Old Crotal Bell

[greentree89]

Found a crotal bell today! Never found one of these before, very exciting.
I am kicking myself hard at the moment though because while cleaning it I stupidly thought it clever to poke dirt out of the holes and by doing that I caused a small crack to form from 2 of the holes. Very annoyed at myself but I certainly wont be doing that ever again.

Never the less its a beautiful find (thats why I am so annoyed) and its still in one piece! It rings too!
I think its late 18th, early 19th century?

 

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[Steve in PA]

Yep that is an old one. But then again you're in the UK

 

[digging440yrs]

Cool find !

 

[against the wind]

Very nice find, ,
Congrats

 

[CRUSADER]

Congrats - 18th C is about right for that type.

I don't think you did the cracks?? Unless you pushed very hard with a thick metal pin, even then its unlikely. I use a wooden stick on all of mine.

 

[testing123]

can you show us the crack you think you made? I'm no expert but it looks good and uncracked from the pics you've shown!

 

[trapperart]

Very nice find congrats.

 

[greentree89]

Thankyou all! It is certainly my best find this year and certainly best relic find!

I am not too sure but I poked through one hole and trying to reach the other hole, I swear I felt the side of the bell move and that is when I noticed the crack. Perhaps it was already there, that does make me feel better thinking of it but regardless it was a stupid way of cleaning the bell, after that I simply ran water through it several times and that is all it needed.

Here are pictures of the cracks on either side.

 

[CTwoods]

ancient cracks for sure.

everyone will agree when they see the new pics

 

[DigIron2]

nice one,yeah you didn't hurt it any

 

[The Rebel]

Awesome bell! Love finding them intact. That was cracked a LONG time ago, you didn't do it. If you did the crack would have fresh shiny metal showing along the edge. All I see is dirt encrusted in the crack.

 

[thrifty76now]

Wow,that is a very old one for sure.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Sweet find! Congratulations!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

What a beautiful crotal bell. The detail is clearly visible.

 

[46Wheat]

Very nice old bell

 

[Trezurehunter]

Crotal Bells are very nice finds.

 

[greentree89]

Thats a huge relief that I did not cause it! All original then!
Thanks everyone for the input I do appreciate that. Here is a quick video I did showing the sound of the bell.
CRUSADER Good idea using a wooden stick I will definitely use that next time, that is if I ever do find another one!
You just never know what your next dig will be!

 

[CTwoods]

Here is a quick video I did showing the sound of the bell.
........ if I ever do find another one!
You just never know what your next dig will be!

Some folklore posted years ago on a MD forum... Who knows if true, but sounds very plausible:

That person was talking about the many different sizes of that cast bell; he said the owner of the animals used different sizes to ID which animal he could hear, but not see, when the animals were grazing. Different size bells sound very different.

Another post said as you traveled past some other persons homestead, the distinct sound of the bell would let that homeowner know which neighbor was travelling past on the road,

 

[CRUSADER]

Thankyou all! It is certainly my best find this year and certainly best relic find!

I am not too sure but I poked through one hole and trying to reach the other hole, I swear I felt the side of the bell move and that is when I noticed the crack. Perhaps it was already there, that does make me feel better thinking of it but regardless it was a stupid way of cleaning the bell, after that I simply ran water through it several times and that is all it needed.

Here are pictures of the cracks on either side.

Just as I thought, old damage, maybe a plough. But wasn't you at all.

 

[CRUSADER]

Some folklore posted years ago on a MD forum... Who knows if true, but sounds very plausible:

That person was talking about the many different sizes of that cast bell; he said the owner of the animals used different sizes to ID which animal he could hear, but not see, when the animals were grazing. Different size bells sound very different.

Another post said as you traveled past some other persons homestead, the distinct sound of the bell would let that homeowner know which neighbor was travelling past on the road,

Unlikely.
You had two basic sizes, these smaller ones for goat & sheep & the larger ones for Cattle & horses.
One use was so a shepherd could find a lost sheep caught in a thorn bush.