How It’s Made – Bevin Bells

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The Science Channel just featured Bevin Bells on it’s international hit show, “How It’s Made.” Now in it’s 23rd season, this show is a fan favorite. It takes a look at everyday objects you might not think about and explores how they are made. Among their top 10 videos from the series are segments on paper towels, 3-D printers and bowling balls!

We are super excited about the segment on our company. Unfortunately, if you want to see it, you will need to log in to the Science Channel website via your cable provider. Here is the link, just click through and it will ask you to login. Also, we are the second segment at 7 min 30 seconds into the video, and you do have to watch all the ads to get there – sorry ! You know what they say – No Pain, No Gain! 🙂

https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/how-its-made/full-episodes/wood-slat-baskets-bells-and-gyroscopic-stabilizers

Run 169 – The Connecticut Challenge

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Run a road race in every single town in CT and you will be crowned as a King or Queen of the “Run 169 Towns Society.”  Needless to say, this is quite an accomplishment.  The organization started in 2012 by a group of like-minded, dedicated runners.  At the inaugural meeting, Karen Rogers and Bob Davis were crowned as the first King and Queen to complete the challenge (Karen in Nov. 2011 and Bob in Feb. 2012).   On April 14, Katey Baruth finished a race in Avon, CT, becoming the 10th woman to run in all 169 towns. To date, just 26 individuals have achieved the goal!  2692 people are currently registered members of the group, so plenty of folks are running their way to completion.

We discovered all of this because Katey’s partner came in to buy cowbells to celebrate and cheer at the last event.  In fact, our bells tend to show up at a lot of racing events, but this is our first official 169 bell!

Katey’s 169 Bevin Bell

 

Katey and her partner, Rick Shoup, often run two races every weekend!  She began her 169 Towns journey in the Spring of 2016 in Prospect, CT and Katey finished on April 14, 2018.  So, needless to say, accomplishing this in just 2 years takes dedication and lots of time.  Katey and Rick often run with their Labrador Quinn and Bulldog Piper.  In fact, in Katey’s finishing photo below, you can see Quinn crossing the line with her.  You can also see a great crowd there to celebrate the victory.

Speaking of celebrating, Rick says the post-event pizza party was quite a loud affair with everyone ringing their Bevin Bells inside the pizza parlor – aren’t you glad you weren’t the other patrons there?!

Congratulations to Katey and the other 25 finishers of this challenge.  Good luck to the remaining 2667 people looking to be crowned.  You can be sure that those of us at Bevin Bells will be cheering you all on!

 

Celebrating the Finish

Katey Crossing the Finish with Quinn

The Cheering Section!

Bevin Bells Featured on News8

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Bells are iconic this time of year, and New Haven CT’s ABC affiliate – News 8 (WTNH) – takes a look at our Connecticut-based business as we head into the always busy holidays.  We are proud to be featured on one of the state’s leading news outlets.  While they are saying we are nearly 100 years old, we are proud to actually be much closer to our 200th birthday! 

 

 

The Salvation Army Rings True

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Each year at Christmas, as The Salvation Army once again brings out their red kettles.  That iconic bell ringing that heralds the holiday season is most likely a Bevin Bell.  This is a partnership that has been ongoing as long as anyone can remember, and The Salvation Army is one of our most prized customers.  The Salvation Army buys a variety of bells for a variety of purposes – check out a sampling of them below.  They buy bells of all shapes and sizes, some with their logo, some without.  They give bells as awards and thank yous for their bell ringers and employees.  So, each year, our summer is spent getting bells ready for their upcoming holiday season. 

Be sure to watch this great Salvation Army video that features an Authentic Bevin Bell.  We couldn’t be prouder!  You can check out all their videos here.

The Salvation Army exists to meet human need wherever, whenever, and however they can.  They say they serve the homeless, hungry and poor of every zip code across America.  Perhaps you’d like to jump in and help this wonderful organization.  They are always looking for more bell ringers and then you’d get to ring one of our bells, too.  You can start by looking here:  RegisterToRing or contact your local chapter of The Salvation Army. 

