Jim was a lobsterman for many years and the Maine Buoy Bells were derived by him from his life on the Maine Coast. To support his memory of them, Jim recorded actual bell and gong buoys. Through hours of listening to these tapes and painstakingly cutting steel to match, he produced the Buoy Bells we offer today.

Each bell is based on Jim's interpretation of several gong and bell buoys in the areas for which they are named. Because of the wide variance in the tones of bells and gongs, some of Jim's area groupings resulted in single- or two-toned bells.

Our Maine Buoy Bells are created from a high grade steel called CorTen. This steel is widely used on bridges, guard rails and buildings because it requires no maintenance. Maine Buoy Bells are designed to hang outdoors year-round, and will not twist, tangle or break. As they weather, watch them turn a rich rust color. Cor-Ten DOES NOT RUST OUT, and this lovely patina will only preserve and improve the tones through the years.

Fine quality materials and pride in workmanship mean that these rugged bells from North Country Wind Bells will endure to the point of becoming family heirlooms. Even when they are hung at a home far from the ocean, their response to a breeze will carry you back to the rhythmic swells of the ocean which cause the coastal buoys to ring.

Each bell is packed with a descriptive card attached.