The Best Selection of Engraved Brass Ship Bells
The history of sailing and the sea is closely tied to the use of ship bells, and because of the corrosive nature of salt water, many navigators early on discovered that a brass ship bell was the natural choice in a maritime bell.
The ringing of the ship's bell could be used to warn other vessels in inclement weather, but their most popular use was to signal each half hour of a typical four-hour sailor's watch duty. In fact, striking the bell eight times at the end of the watch gave rise to the term "Eight Bells," which became an euphemism for saying a sailor had died (his watch was over).
For more information on the history of ship bells, visit inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blmusic1.htm.
As most solid bronze or brass ship bells were engraved with the name of the ship, the discovery of a bell in a shipwreck often is the best means of identifying the vessel. In that same spirit—while we hope your boat bell won’t ever be found at the bottom of a lake or ocean—at www.brassbell.com we offer inexpensive engraving of your antiqued or polished brass ship bell.
We'll professionally engrave your bell with your boat's name and the date of its maiden voyage or whatever else you would like. While we've found that engraving shows up best on the antiqued brass versions (which also require less maintenance), we are happy to offer engraved bells in any finish and in most sizes.
Featuring Ship Bells that
Meet Coast Guard Requirements
In many states, the Coast Guard requires a ship bell measuring over 200 mm (7.87") in diameter on any boat exceeding 20 meters (39.4 ft.) in total length. Most of our ship bells on this page meet these requirements and can be heard over long distances on the water. But for the majority of boaters, a solid brass bell with a thick pull rope is the finishing touch that adds a sense of history to their "baby."
Keep in mind that unlike cast iron bells, a brass ship bell is inherently less corrosive and able to withstand the rigors that every maritime bell must withstand on a daily basis.
