Topic starter
01/11/2011 3:36 am
I thought the board may have interest in seeing a G.W. Coffin riverboat bell with an unusual "whale" yoke. I have attempted to upload photos, but to no avail. Please see the photos on ebay. Sorry for the inconvenience.
This bronze bell is 17.75 inches in diameter at the rim, 19.5 inches from the rim to the top of the tang mount. The unique stylized yoke (whale, eel or sea serpent) is 39.5 inches from tail tip to tail tip. The overall dimension is 35 inches from the stylized head with eye detail base to top of the tail. The complete unit weighs approximately 200 lbs.
Can anyone provide additional infomation on this bell? The previous owner indicates the bell was there when he bought the house. But could not offer any further information.
01/11/2011 5:05 am
Richard
G. W. Coffin & Co also cast bells as the Buckeye Bell Foundry and was located in Cincinnati, Ohio as early as 1837. In 1889 G, W. Coffin Bell Foundry was sold to Vanduzen & Tift who were also known as the Buckeye Bell Foundry which operated from 1865 to 1894. When it was sold to E. W. Vanduzen who operated the (Buckeye) into the 1950's. 1in 1848 there were 12 foundries making steamboat bells. but C. W. Coffin was the favorite. In 1845 they made bells for the Geo. Washington, Raindeer, Eureka,Hercules, Huntsvulle, Pride of the West, Edward Shipper, Belle Air, Albatross, Old Kickory, American Eagle, and the W.R. M'Kee/ a google search will get you more