Looking for a Ships clock with the watch bells

clyst

clyst

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Iv been through the online chandlers with no luck . They are available and they ain't cheap but from where ?
Anyone know of a likely supplier .
cheers
 
clyst said:
Iv been through the online chandlers with no luck . They are available and they ain't cheap but from where ?
Anyone know of a likely supplier .
cheers
Click to expand...

This may be of no use if you are making a purchase for a friend for Christmas, but many years ago I downloaded a free bit of software that made my laptop chime the ship's bell. Ok if it is for your own use and you have laptop switched on all the time whilst onboard maybe. Raised a few eyebrows when I was at work.

Perhaps there is an app for clever phones these days? I don't have a clever phone.
 
gadget user said:
This may be of no use if you are making a purchase for a friend for Christmas, but many years ago I downloaded a free bit of software that made my laptop chime the ship's bell. Ok if it is for your own use and you have laptop switched on all the time whilst onboard maybe. Raised a few eyebrows when I was at work.

Perhaps there is an app for clever phones these days? I don't have a clever phone.
Click to expand...

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ships-bells/id639358158?mt=8
 
They're not exactly hard to find with google...

But if you want one to sound the dogs - forget it! American bells only as far as my researches have gone.
 
There are basically four accredited Ships Bell Clock manufacturers.
They are Schatz (German) and Hermle (also German) and Chelsea (US) and Seth Thomas (also US)
I have a set of Seth Thomas Corsair Ships bell Striking Clock and matching Marine Barometer and an 8 day Bridge Clock also.
In my case, I bought all three at auctions, cheaper than usual as I restored the three myself to factory standard.
The clocks run correct to 20 seconds a week more or less and the barometer has been stripped, serviced and set to sea level pressure, so overall a very satisfying result.
But I take it you are not a professional clockmaker / instrument maker, so in your case I would advise you err on the side of caution because professional fees for specialised work on instruments like these can end up being greater than the purchase price of which you might perceive to be a bargain.
Therefore, if you choose any of the clocks I have listed above make sure they have recently been serviced are in good running order and keep proper time and additionally that the bells make all the strikes. This is because occasionally the hands have been set backwards by an impatient owner, damaging the rack mechanism. Always make sure to set the hands always by following in a clockwise direction when both the driving train and the striking train are wound up, allowing the clock to make the proper strikes at the half hour and at the hour until you finally set the correct time. Also make sure the key provided is a correct fit. You can find them on ebay for sale but be mindful of the caveats I set out above. Any further questions, feel free to ask.
 
VO5 said:
There are basically four accredited Ships Bell Clock manufacturers.
They are Schatz (German) and Hermle (also German) and Chelsea (US) and Seth Thomas (also US)

SNIP.
Click to expand...

All good stuff, but Hermle (don't know about the others) sell uncased movements (e.g. model 132-071 on this page: http://www.clockworks.com/clock-movement/hermle-clock-movement-130.html). So, it is entirely possible that a clock with another manufacturer's name entirely is actually a Hermle movement. A lot of "own brand" clocks are produced this way, using movements sourced from specialist manufacturers.
 
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AntarcticPilot said:
All good stuff, but Hermle (don't know about the others) sell uncased movements (e.g. model 132-071 on this page: http://www.clockworks.com/clock-movement/hermle-clock-movement-130.html). So, it is entirely possible that a clock with another manufacturer's name entirely is actually a Hermle movement. A lot of "own brand" clocks are produced this way, using movements sourced from specialist manufacturers.
Click to expand...

What you are talking about is known in the watchmaking and small clock trade as an "ebauche".
I would not recommend anyone not a clockmaker without a fully equipped horological workshop to consider the idea because these movements do not include:
Dial with dial feet and pins.
Hands.
Key.

Then there is the question of a case, bezel and glass.

It is just too much for any handyman, however handy, to take on.

