Antique Horse-Drawn Sleigh Shaft Chime Pole Bells

Antique Shaft Chime Bells, aka Pole Bells or Ice Cream Bells

A perennial Holiday sound, Sleigh Bells! Always a harmonious collection of jingling tones, bells were not just for Christmas at the turn of the last century!  When vehicles were drawn by horses, bells served as a warning of coming traffic, and to signal the delivery or presence of goods or services for sale.

Shaft bells were attached to the vehicle rather than the horse. Bells were screwed or riveted to a brass, steel or iron bracket or arch, and were often open-mouth dome shaped hemispherical bells.

Here is a shiny, polished example of four Antique brass open-mouth bells attached to a brass bracket. Most shaft chime bells have three attached bells, so this bracket is unusual in having four.

The bells themselves are called chime bells in the horse bell world. Chime bells are open mouthed, hemispherical domes and have 2 or more clappers either hanging inside or outside of the bell.

Three suspended clappers inside these bells.

Bells are riveted to the bracket. The bracket has a 

screw hole at each bent end.

The bracket was attached to the top of the shaft of the wagon, buggy or sleigh, which are the poles located alongside the horse, or to the pole tongue of a vehicle drawn by two or more horses. They could also be attached to the vehicle body. 

There are really no differences between shaft bells, pole bells or ice cream bells, all reference the object to which they are attached.  Ice cream bells became a popular name because of the wagons that used to go to neighbourhoods selling frozen treats and had these bells attached to them.

Nickel plated cast brass shaft chime bells. Different sizes and shapes produce different ring tones.  The slight curved angle of the bracket above the larger bell keeps the bells at the proper height to ring when attached to the shaft or vehicle.

Decorative finials on the tops of the rivets.

Some of the iron clapper balls are missing in this set, and the insides of the bells show evidence of oxidization or rust from moisture exposure to the iron chains and fitting seat attachments. Water could have sat inside the bells, if the domes were turned upwards while sitting in a rural barn or property over the years.

Shaft Chime Bells were used in pairs, one for each shaft on either side of the horse. Matched pairs are hard to find! Here is a pair with etched rings on the exteriors of the nickel plated bells and a bit of decorative detail with the shaped design of the cast brass. A little greening is evident (indicating brass) and a lot of the nickel plating is worn.  

The shaft chime bells shown on this blog date to the late 1800's or, more likely, the early part of the 1900's.

Whether a collector enjoys the worn patina or polishes their bells is a matter of personal preference. Some minor restoration would be required to add new clapper balls in many of the chime bells that are rediscovered since these parts are often lost over the years, and a must in order to enjoy the wonderful waterfall sounds!

All of the shaft chime bells shown above are available for viewing and purchase at Mandicrafts!

Happy Hunting!

Bear Hugs

Mandy

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