My first Crotal Bell

[JeffDowns]

Cleaned it, but there is some rust on it so I don't think it will ding again, even though it is whole.

 

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[Gare]

By the way, I got the bell to ding:

Nice going. I did not think they would rust.

 

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[CRUSADER]

interesting, all my complete ones ring? wonder if it is just because the ones I find are 1800s where you are finding older ones more often?

Might be an age issues, as only half of mine are 17th-18th C.

 

[JeffDowns]

Very nice crotal bell find Jeff, the bronze casing will often help preserve the iron pea inside. The one you found probably dates from 1840 - 70. Some of the earlier examples I've found had the makers initials stamped on the top near the loop or on the bottom where the opening is.

I did not know that the pea inside was iron. That would be why there was rust on the bell itself. There was/is rust on the inside, but I guess that is the pea itself. I'm glad I know that now; I'll stop trying to get off the rust.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I did not know that the pea inside was iron. That would be why there was rust on the bell itself. There was/is rust on the inside, but I guess that is the pea itself. I'm glad I know that now; I'll stop trying to get off the rust.

Jeff, you're not going to damage the bell itself by carefully removing the rust and it'll make it more appealing when you display it. The issue is the soil your bell has been sitting in for the past 150 years, it probably had poor drainage.

I love finding old bells, they were available in so many shapes and sizes. Here are just a few of the bells I found last year.

Best of luck to you,
Dave