Bell's Steam Engine Works, Buffalo NY

David Bell, an immigrant from Scotland, was an engine builder first and a shipbuilder second.  His first ship, the Merchant, was the first coal-powered, propeller-driven, iron-hulled ship to be built on the Great Lakes.  Almost nothing is known about his shipyard.  If anyone can provide any information about it, or about the ships it built, please e-mail me at tim@coltoncompany.com

Hull # Original Name Original Owner Vessel Type GT Delivered Disposition
Merchant Anchor Line Cargo Ship 861 1861 Sunk 1875
Glen Iris   Unknown 55 1863 Abandoned 1951
Dexter   Unknown 36 1866 Abandoned 1911
Metropolitan City of New York Police Boat 149 1867 Abandoned 1867
Philadelphia   Unknown 1463 1868 Collision 1893
Eliza Williams   Tug   1868  
Cayuga   Unknown 27 1868  
Ariadne   Yacht 34 1868  
Ivanhoe   Sidewheel Steamer 282 1869  
Nellie Cotton   Tug 37 1869 Abandoned 1929
Douglas   Tug   1870  
Mary Bell   Yacht 34 1870  
Gallatin U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Revenue Cutter 250 1871 Sunk 1892
Hamilton U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Revenue Cutter 250 1871  
Boutwell U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Revenue Cutter 198 1873  
M. C. Carrington   Tug 64 1875  
Titania   Yacht 73 1875  
Rosaline   Yacht 28 1876  
G. W. Gardner   Yacht   1876  
Esperanza   Yacht   1876  
Arundell   Steamer 306 1878  
Flora   Yacht   1879  
Vanderbilt   Yacht   1879  
Angelique   Yacht 27 1880  
A. W. Cotton   Tug 92 1881  
Uarda Dow and Wesson Yacht 16 1881  
Robert H. Cooke   Tug 157 1882  
Waller   Yacht 56 1883  
Theseus   Yacht   1884  
Sand Beach   Dispatch Boat   1885  
Seneca Chief   Yacht   1887  
City of Buffalo City of Buffalo  Fire Boat 133 1887 Now "George R. Potter"
Phil Sheridan   Tug 35 1888  
Florence Rice     19 1889  
Shalpeen   Tug 29 1890  
Keystone   Tug 95 1891  
Paddy Miles   Tug 33 1891  
Neversink   Yacht   1892  
John M. Hutchinson   Fire Boat 90 <