Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

July 17, 2010
Subject: ps graf spee bell

Just thought i would share this with you, i bought this in a job lot from the house of an old soldier who had a lot
of war memorobelia dating from the first world war, i first thought it to be a novelty fake, but after reading
about the one on your page i am not so sure now. Maybe it was cast as a momento after the graf spee was sunk, or
maybe it is off a launch vessel !!!  ( who knows ) !.

THERE IS ALSO AN INSCRIPTION OR MAYBE THE NAME OF WHERE THE BELL WAS CAST INSIDE THE BELL, IT IS CAST INTO IT NEAR THE TOP OF THE CLAPPER. I COULD NOT READ IT FULLY DUE TO THE BUILD UP OF DIRT OVER THE YEARS, BUT  LOOKS LIKE ( M - PLUM - LUXA ) !!!  I DO NOT WANT TO DEVALUE IT BY CLEANING IT AS COLLECTORS LIKE TO HAVE THEM IN THAT CONDITION. BY THE WAY, THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO THE GRAF SPEE NAME APPEARS TO BE THE IMPERIAL EAGLE USED BY THE GERMANS !!!,  OR MAYBE A GRIFFIN !.

HOPE THIS HELPS,

ALAN.

Alan,

Thank you for your mail and the photos.

I am sure your bell is another of the commemorative Graf Spee bells, I believe cast in Germany and sold as souvenirs. Your one is at least the fifth that I am aware of, and they are all the same.

The 1939 date is the year she was sunk, and the PS most likely stands for Panzer Ship, as she was sometimes
called.

See this URL: for a Bell exactly the same that was offered for auction in UK.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6640569 

Best regards,
Mac.



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