• Cast Bronze Bells

    SOUNDS THAT INSPIRE

    Bells at Madonna della Strada Chapel, Loyola University

The beautiful, rich tones of cast bronze bells

All over the world, The Verdin Company™ has installed cast bronze bells which call parishioners and congregations to prayer; chime in reverence; ring joyously to mark new beginnings; toll in remembrance; and provide Westminster chimes and time strikes across college campuses and communities. Verdin™ creates swinging or stationary bells, new cast bronze bells, cast bell carillons and bell towers. In addition we offer historic pre-owned bells, repair and restoration of existing cast bells and bell ringing equipment.

“WHEN PEOPLE HEAR BELLS RINGING, THEIR HEARTS ARE LIFTED IN A WAY THAT REMAINS WITH THEM FOR LIFE.”

Ringing cast bronze bells

SINGLE CAST BELL

The most prevalent use of a single bell is to call people to worship, toll for funerals, sound the Angelus, and strike the time of day. The size of the bell determines the pitch or tone: the larger the bell the richer the tonal quality. Bells are typically installed within a bell tower or steeple and can be operated by rope or electronically using clock-controlled electric bell ringing equipment.

PEAL OF BELLS

A peal is comprised of two to eight bells and is a popular arrangement for playing music in churches, colleges, and town squares as the joyous sound of multiple bells ringing denotes a festive occasion. Peals are often rung as a call to worship, to mark the time of day, and to celebrate weddings. The melodious pealing sound is created by an ever-changing pattern as bells ring together or singularly at pendulum rates. The most popular peal is the three-bell peal which sounds the first, third, and fifth notes of a major chord.

CAST BELL CHIMES

Consisting of nine to 22 bells, chimes are usually arranged in a diatonic scale, which is similar to the arrangement of black and white piano keys. As a result, tunes and melodies can be played in more than one key, creating beautiful melodies that immediately enhance any community, church, university, and commercial venue.

The most popular range for cast bell chimes is 14 bells, which allows most hymns and melodies such as “Silent Night” and “The Star Spangled Banner” to be played without alteration.

BELL CARILLONS

Carillons offer listeners a diverse musical range comprised of at least two octaves of tuned bells, which allows for full musical expression. Each custom cast bell carillon consists of 23 or more bells played from a keyboard console linked directly to bell clappers. Verdin bell carillons with traditional wooden keyboards are featured at Brigham Young University; the University of Texas; the Thomas Reese Memorial Carillon in Springfield, IL; the National Zoological Park in Washington, DC, and many other prominent locations across America.

“A PEAL IS MY FAVORITE BELL RING. ALL BELLS SWING AND RING AT THEIR OWN NATURAL RATE, GIVING THE PEAL THAT UNIQUE RANDOMNESS AND BEAUTY NOT FOUND IN ANY OTHER BELL RING.”

Verdin™ American Bells

Verdin’s American profile bells echo the profile, tone, and clarity of early American bells based on proprietary designs. The designs produce a more perfect vibration resulting in the richest, most musical tone and the largest sound. Every Verdin cast bronze bell is handcrafted using 21st Century technology combined with 19th Century musical tonality. The result: bells with unequaled musical tones.

Attention to detail and craftsmanship have established Verdin bells as America’s finest.

Verdin offers bells that are smooth cast or customized with decorations that are either etched inscriptions or cast-in for an embossed look. This results in endless design options for your church, university or community.

Smooth Cast Bells

Smooth cast Verdin bells can be combined to create major and minor chord peals.

Etched Inscriptions

Etched inscriptions engraved into the surface of the bell are added after the bell is cast.

Embossed or cast-in design

Embossed or cast-in design is incorporated into the bell mold so that the design is physically raised and 3-dimensional. Decorative bands, logos and inscriptions can be cast-in.

HOW A BELL IS MADE

Watch a Bell Casting

Every Verdin bell is handcrafted and cast in bronze, a mixture of 80% copper and 20% tin. Verdin will cast any size bell, from six pounds up to the famous World Peace Bell weighing 66,000 pounds.

The history of cast bronze bells

BELLS HAVE BEEN CAST IN AMERICA SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY.

Bells have played a major role in our lives for several centuries, long before Christian churches made bells an important part of their ceremony. The ancient Egyptians used bells in the worship of their god Osiris. Moses introduced bells into the ceremony of the Jewish religion, and Roman countrymen fastened bells to their chariots to express gratitude to the gods for success in battle.

In medieval times, the ringing of bells was believed to chase evil spirits from doorsteps, to quiet storms at sea, and to protect a person’s soul at death. It was during this time that the custom of affixing symbols and inscriptions on bells was born.

Bells were also used as early timekeepers, telling villagers when to eat and sleep as well as alerting to dangers such as enemy invasion. Bells tolled for someone near death to remind the community to pray for the sick, and upon death bells tolled the age of the deceased.

It was said that villagers never forgot the sound of their village bell, no matter how many years they were away from home.

During WWII, bells were melted down and made into weapons. After the war ended, many became bells again and were used to announce the celebrations that followed.

Although bells no longer order our lives as in years past, they continue to inspire and announce the time in communities and churches around the world. The tradition of ringing bells lives on.

Verdin offers swinging or stationary bells, new cast bronze bells, cast bell carillons, historic pre-owned bells/used bells, electronic digital carillons, and bell towers.

Meneely West Troy Bell

Meneely (West Troy) Bells

The origin of the Meneely Bell Foundry began with the Hanks Bell Foundry in 1808, established by Julius Hanks with the assistance of his father, Benjamin Hanks. It was located in Gibbonsville, which became West Troy, which was renamed Watervliet in 1896. Andrew Meneely apprenticed with Julius after marrying Julius’ cousin. When Julius moved his business across the river to Troy, NY, Andrew purchased Julius’ property and started the Meneely Bell Foundry in 1826. Meneely bells were known for their beauty of tone. The Meneely Bell Foundry supplied the replacement bell for Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, which originally held the Liberty Bell.

Meenely Bell

Meneely (Troy) Bells

There were two Meneely Bell Foundries operating under the name Meneely: Meneely and Company out of Watervliet, NY and the Meneely Bell Company out of Troy, NY. The split of the company came after the Civil War when Clinton Meneely came home from the war, fought with his brothers, and moved across the river to start his own bell company. Together, the two companies produced about 65,000 bells before they both closed in 1952.

Buckeye Bell

Buckeye Bells

The Buckeye Bell Foundry began operations in 1837. After its owner, George W. Coffin, retired, it was owned and managed by the partnership of Vanduzen & Tift. When C.T. Tift retired, it became the E.W. Vanduzen Company. The foundry provided Buckeye and Vanduzen bells for various chimes throughout the United States and many still hang in churches across the Midwest. The foundry closed in 1955.

Stuckstede Bell, St. Louis, Missouri

Stuckstede Bells

There were two Stuckstede Bell Foundries in St. Louis, MO. One operated from 1855 until 1931, and the other from 1890 until 1962. The two foundries competed against each other, but together were the largest and longest-lasting of several bell foundries operating in St. Louis, casting and selling bells throughout the United States. Many of the bells that went to the American West were cast by Stuckstede as well as by the Garratt Foundry in San Francisco.

Learn More Bell History

Verdin buys, sells, restores and installs historic, preowned bells

Contact us for pricing on historic preowned/used cast bronze bells, including: Stuckstede, Paccard, Meneely, Petit & Fritsen, Vanduzen, Taylor, Whitechapel, Gillett & Johnston, and McShane Bells.

There’s a story and inspiration behind every project.

Tell Us Yours

Contact Verdin