand painted dials, reverse glass painting, refurbishing of wood clock bases and brass clock cases, custom glass and specialty metal finishes such as copper and chrome.

4.  PRICE & TIME:  Time and money are always a factor when deciding who to go to for clock repair.  

Each clock we receive is assessed for work and parts needed to restore back to original function and condition.  Most start with a basic overhaul price (similar to a tune up for your car) which is dependent on the model and vintage of movement.  We do know how much our customers treasure their clocks and while there is no such thing as a clock emergency, we will do our best to have your clock repaired and returned within 6-10 weeks.  Who better to repair your Chelsea clock than the people who originally built it?  Our technicians take great pride in the work they do.  And since we make many of our parts here on premises, there is no “middle man” adding unnecessary costs to the parts we use to repair your clock.

We welcome you to send your clock to us for repair.  Just click here to fill out the repair request form.  A free estimate will be sent to you 7-10 days from the date in which your item is received. Questions? Click here to submit an inquiry or call 800-284-1778.

We also welcome your repair stories for our blog!  Write to us at stories@chelseaclock.com or Chelsea Clock Blog, 284 Everett Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150-1598.

Here at Chelsea Clock Company in Chelsea Massachusetts, we have been designing, manufacturing and procuring solid brass, handmade, top quality clocks since 1897.  We take a lot of pride in our work and we know our clock owners take a lot of pride in their clocks.

Around here, we have a lot of stories.  Clocks and the people who make clocks, repair and restore clocks, and own clocks.  Every day we hear another story from a customer about what their clock means to them.  And some days the clocks themselves, that come into our factory for repair, tell us stories about where they’ve been – just based on the condition they are in and the restoration touches they require.

We are starting this blog to tell you some of these stories.  So you can get a feel for the place these clocks come from and the people here who make them by hand in a long tradition of nautical clock makers.  Over the years we have developed new technology, designs, and processes, but the quality remains.  And the fact that our clocks continue to work for hundreds of years doesn’t change either.

We are also starting this blog to give you pointers – on how to care for your clock, how to consider clock purchases, what to look for and expect of a quality clock.

We hope you’ll find the blog useful and informative.  And we hope you will let us know what you think!  Anytime you have a question or comment, you can write to us stories@chelseaclock.com or Chelsea Clock Blog, 284 Everett Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150-1598.

Shown Left: Boston Clock, Circa late 1800′s made by Chelsea Clock Company’s predecessor, Boston Clock Company which operated from 1884-1894..

This rare clock (1 of only 3 known to currently exist in this size) was originally named the “Locomotive” for its use in trains in the late 1800’s.