Seth Thomas Ship's Bell Yacht Clock c1910
Significance A Seth Thomas Ship's Bell Clock with a stand c1910. A functional clock, not domestic, used on ships and yachts for general timekeeping, usually on a wall, secured top and bottom. Apparently quite rare as few survive marine service. The strike pattern is for the ship's watch. Used on military and merchant vessels. It is claimed that a Seth Thomas clock was recovered from the wreck of the USS MAINE 1895 and presented to Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was (Assistant) Secretary of the Navy 1913-1919. Description A balance wheel and lever escapement, presumably reasonably accurate given its purpose. "Ship's Bells struck through the double strike system mark off the series of four hour watches that make up the sailor's day. Each four hour watch is divided into half hour periods tolled from one through eight bells. When the chiming gets out of sequence the clock has a "Lever" that makes it easier to coordinate the chime sequence with the...