HMS Pluto (J446) was an Algerine-class minesweeper, part of a large group of minesweepers built for the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. 110 ships of the class were launched between 1942 and 1944.
HMS Pluto was launched in 1944 and sold in 1972.
The bell is of solid bronze with a polished finish and a red painted crown.
It is inscribed to the front (infilled with red paint) ‘H.M.S. Pluto 1945’.
It is also inscribed on the underside lip of the mouth ‘Neil Mackay Crosbie 22-11-53’. We have no details on this person or why his name is inscribed on the bell but is probably a christening.
It comes with its original red painted clapper with a more modern rope pull.
~ Dimensions ~
The bell has a mouth diameter of 30.5cm (12 inches) and a height of 33cm (13 inches).
It weighs approximately 18.7 Kg (including clapper).
~ Condition ~
The bell and clapper are in a very nice condition with only some paint chips and general light wear associated with age. It does have a crack to the right of the wording.
