Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company
 Photo of Bevin Brothers from the Historic American Engineering Record | |
| Private | |
| Founded | East Hampton, Connecticut, USA (1832) |
| Headquarters | East Hampton, Connecticut, USA |
Key people | Matt Bevin, President |
| Website | www.bevinbells.com |
Bevin Brothers Manufacturing company (also called Bevin Brothers) is a family-owned bell foundry located in East Hampton, Connecticut.
History
The company was founded by brothers William Bevin, Chauncey Bevin, and Abner Bevin in 1832. They were later joined by a fourth brother, Philo Bevin.
The business's website states it produced the first foot gong used in an automobile (the bell was patented in 1897). The foot gong is a bell that was beneath the floor of early automobiles and was rung by pressing it with your foot. It has since been replaced by the car horn.[1][2]
Through the years more than 30 companies have made bells in East Hampton earning it the nickname of "Bell Town." Bevin Brothers is the only remaining bell manufacturer in East Hampton and still remains in the Bevin family.[2]
Through the years it has made sleigh bells, house bells, cow bells, sheep bells, door bells, and ship's bells.
On May 27, 2012, the factory was struck by lightning resulting in a devastating fire that razed the Bevin Brothers mill. In the wake of the fire, Bevin Brothers' future as a bellmaker was uncertain.[3][4] At the time of the fire the factory was reported to be the last company in the United States to solely produce bells. It had 19 employees and was reported to make 1.2 million bells in 200 varieties.
Notable bells
- All of the Salvation Army Christmas bells[5]
- Bell used to indicate the start and finish of the New York Stock Exchange trading[5]
- Boxing championship bells[5]
- Bell aboard the U.S.S. Maine[5]
- Bell used to signify an angel got its wings in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "Saddle Bells, Shaft Bells, and Foot Gongs". Classic Bells. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
- 1 2 "About Us | Bevin Brothers - East Hampton, CT". Bevinbells.com. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ↑ Associated, The (2012-05-27). "Major blaze destroys Bevin Bell Factory building in East Hampton (video) - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT". The Middletown Press. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ↑ Bartolotta, Michael (2012-05-27). "Fire Destroys Bevin Bell Factory - East Hampton-Portland, CT Patch". Easthampton-ct.patch.com. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "A brief history of Bevin Bells | WTNH.com Connecticut". Wtnh.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
External links
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CT-12, "Bevin Brothers Bell Shops, Bevin Court, East Hampton, Middlesex County, CT", 13 photos, 3 data pages, 1 photo caption page