Age of bell?

[romeo-1]

I found this tombac crotal bell yesterday and was wondering if it were possible to date such a thing. I once read that tombac bells predate the copper or brass bells but I am not sure. Thanks for looking.

 

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[Don in SJ]

Your bell is a nice one, I thought perhaps it said on the one Classic Bell site I have saved but it just mentions Tombac as being used in some bells. However, on the website it seems dating a bell by its shank is what they used.
It appears by what I see on this site your bell looks like it has a round hole in the shank and they say that type is newer than later.

http://classicbells.com/Info/DatingBells/BellComparison.htm#ShankWear

Hopefully someone else will chime in on this one.


Don

 

[romeo-1]

Thanks for the link...that's a great resource. I did notice though that it shows that the older bells have two large holes as opposed to the four smaller holes. My bell has two very large holes.

 

[CRUSADER]

See reply in todays section.

 

[Rob66]

Looks like a sleigh bell.

 

[Jim West Pa]

Hey Don in SJ, thanx for the site bud, now i can date my sack o' crotals.

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

Your bell appears to have markings on it, excellent find.

 

[CRUSADER]

As posted in todays section:

If it follows the principles of the British construct then:
Lower half sun burst design, upper part plain - Late 17th - Mid 19th century.
Normally Pewter or Bronze but Tombac would fit.