My First Crotal Bell!

[Cantstopdigging]

Hello Forum,

I found my first Crotal Bell today! To bad it is broken. Can anyone help me to identify it's age or origin from the markings? From what I've read these could have been on sheep, or a sleigh. Could this be a #3 bell? I wish I could have it fixed, but it's probably not worth it :-(

Thanks for looking!

 

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[trapperart]

Congrats on the nice old bell

 

[smokeythecat]

Great find. I find myself jealous. Going digging tomorrow, however.

 

[dirtlooter]

bells are pretty cool finds, my grandmother kept bells on one of my uncles when he was small so they would know where he was. He quickly figured out why they had them on him and he would find a way to quieten them. congrats

 

[CRUSADER]

Yours is a proper Crotal Bell not sleigh bell type & like you say the smaller ones went on sheep or goats. Can't make out the makers mark, so late 18th C-early 19th C.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on your first Crotal Bell. My personal opinion is that if it were mine, I would not have it fixed. It would probably cost you more money than the bell is worth. I also like to remember my finds as they come out of the ground. If you are just getting into the hobby, then be patient and you will find more, and probably whole, undamaged ones. I have 42 of them in my display case, and 36 are complete bells. Only 6 have some sort of damage. A lot depends on where you hunt also. The odds are in your favor of finding them without damage, if you continue in this hobby.