✅ SOLVED Bronze bell mystery

[wickwaregene]

Need help on this bell It is 4"x4" Found in Fredricksburg Texas has what looks like a date of 1683 and 6 what look like cattle brands but I don"t think they are
any ideas??

 

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[BosnMate]

My first guess for a bell that size would be a hames bell, but a school bell would also be possible. Don't know much about other types of bells, but I suppose it could have been used as a cow bell. I agree with you on the brands, but if those were used on livestock they would just be a blob.

 

[jobrian]

looks like it says, Mary Jose Año De 1683, cant quite figure out the other word. something with a Cross. the J and S are joined w/a cross , maybe signifies a marriage

 

[wickwaregene]

There is some likness in size and shape, the cross hole in the nob at the top, is odd and can't see any wear where it was attach to anything, but your pic. is a possiable answer.
thanks

 

[wickwaregene]

That is exactly what I read out of it. There is a maltees cross on it does not show in pic, looks like iron cross.

 

[DCMatt]

looks like it says, Mary Jose Año De 1683, cant quite figure out the other word. something with a Cross. the J and S are joined w/a cross , maybe signifies a marriage

Or signifies Jesus. Jesus Mary Joseph - the Holy family.

DCMatt

 

[wickwaregene]

So maybe Bosnmat answer of hames bell mite be right and this was on a horse used at a wedding or at xmas in 1683

 

[DCMatt]

So maybe Bosnmat answer of hames bell mite be right and this was on a horse used at a wedding or at xmas in 1683

I don't get the impression that the bell is from 1683. It simply doesn't look that old - even if it had been carefully stored and preserved. I suspect it is a reproduction of some sort. Of course, you have the relic in your hands and I do not.

DCMatt

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I don't think the 1 and 6 are even a 1 or 6, more a stylized J and C, the reason I say this is the 8 has a completed loop so why wouldn't the 6 have been completed, also could have been initials than year 83.

 

[wickwaregene]

The patina is very dark and the bell has a very smooth feel I have handled old bronze statues and the color and feel are very old, the comment of the date 1 and 6 look like letters
could be right and 83 could be 1883. it's just a mystery at this point,

 

[wickwaregene]

I hear ya but the J is used twice on the bell and they look like a J

 

[cudamark]

I vote for homemade wedding bell.

 

[wickwaregene]

And I think you are right, I have checked the web for old grave stones of the 1680's and saw the same lower case letters place high above and to the right of the big ones also the 6 is not closed and the 1 is sometimes slanted. Fredricksburg has a lot of germen settlers and this could have been brought over by them, that would explain the iron cross type marking.
So maybe I can mark this solved?