The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I’m cleaning out and trying to get rid of stuff. This came with phono stuff I bought a long time ago. I never got rid of it because I didn’t know what it was. Possibly bells. I know it’s not phonograph related. Anyone know what it is? I’ve definitely scoured the internet with no luck. Thank you - John

Well, if I had to guess, I'd say those are baking molds for muffins.

It's definitely a mold... My thought is for cabinet pulls or something, because of the decorations and the raised area on the back with the holes in it... Or, it could be for the fanciest fishing weights ever...
The hole and pin on the top of the mold looks like it was made to daisy chain together with another mold of the same type...(who can guess for what reason...?)

I am not convinced it is a mold as whilst the pattern is crisp and clear on the outside, on the inside it is barely discernable. Anything molded in them would not really have that decrative pattern on it

drh wrote:Well, if I had to guess, I'd say those are baking molds for muffins.

1 ¼" to 2" muffins would be bite size...

phonosandradios wrote:I am not convinced it is a mold as whilst the pattern is crisp and clear on the outside, on the inside it is barely discernable. Anything molded in them would not really have that decrative pattern on it

If you zoom in and look closely, the design is embossed in the bottoms and would show up on anything molded in them... It would also produce something with a "V" shaped line or indent on one side...

Yes, the pattern can be seen but it has none of the fine detail that is seen on the upper side - all those petal details and the fine pattern around the flowers. All that detail appears to be on the upper surface only and not on the inside. I accept that the photos when you zoom in aren't particularly clear of the underside but if that fine detail was on the inside then surely you would be able to see some of it and what would be the point of a mold with all the fine detail on the outside?

But as to what the item is.... Perhaps this is one for google image search..

Could they be something like 'Swiss Music Box Bells' I wonder ?

I suggest that the unknown object is a casting sprue with its castings still attached. The castings might be end caps or ornamental covers. They would have been cut from the sprue, their rough edges smoothed and finished and the unneeded sprue returned to the melting pot. Once drilled and tapped the interior stud could have been used for mounting purposes. Perhaps the little interior tab served to aline the cap and its mates so that all matched when in place. Such things mattered at one time. No doubt some phonograph parts could have been made in this way, but I see no connection here to phonographs (or muffins--I like the thought however!). At this point, it is simply a fine example of the moulder's art from a more elegant era.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I was hoping it was music box related as it looks like a group of bells. After reading some of the posts it got me thinking that these are individual castings. I did some more googling. Do you think this is a possibility...ornate bicycle bell?