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Bell Foundries in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

At least 33 different business enterprises are known to have made, sold or advertised bells in the city of St.Louis at various times during the last two-thirds of the 19th century, with a few of them lasting into the first half of the 20th century. One of them was large enough to compete with the major bellfoundries to the east, and was among the four minor American makers of chimes.

These businesses are listed below in four groups.

"Known bellfoundries" are those for which positive evidence of bell foundry work exists, either as actual bells or as identification or advertisement of themselves as bell (and brass) foundries.
"Private label resellers" are those firms which sold under their own names bells that had been made for them by some other firm. The evidence for this is twofold: the resellers never advertised themselves as a bell or brass foundry, and the style of their bells is identical to that of a known bellfoundry.
"Known resellers" are those firms which are known to have sold bells made by others, either at retail or second-hand.
"Possible bellfoundries or resellers of bells" are those firms which advertised bells but did not identify themselves as foundries, and no bells bearing their name are (yet) known to exist.

In each group, the businesses are listed in order of first appearance. When a firm had different names at different times, those specific names are listed in order of use under the name of a principal proprietor or a generic name.

If you know of a bell which carries any of the names listed below, please send me a message about it. In return, I can tell you something of the foundry's history, as well as provide free advice regarding maintenance, restoration, etc.

Known bellfoundries:

Names which have been found on bells are shown in green. All of these foundries produced bronze tower bells unless noted otherwise.

1842-47, Marcus O'Hara
1852-64, John Kupferle & Bro., Missouri Bell and Brass Foundry
1852-66, Francis Mayer
1853-1866, David Caughlan (see photo page):: 1853, Caughlan & Piquett; 1857, Caughlan Bell & Brass Founders; 1858, Caughlan & Bro.; 1858-66, David Caughlan
1855-1931, first Stuckstede foundry:: 1855-62, J. G. Stuckstede & Co.; 1863-83, J. G. Stuckstede & Bro.; 1884-88, H. Stuckstede & Co.; 1888-1931, The Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry Co.
(often abbreviated as "THE HY STUCKSTEDE B F CO" or "BELL FDY CO")
1863-93, Henry Bloemker
1865-73, William Harpke: 1865-69, Central Bell & Brass Foundry; 1870-73, Harpke & Dauernheim
1866-67, Kupferle & Boissellier, Eagle Bell & Brass Foundry
1866-71, E. C. Mayer: 1866-69, Mayer & Ruppenthal; 1870-71, Emil C. Mayer
1875-present, Witte: 1875-81, F. A. Witte & Co.; 1881-present, Witte Hardware Co. (iron bells)
1877-, More, Jones & Co. (horse car bells)
1880-, J. W. Garratt: 1880-99, J. W. Garratt & Co.; 1900-06, J. W. Garratt Brass Foundry Co.; 1904-12, Hewitt Mfg. Co.
1888-98, George W. Gregg (gong bells)
1890-1961, second Stuckstede foundry: Stuckstede & Bro.

Private-label resellers of bells:

Names which have been found on bells are shown in green. All are bronze tower bells unless noted otherwise.

1865-1917, L. M. Rumsey (by McShane of Baltimore or by first Stuckstede): 1865-80, L. M. Rumsey & Co.; 1881-1917, L. M. Rumsey Mnfg. Co.
(typical abbreviation: "M'F'G.")
1877-1917, Nelson (by Stuckstede & Bro.): 1877-83, N. O. Nelson & Co.; 1884-1917, N. O. Nelson Mfg. Co.
18xx, Shapleigh [research incomplete] (probably by C.S.Bell, Hillsboro, Ohio): A.F.Shapleigh Hardware Co. (iron bells)

Known resellers of bells:

1878-98, P. P. Manion Blacksmith & Wrecking Co.

Possible bellfoundries or resellers of bells:

1840-48, Henry M. Snyder
1845-50, John W. Burd: 1845, Burd, Tilden & Burd; 1848, Burd, Rucker & Co.; 1850, John W. Burd
1850-83, Sellew & Co.
1857-99?, Conrad Seibel
1859-60, Adam Caughlan: 1859, Caughlan & Dauernheim; 1860, Cordry, Caughlan & Co.
1864-66, William Koennker
1866-78, Smith, Lafayette Foundry: Smith & Beggs; Smith, Beggs & Co.
1867-78, Manny & Co.
1868-82, Semple: 1868-76, Semple, Birge & Co.; 1877-82, Semple & Birge Mfg. Co.
1876-83, George S. Hunt, Diamond Anti-Friction Metal Co.
1879-81, Ostrander: 1879, Bignall & Ostrander; 1880-81, Goulds & Ostrander
1883-, Central Union Brass Co.
1883-88, John R. Calhoun & Co.
1888-19xx, Louis Seibel & Bro.

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This page was created 2002/04/28 and last revised 2006/11/12.

Please send comments or questions to csz_stl@swbell.net