Original U.S. Korean War Era Army M2 Message Center Clock in Case by Chelsea Clock Co. with Key - Not Functional - Serial 586921
In stock
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Army M2 Message Center Clock manufactured by the Chelsea Clock Company, complete with its original wooden field carrying case and Chelsea-marked winding key. The clock’s case bears serial number 586921, which falls within Chelsea’s 1950–1954 production range, but we are not sure if this matches the serial number in the clock, as we did not remove it. The clock is currently nonfunctional. The key is present, but the mechanism will no longer wind, and we have not disassembled the clock to determine whether it is overwound or requires mechanical repair.
The face reads as follows:
U.S. ARMY
CLOCK MESSAGE CENTER M2
This excellent example is mounted in an Army issue wood carrying box complete with leather carry strap and clasps. The box is serial numbered on the top 7197815 and on the interior of the bottom piece 586921. Also included is the original key which is marked Chelsea. The latches of the box are marked for the Eagle Lock Company of Terryville, Connecticut.
Chelsea’s serial-number records place 586921 within the 559241–598659 range assigned to 1950–1954. The Chelsea Clock Museum notes that these serial ranges reflect approximate sale dates rather than exact production dates, so the individual clock could potentially vary somewhat within that period, but the serial firmly supports a Korean War-era attribution.
The clock face measures 6 inches in diameter. The box measures 9" W x 4.5" D x 10" H. The US Army used these from WW2 to the Vietnam War and were used in the field to mark the time when a message was received. There is a small remnant of the strap but it is mostly gone. From the later serial number of this example, it could date anywhere from the Korean War to Vietnam, but we cannot say for sure. It would make a perfect clock for your desk at work or at home!
This example is especially noteworthy for its original six-inch U.S. Army M2 dial, 12E mechanical movement, auxiliary time-reference hand, original wooden carrying case, Chelsea winding key, Eagle Lock hardware, and 586921 marking inside the case. Although the movement is currently nonfunctional, the surviving clock, key, and military carrying case form a particularly complete example of the precision timekeeping equipment used at U.S. Army message centers and command posts during the early Cold War period.
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