waterbury ships clock

[rrdd123]

I have purchased a waterbury ships clock. does anyone one know how to identify which ship it comes from or what the numbers mean. n7907 u1 5 50.

roger

[regularjoe2]

Please post some images if you can , rrdd123 .

[railman44]

I too would like to see a picture.  I know of Chelsea and Seth Thomas making ship clocks but I'm sure there were others.  OR, does yours have a ship model with a clock?

[KC]

Waterbury Clock Company History
http://www.clockguy.com/SiteRelated/SiteReferencePages/WaterburyHistory.html


Waterbury Clock Models List
http://www.antiqueclockspriceguide.com/manufmodellist.php?manufacturer=Waterbury_Clock_Co

[rrdd123]

Thanks for the links they were very usefull. I have added a couple of photos.

Roger

[railman44]

Are one of the keywinds for a ships bell or a double mainspring?  If the clock doesn't chime, it could be from a railroad observation or private/business car too.  Sessions also made a round clock used on railroads.  It's the first Waterbury clock of this type I've seen.  What's the diameter of the dial?

[rrdd123]

Its a ships chime 8 bells and all that. The dial is 4" dia. I believe it dates from about 1900 to 1910. It has a jewelled movement.
I bought it at a local auction and had the movement checked and cleaned by a clocksmith. So far its cost £110. But I think its worth every penny.

[KC]

railman if you look at their sites and clocks they have for sale all over the web, they specialized in selling to the public and made many look-alike ship clocks, barometers, thermometers, etc.

So, this most likely was for decorative purposes.

[cogar]

So, this most likely was for decorative purposes.

KC, I'm going to disagree with you on that because, if so, it should have brass legs on it.

The pictured clock looks to me like it was made to mount against a wall or whatever and that "new" wood base it is now mounted on was made by a later owner just for displaying it on a table or shelf.

[rrdd123]

You'r right the wood block is a later addition. The clock has 3 holes in the rear flange for fixing to a wall or similar.

[regularjoe2]

The actual 'ships clocks' I've seen from this company usually were chromed &/or nickel-plated with a heavier bezel & convex glass in a hinged door , while the others that were produced seemed , to me , to be more intended for land-based decoration .

....but that's just my 2 cents .

I fully agree about the non-original wood 'base' , BTW .

[talesofthesevenseas]

My two cents worth is that the face also appears a little too clean for something that would have had years of exposure to moisture and salt in the air on a ship, but clocks specifically aren't something I have experience with. But I can tell you that everything on a boat ages quickly because of the constant exposure. I would expect the face to be spotty, or even rusted right through. The face is a metal plate, right?

[cogar]

The face could very well be porcelin on metal.

Old thermometers and advertising signs were such and they could withstand a "hunnert" years of inclimate weather conditions.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Ah, I didn't know that! Thanks!

[KC]

This is great...I just love all the brain juices flowing here!  You can disagree with me any day cogar!