Mediaeval Handbell

[Carl_S_Zimmerman]

With that rectangular looped top, it's more likely to have been made for an animal to wear than for use as a handbell.  In the USA, such bells are commonly called "horse car bells" because they were hung on the horses which pulled what were later called trolley cars.  Some are plain, like yours, but some included lettering showing the name (usually abbreviated) of the company which operated the horse car line.  The most likely date in this country would be in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century.

Carl



--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "peter.trent at ..." <peter.trent at ...> wrote:
>
> I have just uploaded 4 photos of a recent purchase described as a Mediaeval Handbell. It is 77mm diameter, 84mm height overall and has two clean holes inside the crown that once housed a cast in  staple? Any ideas as to actual date?
>