Crotal Bell - 1st for me!

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May 7, 2007
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Algonac Michigan
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saginawian, ,xdanthemanx and one other guy (forgive me for forgetting your name) hit a 1800's era area this morning. Saginawian hit the only silver (2 quarters and a war nickel) and I got this Crotal Bell. My camera is a piece of poop so the pictures are not the greatest. The bell is intact and has NO above the split and a 4 (I'm assuming it means Number 4)below the split in the bell. Now I have no idea about these things so I was hoping one of you could enlighten me. I has a flower looking pattern that encircles the bell and that's about all I can tell you. Again I apologize for the crappy pictures.

DCP_1646.jpg

DCP_1647.jpg
 

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Mine most closely resembles Jerry's middle bell. Cast shank, rings fine. I keep it in the center console of my car for show 'n' tell to prospective site owners [before the season ended, heavy sigh]; I get some jingles out of it motoring around. It came from an 1868 house site. Given local history, it could have gone under anytime from 1840 to 1910 or so.
 

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BuckleBoy said:
Jerry--I think your oldest bell is the third one from the left.

Any of 'em have a maker's stamp on them in addition to the number?


-Buckles
Buckles,far left bell is a "7",next is an "8" then the third from left with the drilled shank has an odd shaped "3" with a "z" or "n" at the very bottom. The only undamaged/intact bell has no markings and the silver plated one has pat dates of May14,78 and Oct 24,76
Jerry
 

Ohio Jerry said:
Buckles,far left bell is a "7",next is an "8" then the third from left with the drilled shank has an odd shaped "3" with a "z" or "n" at the very bottom. The only undamaged/intact bell has no markings and the silver plated one has pat dates of May14,78 and Oct 24,76
Jerry
The "z" or "n" is what I'm interested in...

and as I said below, I think that one is your oldest one. Only the old ones will have makers marks cast onto them.
 

BuckleBoy said:
Ohio Jerry said:
Buckles,far left bell is a "7",next is an "8" then the third from left with the drilled shank has an odd shaped "3" with a "z" or "n" at the very bottom. The only undamaged/intact bell has no markings and the silver plated one has pat dates of May14,78 and Oct 24,76
Jerry
The "z" or "n" is what I'm interested in...

and as I said below, I think that one is your oldest one. Only the old ones will have makers marks cast onto them.
Heres the bottom mark Buckleboy
 

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Thanks, Jerry--it probably said "o" on the other side for No. 3


Was hoping there would be a cool, early mark on it. Oh well...
 

xdanthemanx said:
maybe we'll do another group thing in the spring and i'll line up a few more sites for that one.

you never know what your going to get when you walk up on a site for the first time
i was hoping for some pre-1900's coins but what ya gonna do.......

DTM

I'm game Dan... Let me know when and where and I'll be there with "bells on my toes"
 

Man ...that thing is great. I have never found one and that is definitely up at the top of my list. Awesome!
 

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