BellClocks.com Q&A - Chelsea Navy Clock Finish

This installment of BellClocks.com Q&A will answer a very common question we receive from customers who purchase the Chelsea Timemaster - commonly called the "Chelsea Navy Clock".

Q: The case on my new Chelsea Timemaster appears dirty, dusty, or used - what happened to my new clock?.

A: Your clock is new, and has arrived in the proper condition for shipment of this model.

More information on Timemaster:

The Chelsea Timemaster series of clocks is the civilian version of Chelsea's famous commercial clock line, which has been in production for many years. Commonly referred to as the "Navy Clock", the Chelsea Timemaster is produced by special order, and in conjunction with the Chelsea Clock government models which are produced under specific government contracts.

The main difference between the Timemaster, and Chelsea Commercial models, is that commercial models have "U S Government" on the dial, and may only be sold to authorized government agencies/entities. The other difference, is that the commercial models typically offer a white or black dial, and Timemaster is available only in a white dial.

Both Timemaster and commercial models feature the same specifications regarding performance, and both are compliant with MILSPEC 1194(C)(D).

As these are commercial production clocks, they are produced with an emphasis on meeting specifications and performance. They are not made for presentation or looks - they are made to perform and be reliable - period. This means the packaging is "no frills", but compliant with government packaging requirements.

It also means that the phenolic case is not "finished" by wiping down, polishing, etc. The case will likely appear dirty, and rough to the touch due to the production process. Again, the case is the main component in meeting the MILSPEC requirements, and the focus is on producing a tough case - "looks" are not a consideration.

Navy veterans will probably find the appearance to be perfect - as these clocks are commonly found in navigational, operations, bridge, and communication areas of many U S Navy ships, due to their accuracy and reliability.

Hopefully this will help in understanding the process by which the Timemaster series of clocks is produced, and why there is no attention to "pretty"!

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