Ship's Bell Chiming Clock

Mechanical Ships Bell Chimes

Mechanical ships bell clocks are a particular type of a nautical clock that has a rich history that dates back hundreds of years. The particular chimes, or bell strikes, for mechanical styles actually performs an important function in that it lets sailors know quickly when their shifts begin and end, which are generally four hours in duration. These mechanical clocks will generally strike eight times at 4:00, 8:00 and 12:00 and then counts each half-hour with bell strikes. For example, the clock will strike eight time at 4:00, which lets sailors know that their shift is over. Then the clock will strike once at 4:30, twice at 5:00, three times at 5:30, four times at 6:00, five times at 6:30, six times at 7:00 and seven times at 7:30. This process repeats again at 8:00 with eight strikes, followed by the counting of the half-hours with bell strikes until 12:00, where another eight strikes are produced. This unique method of time indication is still used today in many mechanical movement styles.

Civilian Time	Military Time	Navy Shift	Bell Strikes (spaces represent pauses)
12:30 PM	1230	Afternoon	*
1:00 PM	1300	Afternoon	**
1:30 PM	1330	Afternoon	** *
2:00 PM	1400	Afternoon
2:30 PM	1430	Afternoon	*
3:00PM	1500	Afternoon	**
3:30 PM	1530	Afternoon	** *
4:00 PM	1600	Afternoon
4:30 PM	1630	First Dog	*
5:00 PM	1700	First Dog	**
5:30 PM	1730	First Dog	** *
6:00 PM	1800	First Dog
6:30 PM	1830	Second Dog	*
7:00 PM	1900	Second Dog	**
7:30 PM	1930	Second Dog	** *
8:00 PM	2000	Second Dog
8:30 PM	2030	First	*
9:00 PM	2100	First	**
9:30 PM	2130	First	** *
10:00 PM	2200	First
10:30 PM	2230	First	*
11:00 PM	2300	First	**
11:30 PM	2330	First	** *
12:00 AM	2400	First
12:30 AM	0030	Mid	*
1:00 AM	0100	Mid	**
1:30 AM	0130	Mid	** *
2:00 AM	0200	Mid
2:30 AM	0230	Mid	*
3:00 AM	0300	Mid	**
3:30 AM	0330	Mid	** *
4:00 AM	0400	Mid
4:30 AM	0430	Morning	*
5:00 AM	0500	Morning	**
5:30 AM	0530	Morning	** *
6:00 AM	0600	Morning
6:30 AM	0630	Morning	*
7:00 AM	0700	Morning	**
7:30 AM	0730	Morning	** *
8:00 AM	0800	Morning
8:30 AM	0830	Forenoon	*
9:00 AM	0900	Forenoon	**
9:30 AM	0930	Forenoon	** *
10:00 AM	1000	Forenoon
10:30 AM	1030	Forenoon	*
11:00 AM	1100	Forenoon	**
11:30 AM	1130	Forenoon	** *
12:00 PM	1200	Forenoon