Bell Maker Back for the Holidays

"Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings."

Or so we are told at the end of Frank Capra's holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life. If it is true, then there will be more angel's getting their wings this Christmas, after months of hard work ensured that North America's last bell manufacturer was up and running in time for the holidays.

The Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company of East Hampton, Connecticut has been producing bells of all shapes and sizes since 1832. But in May of this year, their factory was completely destroyed by a fire.

Working out of a temporary headquarters for 5 months, 5th generation bellmaker Matt Bevin and his staff were able to keep the company operating while the foundry was rebuilt.

In October, the company moved into their renovated facility and began ramping up production for the holiday season. Their first big shipment, if you wonder, was brass handbells for the Salvation Army.

The company produces everything from steel cow and tea bells to nickel-plated sleigh bells and brass doorbells. They even made the bell heard tinkling at the end of It's a Wonderful Life.

Image: Bevin Bros. sleigh bells. Source: http://bevinbells.com/