- Chelsea
- Boston
- Seth Thomas Helmsman/Corsair
- Schatz Royal Mariner
Ships’ Bell Clocks
JFK offers repair on modern ships’ bell clocks (manufactured during the 1960s to the present) such as the Chelsea Shipstrike and “Boston” Shipstrike lines, by Chelsea Clock Company; Seth Thomas ships’ bell clocks, including the Helmsman and Corsair models; and the Schatz Royal Mariner.
(JFK is no longer able to service antique ships bell clocks such as those by Chelsea and Seth Thomas that are of the World War II era).
Schatz Royal Mariner
The original Schatz company is no longer manufacturing clocks or supplying repair parts. I have found it quite difficult to achieve satisfactory repair results on Schatz Royal Mariner and Ships Bell clocks that will guarantee that the clock operates properly, reliably, and consistently for any reasonable length of time. For this reason, I do not attempt to repair Schatz ship’s bell clocks.
However, there is an alternative.
There is a conversion available. It is a complete replacement mechanism and dial (face), that is manufactured by modern German manufacturer of clocks. It is compatible with Schatz 6-inch diameter “Royal Mariner” and “Ship’s Bell” brass cases, and will fit directly into them (it will not fit into the smaller, 4-inch diameter cases).
This converts your old Schatz Ships Bell clock into a brand new clock.
Your clock will remain key-wound and mechanical (not quartz or battery), with a bell that sounds the “ship’s bells” every 30 minutes. (The ships bell sequence begins at “1 bell”, with an additional bell strike added every 30 minutes). After 4 hours, when “8 bells” are sounded, the cycle resets to “1 bell”, and the sequence repeats.
Benefits:
- Continuity in design: Your old Schatz outer brass case (and spokes, if it has them) remains the same, and the dial (face) on the new mechanism substantially resembles the original Schatz dial.
- Performance/Reliability: the conversion mechanism is of substantially better quality manufacture than the Schatz clocks were.
- 2-year guarantee: The Schatz Conversion is guaranteed by JFK for 2 years, parts and labor.
- Parts availability: when your Schatz Conversion does need future service, parts are readily available for it.