New This Week:

4.39  BALEEN BUSK.  Classic mid-19th century whaleman-made corset busk beautifully embellished with scrimshaw scenes indicative of the period.  At the top is an elaborate heart the periphery of which is lined with recurring X’s and |||.  In its center are floral sprays.  Below it is an 18th C. house with Towering tree.  Below it is a lovely rose followed by a circular cartouche containing stars .  At the center is woman carrying a flag.  This image is ironically reminiscent of the moon landing!  Below it is another X and ||| division, then a tall church with steeple.  It is followed by a broadside portrait of a lovely maiden in her apron carrying what appears to be fruit.  Below her is a four-leaved ribbon bow, then finally another elaborately-decorated heart.  All of the vignettes are bordered by floral sprays.  To be sure there is some worming characteristic of this mid-19th century folk art form – yet a sure sign of its age.  Fortunately it is on the periphery and does not impact the images at all.  13 3/8 inches long by 1 ½ inches wide.  A very good example of this type of sailor scrimshaw at a very reasonable price.  395

5.90/7.06   BLUE JACKETS` MANUAL.  Highly prized wartime edition of the famous issue of the U.S. Navy’s “THE BLUE JACKETS’ MANUAL 1943.”  This classic publication was issued at the height of World War II.  As such, it represents the most comprehensive text of its type ever produced, in a period when the fate of the world was at stake.  It contains an impressive 1,445 pages exclusive of the index in its original hard cloth cover.  This is literally the “Navy Bible” of its time, covering every aspect of the American sailor’s life in the most trying times in the nation’s history -- In the very depths of the world war in 1943.   Those seriously in the know about this series of Naval books are familiar with their content.  We will not elaborate.  As a wartime publication this is by far the most extensive and collectible of the series.  Excellent original condition showing good, minor expected combat wear to the cloth cover.  Content is exceptionally fine, with no losses, tears or soiling.  A super war relic.  195

5.83  RARE NAVY NOZZLE.  Authentic World War I or earlier shipboard firefighting nozzle used by the U.S. Navy.  This heavy-duty fire nozzle is constructed of solid bronze.  It is cast in relief at the bottom “3A FOG NOZZLE” and on the opposite side “PAT 1887 747.”  What is special about this apparatus is that it represents the first attempt at using aeratedgenerated foam to smother a shipboard fire rather than just water.  To these ends it has 6 exist ports on the end and 3 unique aspiration vents on the side for introducing air into the frothy mix.  The opposite side of the nozzle is impressed with the distinctive Navy Inspector’s Mark .   The nozzle is threaded to fit a 3 inch fire hose and has nibs on either side for locking in place.  7 ½ inches long by 5 ¾ inches wide.  Excellent original condition with a handsome bronze age patina.  This early form is very scarce.  139

7.36/13.31  CHELSEA OVERHAUL MANUAUL.  Official publication entitled “Manual For Overhaul, Repair and Handling of U.S.N. Mechanical, Boat and Deck Cocks CHELSEA TYPE With Parts Catalog, Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, April 1953.”  This glossy soft cover  book contains 101 pages, fully illustrated with excellent line drawings and detailed parts lists accompanying exploded views of the various models.  The Table of Contents lists:  “Section I- Introduction, Section II-Description, Section III-Disassembly Procedure, Section III-A- Escapement Disassembly, Section IV-Inspection, Repair and Cleaning, Section IV-A Escapement Operations, Section V-Reassembly Procedure, Section VI – Test, Adjustment and Final Inspection, Section VII-Maintenance Parts Catalog, Section VIII-Special Service Tools and Testing Devices.”  Excellent condition.   All there is to know about Chelsea marine clocks. 49

