WWII US NAVY STEAMSHIP BELL DELORLEANS, USS CRESCENT CITY, GOLDEN BEAR, ART SHIP
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:501012 |
Offered is an opportunity to own a rare piece of World War II history and be the proud owner of a genuine brass ship's bell. The Delorleans was built as a cargo and passenger liner for Mississippi Shipping Company's Delta Line and lauched on February 17, 1940 by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point, Maryland. The US Navy assumed control a year later on June 9, 1941 and stripped the ship to prepare her for war duty as the USS Crescent City. She had a very intere...sting war-time history, being awarded 10 battle stars. After the War she served as a hospital ship, a training ship (Golden Bear) and finally was purchased by an art group in San Fransisco and was named, Art Ship. It is rumored that she was finally scrapped in Brownsville, Texas in 2012. Her complete history is very easy to "Google" and provides much information through all her ownerships.
It is unknown when this bell was removed from the ship, but there was only one Delorleans that was launched in 1940. We have had this bell on display for decades at Reiss Recollections Maritime Museum, but it is time to find it a proper home, as it never sailed on the Great Lakes to my knowledge. The bell is thick-walled, solid brass, including the clapper and fancy mounting nut, measures 9" in diameter and 6 1/2" to the top of the bell itself and weighs 14 1/2 pounds. Beautiful brass, with deep engraving and has a nice tone when rung. It would polish to a high gloss if wanted.
On May-31-19 at 17:44:06 PDT, seller added the following information:I DISCOVERED AN ARTICLE FROM MARITIME MATTERS ABOUT THE DELORLEANS WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE ARTSHIP FOUNDATION IN AUGUST OF 1999 AND HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO.
It is unknown when this bell was removed from the ship, but there was only one Delorleans that was launched in 1940. We have had this bell on display for decades at Reiss Recollections Maritime Museum, but it is time to find it a proper home, as it never sailed on the Great Lakes to my knowledge. The bell is thick-walled, solid brass, including the clapper and fancy mounting nut, measures 9" in diameter and 6 1/2" to the top of the bell itself and weighs 14 1/2 pounds. Beautiful brass, with deep engraving and has a nice tone when rung. It would polish to a high gloss if wanted.
On May-31-19 at 17:44:06 PDT, seller added the following information:I DISCOVERED AN ARTICLE FROM MARITIME MATTERS ABOUT THE DELORLEANS WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE ARTSHIP FOUNDATION IN AUGUST OF 1999 AND HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO.
