N.N. Brass Hill Company
East Hampton, CTNorman N. Hill
Born in East Hampton, Connecticut on October 4, 1863, Norman Hill worked in a number of East Hampton’s bell manufactories before establishing the N.N. Brass Mill Factory in 1889 along the banks of Lake Pocotopaug. The success of the N.N. Hill Brass Company was largely based upon Norman Hill’s innovation of stamping bells from sheet metal, as opposed to standard casting methods, a development that would revolutionize the bell making industry forever.



Sterling Chimes
Between 1901 and 1902 Hill developed the Sterling Continuous Ringing Chimes, which was the precursor to the thumb operated handlebar bell found on bicycles throughout the 20th century. Hill developed this product into a line of over 100 styles of classic bicycle bells, in addition to producing more conventional lines of sleigh, hand, door, tea, and call bells, as well as bells for toys, rattles, and electric bells and gongs. A Hartford Courant article from 1902 noted that, “The factory is one of the largest and best equipped in the state for the manufacture of small bells… The bells are sold all over the world and have a fine reputation for excellence of castings, finish of workmanship, clearness and resonance of tone.” Over 125 hands were employed at the plant at the time in which the aforementioned article was published. This likely increased around 1910, when a three-story, 100’ x 41’ addition was constructed on the north side of the existing plant. The expansion supplemented the existing foundry and two manufacturing blocks, which were powered by a water-driven turbine generator through the 1910s.
Watrous Manufacturing
The N.N. Hill Company and Watrous Manufacturing Company also made bells and bell toys with the Hill Company in East Hampton having a contract to produce Disney characters in the 1930s.
Hill’s Death
Norman N. Hill died in the Town of East Hampton, CT on February 18, 1950, however the N.N. Hill Brass Company continued to occupy its Skinner Street plant until 1960. Today the complex is owned by Epoch Arts, Inc., a non-profit origination focused on the arts.
Explore East Hampton History
Celebrate East Hampton History Today!
About Us
About Our Mission
Event Calendar
Stay up to date
Town History
East Hampton
Chatham CT
A Rich History
Historic Landmarks
Notable East Hampton Landmarks
Lake Pocotopaug
Popular Resort Area
Bevin Bell
Historic Bell Factory
Comstock Bridge
Covered Bridge
Air Line Trail
Walking Trail
Welcome to the Official East Hampton, CT Historical Society Website. This site intends to provide information to the public about the Chatham Historical Society’s upcoming Calendar Events and Programs with the purpose of bringing together people interested in the History of Cobalt, Middle Haddam, and East Hampton, Connecticut.
Follow us on Social Media
So Much of Our Future Lies in Preserving Our Past