Tombac Crotal bell?

jangrok

Jr. Member
Dec 27, 2012
75
271
New Jersey
๐Ÿ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2, Nox 800, Garret ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Found at an old grist mill ruins in eastern Pennsylvania. Iโ€™ve pulled Crotal bells before that were bronze/brass but this came out silver and shiny. If my research is correct, I believe it is white Tombac, they would add 1% arsenic to the alloy that would give it the silver appearance. I found this info from an old treasurenet post here from someone else who found a similar bell. Also on that post a commenter said the bell was circa mid 1700s to early 1800s. Itโ€™s also I believe a Crotal bell that would be riveted to a leather strap

So my questions for those more knowledgeable than me:

Is it white tombac?

Is the date of mid 1700s to early 1800s correct?

Also any other info would be appreciated!
8CC71DF0-F519-4307-9A02-EE0762DA2EDA.jpeg
 

Upvote 16

E-Trac-Ohio

Gold Member
Feb 9, 2020
5,898
10,809
Eastern Ohio
Detector(s) used
XP Deus
Minelab E-Trac
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Great find !

Look for initials /makers marks on the bottom of the Bell.
If it's stamped - Google search "Dating Crotal Bells" - the website will tell you the who and when about the mfg.
Most of the ones I've found were mfg. in England in the 1800's.
 

cudamark

Gold Member
Top Banner Poster
Mar 16, 2011
13,171
14,457
San Diego
๐Ÿฅ‡ Banner finds
1
๐Ÿ† Honorable Mentions:
3
Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2, Equinox 800/900, Fisher Impulse AQ, E-Trac, 3 Excal 1000's, White's TM808, VibraProbe, 15" NEL Attack, Mi6, Steath 920ix and 720i scoops, TRX, etc....
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
What does it look like cleaned up?
 

OP
OP
jangrok

jangrok

Jr. Member
Dec 27, 2012
75
271
New Jersey
๐Ÿ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2, Nox 800, Garret ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Great find !

Look for initials /makers marks on the bottom of the Bell.
If it's stamped - Google search "Dating Crotal Bells" - the website will tell you the who and when about the mfg.
Most of the ones I've found were mfg. in England in the 1800's.
appreciate the info, no initials or makers marks though. had success on that website with other crotal bells
 

Digger RJ

Gold Member
Aug 24, 2017
19,312
33,446
SW Missouri/Oklahoma
๐Ÿฅ‡ Banner finds
1
๐Ÿ† Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030; Minelab Equinox 800;
XP Deus 2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Found at an old grist mill ruins in eastern Pennsylvania. Iโ€™ve pulled Crotal bells before that were bronze/brass but this came out silver and shiny. If my research is correct, I believe it is white Tombac, they would add 1% arsenic to the alloy that would give it the silver appearance. I found this info from an old treasurenet post here from someone else who found a similar bell. Also on that post a commenter said the bell was circa mid 1700s to early 1800s. Itโ€™s also I believe a Crotal bell that would be riveted to a leather strap

So my questions for those more knowledgeable than me:

Is it white tombac?

Is the date of mid 1700s to early 1800s correct?

Also any other info would be appreciated! View attachment 2067246
Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!
 

CRUSADER

Gold Member
May 25, 2007
40,820
45,226
ENGLAND
๐Ÿฅ‡ Banner finds
27
๐Ÿ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus II v0.6 with 11" Coil
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Its technically a Sleigh Bell not a Crotal Bell, most likely late 19th C. Might be tombac.
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
37,021
136,958
๐Ÿฅ‡ Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Its technically a Sleigh Bell not a Crotal Bell, most likely late 19th C. Might be tombac.
Exactly a Crotal has a loop attachment where a sleigh (rumble ref. sometimes) has the attachment that went through wood/leather backing. This was a rivet or similar made from iron. (Hence the rust)
Tombac - Yes I tend to agree-made where-that's a hard one to pin down.
Good find-congrats
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top