Once, many foreign travelers noted that Russian bells have the most beautiful ringing: it is rich, melodic, and remarkably harmonious. The bells made by the Tyumen merchant Pyotr Ivanovich Gilev were especially valued. He came from a family of craftsmen and was accustomed to hard work from childhood. Until the mid-19th century, the master created small bells for troikas, paying individual attention to each order and decorating the products with elegant ornaments.

Later, Gilev opened a large production facility, starting to cast bells for churches. His factory was called 'Trading House P.I. Gilev and Sons.' The bells were adorned with various patterns: floral motifs, strict geometric shapes, ornaments with pointed ellipses and beads, and later workers began to cast images of saints. Pyotr Ivanovich's products were renowned not only for their quality and durability but also for their magnificent raspberry ringing. Advertisements claimed that 'the bells are cast from the best in the world Ural copper.' At all-Russian exhibitions, the products of the Tyumen merchant consistently received gold and silver medals.

After Gilev's death, his factory passed to his sons, Konstantin and Semyon, who continued their father's work and improved the quality of the products. In 1900, they received a large order from the Perm Railway for the manufacture of 200 bells for their transport enterprise. These 'nabat' bells notified passengers of the arrival and departure of trains.

However, Semyon and Konstantin considered their main achievement not this success, but the prize-winning place at the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1905. To demonstrate the quality of their products, they brought the best Siberian bells to Europe. Participants, management, and visitors of the exhibition were so impressed by the Russian raspberry ringing that many demanded the awarding of an honorary medal. As a result, the Gilevs' products were awarded the Cross of the Belgian King. The merchants had many plans for the future, but then the revolution occurred, the factory closed, and the Gilevs scattered in different directions.