13.39  HISTORIC CHELSEA CLOCK.   Offered here is an exceptionally scarce Model E Chelsea clock made in the 1800’s!  This handsome relic was made by the fledgling Chelsea Clock Company of Boston, Massachusetts which began its manufactory in 1897, only one year before this clock was manufactured!  This clock dates to 1898!  The silvered brass dial has bold Roman numerals swept by classic blued steel Breguet “moon hands.”  The minute chapter ring encircles the dial surrounded by the silvered brass reflector ring.  The subsidiary seconds bit is below the “XII” and the early style Fast/Slow lever is below the “II.”  The perfect dial is signed “J.E. Caldwell & Co. Philadelphia” above the winding arbor.  The heavy solid brass case has a screw-on bezel measuring 5 5/8 inches in diameter.  The back is stamped CHELSEA CLOCK CO” with the double stamped serial number “2545” matching the movement number on the inner back plate.  Excellent original condition in all respects.  The movement has just been thoroughly overhauled at a cost of $500 and is guaranteed to be in tip top running condition for years to come.  Complete with original unmarked brass “bat wing” Chelsea key as provided during the company’s earliest days. 1975

The Chelsea Clock Company has manufactured well over 1,000,000 clocks!  This clock, produced only after a year of the company’s beginning manufacture, represents the less than   .02%  of the company’s output!
In his landmark reference book, “Chelsea Clock Company First Hundred Years,” 2024 Demeter Publications, Boston, 2nd Edition, author Andy Demeter refers to this clock on page 194.  “The definition of this clock is best defined as a collection of Time Only (non-striking) models intended for shipboard use.  Beginning with the Model E in 1897 (which bears resemblance to Joseph Eastman’s invention) this model was used exclusively until the introduction of their Pilot House movement Model R in 1905.  This clock was known as the “Series B” Yacht Clock numbered from 2112 to 2798 (page 31) which were ordered and delivered between 1898 and 1899.”

Surviving Chelsea clocks dating prior to 1905 are extremely rare.  Those dating before the turn-of the century are essentially not to be found!  In our own experience, a clock which dated 1902 was sent to the former foreman of the Chelsea repair department.  It elicited a remark stating it “was the oldest Chelsea clock he had ever seen in his 40+ years!“  This clock is at least 3, probably 4, years earlier than that!

Jesse Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were major jewelry retailers and silversmiths in Philadelphia beginning in 1848 with J. E. Caldwell & Co.   The company acquired a national reputation through its silver services which were presented to battleships and cruisers of the U.S. Navy.  It exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in 1870.

16.36  P.O.W. STRAWWORK BOX.  Circa 1800 pocket “personals box” as made by French prisoners of war in British prisons during the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and French in the late 18th century.  This classic example is beautifully made of straw of varying colors, meticulously fitted and overlaid on a stout cardboard core.  The precision with which it was fabricated is unbelievable!  The two oval halves join tightly together with a firm press fit.  The box measures 3 5/8 inches long by 2 ½ inches wide and 1 ¼ inches thick.  Condition is remarkable for a delicate object of this type over 220 years old.  There are just a couple of very minor losses.  Overall it must be rated at 99% complete.  A great little example of the famed P.O.W. work.  Included with this purchase is an original copy of the “Lloyd Collection of Napoleonic Prisoner-of-War Artifacts” illustrated catalog.  239

(See item 7.38)

AUTHENTIC LIGHTHOUSE. The ultimate! This was an exceptional opportunity to own a very historic relic of America’s rich maritime heritage embodied in the original lamp room from the famous Ballast Point Lighthouse, which served its sentinel duties in the channel of San Diego Bay from 1890 until 1960. This incredibly well-preserved piece of history was built according to specifications laid out by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1885. A copy of the original specifications are included as are much printed references and photographs. Erected in 1890, the 5th Order lighthouse was a significant aid to navigation in conjunction with the Point Loma Lighthouse (1850) poised at the entrance to San Diego Bay. Ballast Point Light was situated further inside the massive bay on a point which jutted into the seaway which posed a hazard to shipping. 135 years old! SOLD

HISTORY

On October 2, 1888, recognizing the need for a harbor light in the increasingly congested channel of San Diego Bay, Congress authorized $25,000 for the construction of a lighthouse to be built on Ballast Point. Fashioned in the late Victorian style, the entire structure took 3 months to build beginning in March 1890. The light was first lit on August 1st. It was a sister of the lights at San Luis Obispo and Table Bluff, south of Humboldt Bay. All were wood framed structures with attached living quarters. The ironwork for the lantern was forged in San Francisco and carried south to San Diego by ship. The French firm of Sautter, Lemmonier, & Cie. manufactured the Freznel lens for the Ballast Point Light in 1886. The fixed 5th Order lens was visible for a distance of at least 11 miles.

