woodrat Posted July 1, 2015 Share #1 Posted July 1, 2015 (edited) I am constructing a scratch-built venetian carrack of 1445 http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/4915-venetian-carrack-or-nave-tonda-by-woodrat/ and I can find no evidence that ships bells were in use in this period. My feeling is that they were. Certainly the Grace dieu had a bell. Does anyone have any proof that mediaeval ships had bells? Cheers Dick Edited July 1, 2015 by woodrat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trippwj Posted July 1, 2015 Share #2 Posted July 1, 2015 More to the point, was Venice using bells! Let me do some digging around in some of the archeological records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallshiptragic Posted July 1, 2015 Share #3 Posted July 1, 2015 The duyfken and other dutch ships of the early 17th century weren't using bells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted July 1, 2015 Share #4 Posted July 1, 2015 Neither Ian Friel (The Good Ship) nor Gillian Hutchinson (Medieval Ships And Shipping) mention the use of bells. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodrat Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) On reflection and having reviewed my books, I think that there is no evidence for routine or common usage of bells in mediaeval ships. Most large ships had trumpeters as seen in contemporary illustrations. Zorzi da Modone whose illustration I am using for my model was also called Trombetta (trumpeter). Presumably, the ships trumpeter could be used for signalling much as would a bell. Dick Edited July 22, 2015 by woodrat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiloh Posted July 22, 2015 Share #6 Posted July 22, 2015 (edited) I am constructing a scratch-built venetian carrack of 1445 http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/4915-venetian-carrack-or-nave-tonda-by-woodrat/ and I can find no evidence that ships bells were in use in this period. My feeling is that they were. Certainly the Grace dieu had a bell. Does anyone have any proof that mediaeval ships had bells? Cheers Dick Not proof but an opinion. Bells, except for an emergency such as fire are used to manage the watches, 8 bells for an 4 hour Watch and 8 bells also covers 2 Dog Watches. It is word of mouth, a pipe or bugle that directs the crew. The early ships probably had not set up a watch system and didn't need a way to manage them. Short cruises being the norm, probably all hands were on duty at all times, managing what they were doing was important, not keeping time with a bell and half hour glass. High frequency bells used aboard ships make poor fog warnings, horns or drums carry better because of their low frequency. Suspect bells came into use when long periods at sea requiring part of the crew to rest and that made 4 hour Watches the norm. jud Edited July 22, 2015 by shiloh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodrat Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted July 23, 2015 Thanks Jud and Crackers. I would still love to know more. This would be a great Ph.D thesis for some aspiring nautical archaeologist Dick shiloh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted July 24, 2015 Share #8 Posted July 24, 2015 This might get someone started... a quick Google on "ship's bell history" (without the quotes) and here's two starting points: http://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/b/bells-on-ships.html http://www.britannica.com/technology/ships-bell Earliest referenced use is the 1600's...... Lots of links and lots of detailed information including wrecks available. janos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.