The ship bell is a part of the nautical culture that is rooted deeply in tradition. There were many original uses of the ships bell, such as: timekeeping, alarming the crew of danger, warning nearby ships, observing order, and in religious ceremonies. The many uses of the ships bell made it a mainstay among the United States Navy.
The first metal ship bells originated in the Bronze Age. One of the first countries that learned to make quality ship bells from metal was China. In 1485, the British ship, Grace Dieu, was the first recorded ship to use a ships bell. "Wache bells" were what the bells aboard this ship were called.
It eventually became mandated that all ships use their bells in times of heavy fog in order to warn other ships of their presence. The loudness of the bell cut through the fog to warn other ships in the area. This use of the ships bell became maritime law, requiring that all ships have a working bell on board at all times. In the Revolutionary War, the American settlers also made use of the ships bell in the same way the English did. The oldest surviving ship in American history, USS Constitution, was equipped with a bell weighing 242 pounds.
Furthermore, the ships bell helped the American Navy excel during the War of Independence. This was due to the Jamaica Fleet using their ships bells, as they were supposed to, while sailing blindly through fog, unintentionally giving away their position to the Americans. The battle resulted in an American victory, and the largest catch during the War of Independence. The number of prizes and cargo aboard the Jamaica Fleet earned the Americans about one million dollars (adjusted for inflation). Find more nautical decor of this type here.
Furthermore, other uses of the ships bell serve to put the crew at attention when necessary. The ship bell's loud ring swiftly captures the crew's attention. Also, if there were a fire, the ships bell was rung with increased vigor for five full seconds. The following rings informed the crew of the fire's location. One ring meant the fire was in the front; two rings meant the fire was in the center; three rings meant the fire was at the back of the boat.
In the modern age, the ship bell is used as a timekeeping tradition, an alarm for the crew, and a ceremony bell. Several historical ship bells are displayed at the Naval Historical Center. Sometimes ship bells are loaned to ships on a historical quest, or to museums seeking to display and/or research them. It seems that the traditional sound of the ships bell still echoes to this day. Whenever one thinks of a ship, it is hard to imagine it without a ship bell.
The ships bell is somewhat of a collector's item in the nautical decor culture. Authentic ship bell replicas can be found online on many respected nautical decor websites. Just like a ship missing one, the nautical decor collector without at least one ships bell is hardly a nautical decoration collector at all.
