Chelsea Clock Blog

A modern CAD rendering demonstrating the assembly of our classic Ship's Bell clock. Here at Chelsea Clock, we pride ourselves on making the highest-quality mechanical clocks the old-fashioned way. However, some of our newer, more accessible models do utilize quartz...

For the uninitiated, Jay Leno's Garage is a web and TV series in which American comedian and television host Jay Leno, former host of the Tonight Show, performs live classic-car and motorcycle reviews out of his "Big Dog Garage" in...

When you own a mechanical timepiece, knowing how to wind a clock is important. These clocks will eventually “wind-down” — and if you don’t wind them up again, all you’re left with is a refined statue or paperweight. Every Chelsea...

Along with the barometer, the tide clock is one of the most useful nautical instruments that ship captains and beachgoers can own. Also called a tide time clock or tide instrument, these tools are used to monitor the tide levels,...

One of the blessings of modern technology is that we're able to connect with clock enthusiasts and Chelsea lovers from across the globe and from all walks of life through our different social media channels and our blog. In this...

How to Use Military Time Military time is a 24-hour system of telling time — and it’s actually less confusing than you might think. With military time, hours are counted from midnight to midnight, and time is read in 24-hour...

Not long after The Finest Hours was released in theaters, we received an inquiry that nearly knocked our clocks off (hehe). A young man by the name of Matt Fitzgerald told us he was the grandson of John J. Fitzgerald,...

A half century after the smoke finally cleared, the 1973 fire in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is still vividly remembered by those who lived through it. The devastating Chelsea blaze began on October 14, 1973, and destroyed 18 blocks - roughly 20%...

Since 1907 Chelsea Clock has been the trusted time-keeper of the Navy. But once our clocks leave our factory door, we never know what adventures await. It wasn't until after the release of Disney's The Finest Hours that we found...

Longtime Chelsea employee John McCarthy remembers the disastrous Chelsea Clock factory flood in an essay titled "Everything was Floating." It was Wednesday August 12, 1985. I was sleeping peacefully just before midnight when my wife woke me with news that...

Here’s a modern look at what’s on the inside of our Ship’s Bell clock -- a century-old mechanical timepiece that we’ve been crafting by hand, the same way, since 1900. Although we’ve been making mechanical timepieces the old-fashioned way for...

In late February 1952, a nor'easter hit off the coast of Cape Cod, so powerful that two T2 tankers split in half the same night. One of the tankers, the Fort Mercer, was able to radio for help; so by...

Participants of St. Barths Bucket Regatta set sail tomorrow, and five lucky winners will be taking home a handsome Chelsea Clock ship's bell trophy prize at the end of the weekend. The first St. Barths Bucket dates back to 1995...

Tuesday evening a reception will be held at City Hall to kick off local photographer Nanda Rust's latest exhibit featuring Chelsea Clock. City Hall stated in a press release: Now is your chance to gain an inside perspective through beautiful...

Every now and again we receive heartfelt letters from readers whose lives have been touched by a Chelsea Clock. It's both an honor and a point of pride that so often our hand-crafted clocks become family heirlooms, passed from one...

Last night's Academy Awards got us thinking about film and filmmaking. So for you, dear clock enthusiast, we've compiled a list of the must-see movies for clock lovers. Once you're done watching all the Oscar winners, be sure to add...

Quantum Key West Race Week kicked off late last month in Old Town Key West. It was the 29th year for the international regatta, this year hosted by Storm Trysail Club (the notorious host of Block Island Race Week) for...

These terrific photos are just in from our good friend, Captain Ken Bracewell, taken aboard Motor Yacht EVVIVA. Ken recently outfitted the cabin of this gorgeous vessel with a Chelsea 8.5” Ship’s Bell Clock and matching Barometer, both in gleaming...

Over the past century we've seen many beloved clock models come and go. Here's a look at a few that have inspired collectors throughout the ages. 1911 The Offset Auto Clock was featured in the 1911 catalog with 2 3/4"...

In May of 1978, only five years after a devastating fire destroyed hundreds of Chelsea businesses, a blazing two-alarm fire threatened the very existence of Chelsea Clock. Since the Depression, the lot behind our original Everett Street factory had been...