Unidentified bell dated 1775

[Carl S. Zimmerman]

A correspondent has asked for assistance in identifying the maker of 
a smallish bell which is dated 1775 but carries no maker's mark. 
Since it is apparently located in the New England area of America, it 
seems possible that it was made either by an early colonial 
bellfounder or by an English foundry. Unfortunately there seems to 
be no documented history for this bell, aside from the fact that it 
has been in a private collection since the 1940s. The bell is 
approximately 12 1/4" diameter and 12 1/2" from base to top of dome.

To aid in identification, I have posted some photos on the Web. They 
are all rather large (950KB to 1.6MB), even after some trimming, so 
be patient. If you are bandwidth-limited, the first photo should be 
sufficient for identification purposes. If the email system splits 
these URLs, you will have to paste them back together in your 
browser's address window.

http://idisk.mac.com/stlbells-Public/photos/bell1775anon/108_0851_IMGrot.jpg
straight view of bell and date (961KB)

http://idisk.mac.com/stlbells-Public/photos/bell1775anon/108_0850_IMGrot.jpg
off-side view of bell and most of headstock (950KB)

http://idisk.mac.com/stlbells-Public/photos/bell1775anon/108_0854_IMGrot.jpg
side view of bell and most of headstock (981KB)

http://idisk.mac.com/stlbells-Public/photos/bell1775anon/108_0846_IMG.jpg
closeup of date and shoulder (1014KB)

http://idisk.mac.com/stlbells-Public/photos/bell1775anon/108_0849_IMG.jpg
top of headstock (1.7MB)

http://idisk.mac.com/stlbells-Public/photos/bell1775anon/108_0859_IMG.jpg
inside of bell showing clapper and cast-in staple (1.6MB)

All comments will be welcome, even if you can't identify the maker of 
this bell.

-- 
Carl Scott Zimmerman, Campanologist
Avocation: tower bells: http://www.gcna.org/ (Co-Webmaster)
Recreation: handbells: http://gatewayringers.homestead.com/
Mission: church bells: http://www.TowerBells.org/ (Webmaster)
Voicemail: +1-314-821-8437 (home) E-mail: csz_stl at ...
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - - 19th c. home of at least 33 bell
. . . . . . . . . . . . . foundries or resellers