Antique Sleigh Bells - Seasonal Collectibles - First in Series
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way*......" (*written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857)
Maybe one of the most joyous, happy sounds on earth, the sound of Sleigh Bells! With the holidays rapidly approaching, collectors ramp up their search for genuine Antique Bells!
The most prolific area of sleigh bell production in North America was in Connecticut in the 1800's. One of the most commonly found c1800's bell is the "PETAL" style bell. Recognizable for its daisy like incised petal decoration circling the top, divided evenly with a single throat slit with rounded ends. Depending on the bell size, there will be 4 to 8 distinct petals.
Bells come in many sizes. Some may be marked "No." with a digit indicating the size, as seen in this size 4 Petal Bell.
While the sizes can vary depending on maker and age, here is a good size chart** to use that will cover most bells found, with or without a noted size stamp. Measure diameter across the widest part from behind the bell.
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Petal bells with a good view of their shank tops for attachment. Shank style bells require a "bell pin" to attach to a strap (shank protruds through a hole made in the leather and a pin is bent into a figure 8 to secure the bell).
Another commonly found bell style is the Round Ridge (Rim) Bell. It looks like a petal bell but is plain, with no decoration, and has a distinct ridge around the middle. Well suited to being polished to a shiny bright surface or plated with nickel.
Note that the throat slit has rounded ends just like the petal bells shown earlier.
An example of bells that have been nickel plated and have a rivet style base, attached to a leather horse strap.
A good view of the top of a (brass) rivet style bell.
Rivet bells first began to appear c1870's and were attached to a leather strap using a steel flat smooth rivet or a screw.
For more info/purchasing details on many of the actual bells shown above, please click HERE
An example of an extremely RARE find in North America, the raspberry or fish scale sleigh bell! Most that are found are modern replicas (sometimes portrayed as "antique" - so beware!), but this strap of raspberry bells is a genuine antique, c1870's.
Note the stippled, raised decoration on the lower half of the bell. 
FUN FACT:
Under the Highway Traffic Act, Part VI, Equipment #77 of Ontario Canada:
Sleigh bells are mandated by law and persons breaking the law are subject to a $5.00 (Canadian) fine. Law states: Every person travelling on a highway with a sleigh or sled drawn by a horse or other animal shall have at least 2 bells attached to the harness or to the sleigh or sled in such a manner as to give ample warning sound. (Horses hooves on newly fallen snow are very quiet and sleigh runners make almost no noise.)
Bear Hugs
Mandy
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Attribution:
Now that you have been introduced to the world of Antique Sleigh Bells with this brief summary, if you would like to delve further into the details of how to identify, date, and find out who produced bells of all kinds both North American and Worldwide, please visit one of the best sites I have found for research information, photographs, and restoration advice, along with a portfolio of offered services......
Note: The informational material within this blog (including the sizing chart**), comes with kind permission of Classic Bells!
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Thanks for the info. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteNice to read Thank,s Many petal bells were from England like the big one on your first picture fromRobert Well England with the W on it .
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