Saturday, 8 September 2012

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

  The Chelsea Clock Company, founded in 1897, is one of the oldest, largest, and few remaining American clock manufacturing companies in existence. For over a century, Chelsea's clockmakers have been designing and handcrafting distinguished, high quality clocks for customers in the corporate, consumer, government and marine markets. Today, the company continues to build and repair clocks at its original corporate headquarters in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

Long regarded as one of America's highest quality products[citation needed], Chelsea Clocks are found in the White House, on US Naval Ships, and in homes and offices around the world.


he story of Chelsea Clock spans more than a century and is closely entwined with the history of clock making in America. Its early years, however, like those of the nation itself, were sometimes ones of turbulence, survival, and unflagging devotion by the owners, craftsmen, and shop workers who have helped it endure. As in many trades, early American clock makers learned their craft as apprentices to master craftsmen. Some later established companies in their own names. Like many entrepreneurs, however, their grasp of business skills was often weak and so their fledgling enterprises frequently failed.


One of America’s earliest and most successful clock makers was Simon Willard, renowned for his banjo and other fine clocks with movements of cast brass and exquisite mahogany cabinetry. In 1842, Edward Howard, who apprenticed under Willard’s nephew Andrew, founded the E. Howard Clock Company. In turn, Howard taught a promising and inventive apprentice named Joseph Eastman, who later founded the Eastman Clock Company. At one point, Eastman adapted the movement from a large Waltham watch to a small clock, thereby enabling it to operate—unlike a pendulum clock—in any position. Eastman’s entrepreneurial efforts, however, ended in bankruptcy shortly after building a new factory just north of Boston in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

 Chelsea Clock

Chelsea Clock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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