2015 - Budapest - Avalon Waterways Impression - 3 of 6
Like all ships, the Avalon Impression has a brass bell identifying its name and build year.
History of the Ships Bell:
The "Ship's Bell" system of chimes evolved from a crude sand clock dating back to the time of Columbus. This primitive clock was called a sand or sandglass clock, and was an essential device for marking the time at sea.
Records of epic voyages tell us about this device and how the helmsman used it to measure time in half-hour increments. Watches or shifts were organized into increments of four hours; a custom that is still widely used. With the sandglass at his side, the helmsman would signal the passing of half-hour increments starting with the strike of one bell at the end of the first half hour, two at second and so on until reaching eight bells, which signaled the end of the watch.
The tradition of the sand clock continued for hundreds of years and was replaced only by the development of the mechanical clock.
Today bells are more typically used for cerimonial purposes - announcements, welcoming guests, weddings, etc.
2015 - Budapest - Avalon Waterways Impression - 3 of 6
Like all ships, the Avalon Impression has a brass bell identifying its name and build year.
History of the Ships Bell:
The "Ship's Bell" system of chimes evolved from a crude sand clock dating back to the time of Columbus. This primitive clock was called a sand or sandglass clock, and was an essential device for marking the time at sea.
Records of epic voyages tell us about this device and how the helmsman used it to measure time in half-hour increments. Watches or shifts were organized into increments of four hours; a custom that is still widely used. With the sandglass at his side, the helmsman would signal the passing of half-hour increments starting with the strike of one bell at the end of the first half hour, two at second and so on until reaching eight bells, which signaled the end of the watch.
The tradition of the sand clock continued for hundreds of years and was replaced only by the development of the mechanical clock.
Today bells are more typically used for cerimonial purposes - announcements, welcoming guests, weddings, etc.