Bridge of Hope – Bevin Bells

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Most of us have been touched by cancer in one way or another, but we recently learned about the role Bevin Bells are playing in healing process for survivors of cancer.

The Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY has created “The Bridge of Hope” which they say represents the spirit and celebration of cancer survivorship . Roswell Park Cancer Institute hopes to recognize every cancer survivor’s journey with bells (yes, Bevin Bells) hung on a symbolic Bridge of Hope at Canalside.

The organization will be holding events to hang the bells, and they are also offering private ceremonies.  You can get your bells through them or look at a list of retailers.  All this information can be found on The Bridge of Hope website. 

The Bridge of Hope

Roswell Park Bridge of Hope

Bells on Bridge of Hope

Bevin Bells hang on the Roswell Park Bridge of Hope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can visit the bridge:  CANALSIDE BUFFALO | 44 Prime St. | Buffalo, NY 14202

Let the sound of the bells unite us in Roswell Park’s mission to understand, prevent and cure cancer.

National Bell Ringing Day

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Let Freedom Ring!!

“Proclaim LIBERTY throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” 
(Inscription on the Liberty Bell)

July 4th is National Bell Ringing Day.  
At 2pm on the Fourth of July, wherever you are and whomever you’re with,
stop for a minute and ring a bell – any bell. 
Help us revive this great tradition.  

On July 4, 1963, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed the annual holiday as National Bell Ringing Day. 2017 represents the 241st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

In the 1700s, the bell was the main way people were called together or alerted to news – bells announced the start of church, or the beginning and end of the school day, they proclaimed important news, celebrated events, and  acted as a warning for danger.   And ringing bells is how our forefathers celebrated the founding of our nation in 1776. 

This year, and every year, let’s celebrate our freedom and those who protect our freedom: veterans, service members, firefighters, and law enforcement.  Ringing bells is a meaningful way to connect us to our forefathers and carry this tradition forward.                                                                                                                                                                       

It’s also fun to recognize that bells are just as wonderful and relevant today as they were centuries ago. Today, bells are used to make announcements, cheer on sports events, protect hikers, call the kids for dinner, alert bikers, call for assistance and multitude of other roles.  You might be surprised how many bells you have around the house.

So grab your bells, and on July 4th, Independence Day, take a minute to thoughtfully reflect on and celebrate our freedom.  Let Freedom Ring!  This is a tradition we wholeheartedly support, and we hope you do, too!

Let Freedom Ring - Ring those Bells  

Inc. Magazine Story on Bevin Bells

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Hear Ye, Hear Ye – Read all about us!  Inc. Magazine just published a great profile on Bevin Bells as part of their Main Street section.  Main Street is described as a “tour of small businesses across the country that highlights the imagination, diversity, and resilience of American enterprise.”  We are proud as a peacock to be included.

David Whitford came and spent a day at the factory, heard the stories, met the players, and really grasped what this thing is all about.  We hope you will take the time to read the story.  And we hope you make the commitment to Buy American!

Some of our favorite quotes:

  • Not least among the reasons Bevin Bells is still in business is the peculiar, enduring appeal of bells.
  • “Even though we’ve been around since 1832, and we’re an old made-in-America company, our products are still very functional today,” Cici Bevin says. “It’s not just about keeping history alive. This is a very vibrant category right now.”
  • Memorial Day will mark five years since the fire [that destroyed the entire factory]. How does Doug Dilla plan to observe the anniversary? He sighs: “By coming in the next day and going to work.”

Bevin Bells Story in Inc. Magazine

Cat Call Bell Tricks

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If you’re like me, you’re wondering if this is really a good idea.  But it is so darn cute we just have to pass it on!  Cats calling for treats with call bells.  Apparently, just like Pavlov’s dog, cats can learn the behavior and reward system – and become the center of attention.  So, that next rainy Saturday when you’re looking for something to do, get the kids and get the cats and get training!  If nothing else, it will entertain the neighborhood.  You can get your cat call bell right here.  In fact, if you want to customize it, we can do that, too!  Just remember to put the bell away at night…

Check out two of the most viewed tricksters below, or go here to see a bunch.