Citizen NHE Maritime Radio Dial Clock – Green/Red Vintage

One of the most historically significant clocks in our salvage collection — this genuine Citizen NHE (Nippon Hakuyo Electronics) maritime radio dial clock was designed specifically for use in ship radio rooms and wheelhouses, where it served a critical navigational and communications function.

The story behind the green and red sectors

Every radio room and bridge on a ship was equipped with a clock like this, its distinctive coloured sectors acting as a vital visual reminder of mandatory radio silence periods — a system that dates back to the earliest days of maritime Morse code communication.

The green sectors (at h+00 to h+03 and h+30 to h+33) marked the three-minute silence periods on 2182 kHz — the international maritime distress frequency — during which all stations were required to stop transmitting and listen for distress calls.

The red sectors (at h+15 to h+18 and h+45 to h+48) marked the corresponding silence periods on 500 kHz, the old Morse code distress frequency. Radio operators around the world observed these windows simultaneously, creating a global net of listening ears twice every hour.

This clock didn’t just tell the time — it helped save lives at sea.

About this clock

Originally a slave clock wired to a master timepiece aboard ship, this example has been converted to a reliable battery-powered quartz movement and is ready to hang straight on your wall. Each one is a genuine salvaged piece with the patina and character of a working life at sea.

Dimensions:

• Dial: 14cm
• Back: 22cm
• Depth: 7cm
• Weight: 1.5kg