USN BRASS BELL
I BOUGHT THIS USN BRASS BELL FROM A RETIRED NAVY MAN AROUND 1990 IN LAS VEGAS. HE TOLD ME THAT HE “LIBERATED” IT FROM THE USS BASSETT APD –73, A WORLD WAR TWO DESTORYER ESCORT, THAT HE HELPED TAKE TO ITS FINAL DRYDOCK. I HAD THE STEEL SUPPORT FABRICATED SO I COULD MOUNT IT TO A WALL. IN THE PHOTOS YOU WILL NOTE THAT BELL SUPPORT IS A BIT TWISTED AND THAT THE BELL WAS CRACKED AT SOME POINT IN TIME AND WAS REPAIRED BY BRAISING. THIS REPAIR SEEMS OLD. IT WAS A GOOD REPAIR AS THE BELL RINGS LOUD AND CLEAR. THE BOTTOM OF THE BELL IS 9 ½ INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE WALL THICKNESS IS 5/8 TO 3/4 OF AN INCH. THE ASSEMBLY WEIGHTS 33 POUNDS. THE SUPPORTS NEEDS SOME PAINT AND BELL NEEDS A LOT OF BRASSO TO MAKE IT SHIPSHAPE. A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE USS BASSETT IS AVAILABLE AT: [link removed by eBay] )