The four manufacturers I list fit their own movements to the cases which they turn, finish and glaze themselves.

I know you mean well, but please let us not muddy the topic. For my sins, I did 17 years of horology, so I know better than most.

Now, for example, the US manufacturers (Seth Thomas and Chelsea) cater for the US market.

Therefore their matching Aneroid Barometers have their dials graduated in Inches and Centimetres in concentric tracks.

Then because we use Millibars, to find a Millibar dial as a replacement is virtually impossible. Then again it is a specialist craft to make a bespoke one. It is not an area for ordinary yachtsmen to enter for the same reasons I give above relative to buying and restoring Ships Bell Striking Clocks and other marine timepieces.

Then Chronometer work, which I have also done, requires additional specialist tools and specialist skills.

So let's keep it simple for someone who just wants a Ships Bell Striking Clock in good order, shall we ?

I know you mean well Antartic. But do us a favour in keeping non horologists away from unnecessary and avoidable complications, there's a good gentleman.:D
 
Thanks for all your comments and advice chaps . I have now ordered a mechanical clock found by Andy formally yacht parts , Plymouth posters will know him , Not cheap at £550 but Iv always wanted one so sod the expense !!
 
VO5 said:
I would not recommend anyone not a clockmaker without a fully equipped horological workshop to consider the idea
[...]
It is just too much for any handyman, however handy, to take on.
Click to expand...

I didn't think he was suggesting that the OP should build his own clock from a bare movement, but simply pointing out that the same mechanism may be found in complete clocks ostensibly from different makers.

Pete
 
VO5 said:
What you are talking about is known in the watchmaking and small clock trade as an "ebauche".
I would not recommend anyone not a clockmaker without a fully equipped horological workshop to consider the idea because ......

SNIP

I know you mean well Antartic. But do us a favour in keeping non horologists away from unnecessary and avoidable complications, there's a good gentleman.:D
Click to expand...

I wasn't suggesting that a non-specialist took on making a clock from a movement; as you say, it is something requiring substantial skills, which I don't have although I take an interest in horology. I was pointing out that a Hermle movement might well be found in clocks not labelled as Hermle.
 
Not Nauticalia. SWMBO bought one for me, it had to go back to be fixed three times. Not until it was breathed on by a real horologist in Florida did it start to work properly and keep good time. Apparently the works are German/Russian, with plain steel parts inside! Not recommended for a salty atmosphere.

A good friend has a Chelsea clock, which I covet. Beautiful and a much nicer ring!
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I wasn't suggesting that a non-specialist took on making a clock from a movement; as you say, it is something requiring substantial skills, which I don't have although I take an interest in horology. I was pointing out that a Hermle movement might well be found in clocks not labelled as Hermle.
Click to expand...

Taken. Granted.

The thing is, readers could misinterpret and think it is a mission they could plausibly undertake.
Additionally to the problem of casing, dial making and hand fitting and so on, there is the problem of internal fixing to guarantee the movement is not going to come adrift with the constant movement and shocks a boat delivers.
Then in some casework, extra pillaring is necessary to firmly secure the movement inside the case.
Not all movements are secured just by affixing them to the dial and the dial to the case.
The better ones carry additional pilloring as a form of extra strutting.
As these have to be separately and individually machined it presents further obstacles to the enthusiastic do it yourselfer without the expertise or the tools, you see ?
 
VO5 said:
There are basically four accredited Ships Bell Clock manufacturers.
They are Schatz (German) and Hermle (also German) and Chelsea (US) and Seth Thomas (also US)

The clocks run correct to 20 seconds a week more or less and the barometer has been stripped, serviced and set to sea level pressure, so overall a very satisfying result.
Click to expand...

(1) An old friend has a ships-bell striking Schatz. It is lovely and both looks and sounds beautiful. I have one on my list of things to buy (after a new genoa).

(2) 20 seconds a week eh? Thats better than my 6 month old Rolex Milgauss...
 
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