large brass lid

[Goes4ever]

found this in a field today, any idea what it is besides just a brass lid?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[PBK]

It looks like the dome of a Victorian era doorbell, as shown at the following link:

http://www.historichomehardware.com/store/high-victorian-antique-lever-doorbell-p-552.html

 

[RPG]

Wow. I bet that blew your ears off.
Randy

 

[Goes4ever]

Wow. I bet that blew your ears off.
Randy

not really, it was at least a foot deep....lol

 

[mojjax]

Nice find ! Great ID PBK !

Here's a similar one in a late 1800's hardware cataloge -

 

[Goes4ever]

awesome you guys nailed it again!

 

[PBK]

Glad we could help!

Looks like the same ornate design as the one at the link I posted... Sargent & Co., c. 1880's. If so, the bell has patent dates of July 4, 1878 and June 10, 1882. It's also illustrated on p. 133 of Web Wilson's Antique Hardware Price Guide.