Ship's bell

The ship's bell is an instrument for sound signals. From about the 16th century until today, the ship's bell is an indispensable part of every ship.

With her ​​time and wake cycle (compare hourglass ), unplugged lengths of anchor chain and warning signals in poor visibility and fog were given. They were usually cast for each ship individually made ​​of brass, the handle on the clapper is usually intricately woven in linen ( Platting ). Therefore, they are for historians and collectors interesting pieces.

The time is - unlike, for example, with church bells ringing regularly every fifteen minutes - half hour, that by a bell ( a " bells ") means half an hour, the bells are grouped together in pairs. The count starts all four ( instead of twelve ) hours from the beginning, because a sea watch lasts four hours. Example: With three double strokes and a single blow, it is " seven bells ", which can mean, depending on the Guard 3:30, 7:30, 11:30, 15:30, 19:30 or 23:30 clock.

On larger ships, there were usually two ship's bells, a great on the back, a smaller bells for the wheelhouse forward edge of the bridge or on the port side.

Pictures

Ship's bell of the Titanic

Ship's bell of the replica of a Hanseatic cog in Kiel

Ship's bell of Danmark

Ship's bell of the Gorch Fock

Ship's bell of the Mir

Brass brush on Howaldt Bernhard (1957 )