When California was still part of Mexico the peninsula jutting into San Diego Bay was known as Punta del los Guijarros or “Pebble Point.” For centuries cobblestones washed down by the San Diego River had been deposited on the point. When California gained statehood in 1850 the point was renamed Middle Ground Shoal. As time went on and merchant traffic in the harbor increased, many sailing ships found it convenient to load or discharge the stones as ballast. The practice continued and eventually the name “Ballast Point” stuck.

Accompanying the Ballast Point lighthouse was a huge 2,000 pound fog bell in a wooden tower. In 1928 it was supplanted by a single tone electric diaphone horn.

The first keeper of the light was John M. Nilsson, assigned duty on July 15, 1890. The second was Henry Hall, who took the job on December 1, 1892. Perhaps the most famous keeper was Irish-born David R. Splaine, a Civil War veteran and veteran lighthouse keeper, who assumed the post in 1894, having served at Point Conception, the Farallons and San Diego’s own Point Loma light from 1886-1889.

In 1913 the original old kerosene lamp was replaced with an acetylene burner. Acetylene gave way to electricity in 1928. In 1938 a filter was fitted inside the 5th Order Freznel lens giving the light a distinctive green hue for recognition. One of the last keepers of the light was Radford Franke who recalled receiving the order to “douse the light” upon the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

By early 1960 the light was deemed to be of no further service, so in June of that year the lantern room was removed to a salvage yard. The wooden tower and its brick and mortar foundation remained a couple of years later until they too were declared structurally unsafe and demolished. The bell tower continued to survive, mounted with a 375 mm high intensity lamp on its roof. However the value of maintaining any light on Ballast Point diminished with the installation of harbor entrance range lights. In the late 1960’s the bell and its tower were dismantled. The tower found its way to a private residence in Lakeside, California. The bell had a more circuitous later life. It was purchased from a San Diego area junk yard in 1969 for its scrap value of 5 cents per pound! The one ton bell remained on local private property until 1991, when it was put on loan to the San Diego Maritime Museum. In 1999 the bell was transported to the son of the original buyer, living in Colorado. Then in 2002, the bell finally found its way to the home of the owner’s granddaughter living in Vermont, where it rests to this day.

The story of the lantern’s later life is even more fascinating. The nation was just recovering from the Cuban Missile Crisis between JFK and Khrushchev, when in 1964 the Cuban government cut off the fresh water supply to the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay. By that time, an experimental desalinization plant had been in operation at Point Loma for 2 years. The Navy hastily ordered it to be disassembled and shipped through the Panama Canal to Cuba. A gentleman working as a crane operator during the process noted the shabby lantern room in a trash heap nearby. He inquired as to the fate of the relic and was told it was salvage. Asking if he could purchase it, the yard foreman told him he could “have it” if he would haul it away. With that, for the next 34 years the lantern room served as a gazebo in the backyard of the man’s residence in Bonita, California. It was purchased by the present owners in 1998, fully refurbished, and placed on public display in Old Twon, San Diego. In late 2025 it found its next enduring home on the shores of the Great Lakes in Wisconsin.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

F. Ross Holland, “The Old Point Loma Lighthouse,” 1978, Cabrillo Historical Association, San Diego, California

Jim Gibbs, “The Twilight of Lighthouses,” 1996, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA.

Kin Fahlen and Karen Scanlon, “Lighthouse of San Diego,” 2008, Arcadia Publishing, San Francisco

Kraig Anderson, “Forgotten Ballast Point “Lighthouse” Seeks New Home,” article in “Lighthouse Digest,” East Machias, Maine, September – October 2011, Vol. XX, no. 5 pages 34 – 37.

“Mains’l Haul,” a periodic publication of the San Diego Maritime Association, Summer 1990, Vol. XXVI, No. 4, pp. 11-12.