The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

After finding these bicycle bell pics I'm fairly confident these are bicycle bell castings. Thanks everyone for the hints that helped me find this on the internet, and thanks for entertaining this non phonograph related lated post. Now...back to sorting my phonograph parts!

Bicycle bell castings make sense... the little "V" shaped part on the inside probably stopped the ringing mechanism from going too far... I think the mystery is solved...

The "V" shaped part is for the spinning clapper to strike with each revolution, to produce the ringing sound. Otherwise, the clapper would just spin within the saucer bell producing no note at all.

JerryVan wrote:The "V" shaped part is for the spinning clapper to strike with each revolution, to produce the ringing sound. Otherwise, the clapper would just spin within the saucer bell producing no note at all.

Makes sense... who knew? Now we'll have to head over to the bicycle bell Forum for more discoveries...

I see traces of gold color or plating --
Could this be what's left of a rather unattractive Arts & Crafts era wall sconce, perhaps one that held a candle fixture on the protruding knob at the bottom? Just a guess.

OrthoFan

Not sure that's gold plating? The surface seems to rough to justify gold plating. Maybe it's just been protected from some kind of patina solution the bells were treated with? I still think these are either bicycle bells before separated from the cast, or maybe all six together some part of a music machine or automaton with six connected bicycle type bells? In any case, an awesome conversation piece

Andreas