Key people Matt Bevin, President Type of business Private | Website www.bevinbells.com | |
Headquarters East Hampton, Connecticut, United States Founded 1832, East Hampton, Connecticut, United States Profiles | ||
Bevin Brothers Manufacturing company (also called Bevin Brothers) is a family-owned bell foundry located in East Hampton, Connecticut.
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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 It has since been replaced by the car horn.
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.
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. 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.