Small bell found by a lake, looking for more info [please]

[Minrelica]

I went hunting for about 45 minutes this morning by a local lake and this is my only decent find for the day. After the initial dirt was rinsed off I did 4, 5 minute electrolysis soaks and scrubbed it in between to get it to this condition. I tried to get a photo of all the sides so you can see the design. I'm hoping that someone who knows more about bells than I do can help put a date on it. I'm also interested to know what it may have been used for?? I put the penny in for size reference. The height is 1 1/2".

Thanks for looking!

 

[plymouthian12]

very nice great job

 

[Roland58]

I have seen a bell very, very similar to that one, the same size, with similar markings....it is hanging on my bike. It was given to me by a friend who also rides and it is called a "Spirit" bell. It is supposed to repel bad "road spirits" (the kind that cause flat tires and crashes) as they cannot stand the ringing noise (or some such). Mine was made in India and was pretty crude (file marks, etc.) until I did some polishing on it. Can you tell if it is brass?

Can't say for sure that yours would be the same, but, it sure looks familiar.

 

[FortBedfordbob]

Check this out http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CC4QsAQwAQ might be the script

HH
BB

 

[The Swed Hunther]

That's a very nice bell u have there!! And it seems old!!
Keep going!
HH//Swed

 

[trikikiwi]

Your relic reminds me of a Bhuddist bell. Hare Krishna etc. Maybe a relic of the 1960's - 70's 8)

Mike

 

[flip flop]

Found by a lake ....... I have a friend that does a LOT of catfishing, he uses small bells like yours while night fishing. He casts out his line, props up his pole, and clips a bell to the last eyelet on the fishing pole. When the bell dings he has a bite.
I hope I'm wrong. Your bell looks way too cool for fishing.

 

[Gilligan]

Perhaps a croatal bell, the kind that a sheep would have on neck?

 

[Old River]

I don't know what kind of bell it is, But it's a nice find. I have a few bell's I've found, and they are very interesting. Congrats....

 

[Treasure $ Trekkies]

Made in China ?

 

[Minrelica]

very nice great job

Thanks.

I have seen a bell very, very similar to that one, the same size, with similar markings....it is hanging on my bike. It was given to me by a friend who also rides and it is called a "Spirit" bell. It is supposed to repel bad "road spirits" (the kind that cause flat tires and crashes) as they cannot stand the ringing noise (or some such). Mine was made in India and was pretty crude (file marks, etc.) until I did some polishing on it. Can you tell if it is brass?

Can't say for sure that yours would be the same, but, it sure looks familiar.

Interesting, I have owned items from India that seem to have similar markings such as file marks, etc. as you mentioned. This is a good guess. There are a couple really tiny spots on it that look as though a speck of brass is trying to poke through. I wanted to get some input before I tried cleaning it any further. Maybe I can test a little spot on the inside.

I have a friend in India so I will email him this thread today to get his thoughts on that theory.

Check this out http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CC4QsAQwAQ might be the script

HH
BB

That script certainly does look similar. I will print that out and do some comparisons. Thanks for the link!

That's a very nice bell u have there!! And it seems old!!
Keep going!
HH//Swed

Thank You.. I think it’s fairly old as well. Hopefully we can date it soon.

Your relic reminds me of a Bhuddist bell. Hare Krishna etc. Maybe a relic of the 1960's - 70's 8)

Mike

Another interesting theory. I will look into a few Buddhist bells today. Thanks for the input!

Found by a lake ....... I have a friend that does a LOT of catfishing, he uses small bells like yours while night fishing. He casts out his line, props up his pole, and clips a bell to the last eyelet on the fishing pole. When the bell dings he has a bite.
I hope I'm wrong. Your bell looks way too cool for fishing.

Well, being the avid catfisher that I am, I know exactly what bells you speak of. The size is about right but based on the weight, design and construction I’d have to rule out this theory. Fishing bells are generally much lighter, cheaper. (you don’t want the bell to bend the end of your pole when it’s attached) Also, there’s generally a clip or hook built right onto the bell itself. That’s my take on it anyway..

Thanks for the comment!

Perhaps a croatal bell, the kind that a sheep would have on neck?

The first thing I looked up when I got home was crotal bell but all of the photos I found were round and enclosed. Do you have a pic of a crotal bell similar shape to this bell?

There was a farm very near by in the 1800’s so this is a good thought. I’ve never dealt with crotal bells before but I wonder about the design. Did crotal bells have etching or script on them similar to this? I’m at a loss on that one.

I don't know what kind of bell it is, But it's a nice find. I have a few bell's I've found, and they are very interesting. Congrats....

Thanks, it was fun to unearth. I’ve only found one other bell and it was totally flat 

Made in China ?

Say it aint so! ;0

 

[Mr Tuff]

neat bell MR TUFF

 

[fistfulladirt]

Maybe not a bell, but a candle snuffer? I've found a couple similar, and they are round on the inside where the "clanger" would attach. Just my guess.

 

[allen]

definetily a neat find, looks old to me !

 

[lidigger]

Great Bell!

 

[underdogger]

Before eletricity they had mail boats that had bells on them. The mail boat would pull up to your dock and ring a bell that he had or that you had haning around the dock. Most docks were away from the homes for two reasons. Privacy and noise . docks were a place to exchange commerce . Just a thought

 

[Lucas]

Made in India. 20th c.

 

[detectahead]

Don't know but very cool!

 

[Roland58]

Made in India. 20th c.

I'm definitely in your corner, Lucas. I still think it is a "Spirit" bell....the right size and shape. There have been a gazillion of them sent to the U.S. since 1980 or so and more than half of those are hanging underneath a lot of big bikes. More often than not, tied on with a small piece of leather that will dry out and rot allowing the bell to go its' own way.

 

[gleaner1]

Made in India. 20th c.

Most certainly.