Small bell: 18th or 19th century?

[Z.K.]

Hi T-netters

I'm really pleased with this beautiful little bell (about 2 inches tall), but I'm struggling to find any online guide/reference that can help me place its age, or tell me more about how it might have been used (put on livestock? part of an arrangement on a carriage?). Would appreciate any help.


For context, the home I was detecting was built in the 1850s, but I also found a 1798 draped bust (8 over 7) and a 1783 nova constellation (blunt ray), so there was definitely settlement or activity that predates the home.

Thanks and HH

 

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[gunsil]

Looks like a sheep bell, can't help with the date but it has a lot less corrosion than the coins.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on some great coins and bell

 

[WildWildBill]

Don't know anything about the bell, but those coppers would benefit from an olive oil bath,

 

[CRUSADER]

They went on heavy horses & carriages, I think they span the late 18th-19th C. (Need to check)

 

[CRUSADER]

Bell - UK Finds Database -
Didn't realise they were sheep as well, the ones I get are pretty big for that, but I guess some smaller ones were. The date range doesn't help much 17th-19th C

 

[Tommy G]

All nice finds! I've always heard these bells referred to as "conestoga bells", although they were also used on cattle. Here is link to a brief explanation.

http://explorepahistory.com/odocument.php?docId=1-4-77

 

[Z.K.]

That's great stuff, thanks all. Tommy and Crusader, really appreciate the references. I was also happy to learn the origin of "be there with bells on!"

Looks like a nice match for an earlier conestoga wagon bell set...one of the smaller ones. Perhaps early 1800s?

I was also thinking about how the rumble or crotal bells were a better match for the motion of the horse, at least in terms of a continuous sound. I would have loved to be there to hear the differences in person.

 

[Tuberale]

The bell looks like vintage (more than 50 years old) stuff, and was probably used for livestock. Sheep, horses, cattle could all use them.

The LCs are great, Z.K.!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice bell find! I really love the old coppers! Congratualtions on the awesome recoveries.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Nice handful of early coppers, bell is in great shape as well

 

[CRUSADER]

That's great stuff, thanks all. Tommy and Crusader, really appreciate the references. I was also happy to learn the origin of "be there with bells on!"

Looks like a nice match for an earlier conestoga wagon bell set...one of the smaller ones. Perhaps early 1800s?

I was also thinking about how the rumble or crotal bells were a better match for the motion of the horse, at least in terms of a continuous sound. I would have loved to be there to hear the differences in person.

View attachment 1354047

Crotal bells were mostly for sheep & goats, although the bigger ones were used on cattle & horse.
You have sleigh bells as well, different attachment than the crotals/rumblers.