Jos Bernard, Philada, Foundry

[admin]

Mark in Pennsylvania tells us:

I have a bell from a Reading PA fire house that was cast in 1870. The address is 120 N 6th Street in Philidelphia. I have been unable to find the name of the foundry that cast it or any information on them. Do you know of this foundry and anything about it?

If you can help, please post a response.
Admin (Carolyn)

This inquiry was originally sent to the ABA's Internet Coordinator. Responses are opinions of individuals based on their personal research and knowledge.

-01338-

[hjlong3]

The crown on this bell is unique. The overall shape and design could be that of a Wilbank Bell.
Harry Long, MD

[admin]

Sorry, folks, I left out some information about this bell. I wrote back to Mark and asked him what the bell said on it and he said:

CAST BY JOs BERNARD
No 120 Nth 6St PHILADA 1870

So, I presume he is asking for information about the Bernard Foundry (if there is/was such a thing).

Admin (Carolyn)

P.S. I just found an article in Lighthouse Digest, http://www.lighthousedepot.com/lite_dig ... 291254882g, about the Browns Point Fog Bell in Tacoma, Washington. The article says the Joseph Bernard Foundry cast the Browns Point bell in 1855 in Philadelphia. It was one of the eight bronze bells cast by Bernard.

So, if Mark one of only 8 bells cast by The Joseph Bernard Foundry, it sounds like it could be very rare!

[Carl Scott Zimmerman]

Perhaps Joseph Bernhard contracted to make eight bells for use as fog warnings. But certainly he made far more than eight bells in his lifetime, mostly for use as church bells. He was in business in Philadelphia at least as early as 1845 and as late as 1880.