Large crotal bell and a pocket watch

[TrpnBils]

Not much from a new site, but this came from a late 1700s foundation that was either a tavern or a house (inhabited by an alcoholic, based on the number of whiskey bottles he's found in the woods) according to the owner. The place is great and is surrounded by big trees and is in the guy's front yard so it's all mowed. I had high hopes, but I'd say it's been picked over pretty well over the years (although he did tell me that he found a SLQ on the surface of his back yard after they spread the soil they bulldozed up when his house was built 15 years ago).

Anyway, I was happy with the bell because it's the largest one I've dug in one piece. Watch wasn't bad either, but no coins yesterday aside from a dateless (and almost wheatless) wheat penny.

 

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[46Wheat]

Very nice bell . Something I have yet to dig and really want to find . Took my friends dad out today with his brand new Fisher F2 and got him started into the wonderful obsession that we call a hobby . What do you suppose the first good target he dug was ....... Yup you guessed it a fully intact beautiful Crotal Bell . I was very happy for him and told him Congratulations but part of me was Congrats

 

[Trezurehunter]

That's a real nice looking Crotal Bell. I love digging those things.

 

[sutphin]

tipnbil what in the world nice crotal and pocket watch,vanzutphen

 

[Mach1Pilot]

Love that crotal bell!!! Well done, Jeff.

 

[TrpnBils]

Very nice bell . Something I have yet to dig and really want to find . Took my friends dad out today with his brand new Fisher F2 and got him started into the wonderful obsession that we call a hobby . What do you suppose the first good target he dug was ....... Yup you guessed it a fully intact beautiful Crotal Bell . I was very happy for him and told him Congratulations but part of me was Congrats

I enjoy the bells too but don't find them that often. I have a piece of one that had to have been 6" across...would have loved to dig that one intact. There were a ton of cans and jar lids at this site and the bell was right up against the foundation. I passed over it with my detector 3 or 4 times before I finally dug it because I assumed it was just junk. Glad I did!

 

[digging440yrs]

GREAT !!!

 

[deershed]

Sweet!!

Can't go wrong finding Crotal bells, love finding them myself.

 

[TrpnBils]

Sweet!!

Can't go wrong finding Crotal bells, love finding them myself.

Is there a particular spot you find them more often? I can't seem to pinpoint a type of location that produces them more than any other.

 

[UnderMiner]

Cool!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Your bell is more specifically a "petal bell" (which is nicer and I believe older than your average crotal bell), see the flower petals in the design? And I can see the size number on the bottom, but can't make it out. There might be a manufacturer and patent date near the top. They are most often found in areas where there were horses, cows, goats, etc.

 

[creade]

Great Crotal bell For some reason, I can't even find half of one

 

[TrpnBils]

Your bell is more specifically a "petal bell" (which is nicer and I believe older than your average crotal bell), see the flower petals in the design? And I can see the size number on the bottom, but can't make it out. There might be a manufacturer and patent date near the top. They are most often found in areas where there were horses, cows, goats, etc.

Thanks for the info! I don't know much about these at all, but the size number is 7. I didn't see anything near the top for manufacturer or date, but I'll take a look again.

 

[Erik in NJ]

There may not be a manufacturer, but some of the petal bells have a name and pat'd date. It's a real nice bell you found there and the bonus is it's whole...a #7 is a big one--may have been used on a cow. Again very nice find,,,congrats!

 

[TrpnBils]

There may not be a manufacturer, but some of the petal bells have a name and pat'd date. It's a real nice bell you found there and the bonus is it's whole...a #7 is a big one--may have been used on a cow. Again very nice find,,,congrats!

Many of my students always ask me to see some of the stuff I've dug up so I took this in to the school on Friday. One student in particular was absolutely certain that it had come from an elephant because his grandmother had an elephant collar from an old circus that had bells like this on there (I should mention that this student was 17 years old). I'm sure the collar he mentioned could exist and I'm sure there could have been bells like this on there, but he was certain that it was the ONLY thing this could have been used for.