Collecting Antique Farm Bells

Antique farm bells are a great way to add some vintage charm to any kitchen door or suburban garden.

In the days before cell phones the farm bell was the quickest way to summon the family to the house for dinner, or because of unexpected company, or even an emergency. The bell, depending on the size, could be heard for a long distance and since the old bells tended to have unique tones it was relatively easy to discern whether it was your bell or the neighbors’.

History of the Bell

Making bells or bell founding dates back to at least the fourth or fifth century in Scandinavia. These bells were hung at the top of barns and used much like their later, and smaller, farm bell cousins.

The bells were made of a special bronze alloy which was called bell metal. It was made up of 23% tin, a combination found to give the best ring tones. A special, two part mold was buried in a casting pit, moth downward, and then the molten bell metal poured into it. The bell was allowed to cool and then the mold was removed, leaving a one piece bell.

Modern bells are cast in two separate parts and then soldered together.

All bells include the same parts. From top to bottom these parts are:

Crown

The piece at the top of the bell that a chain or rope is strung through for hanging is called the crown.

Head

The head is the rounded top of the bell that the crown attaches to.

Clapper

The clapper is the small piece that hangs inside the bell from the inside of the head and strikes the sides when it is moved.

Shoulder

The shoulder begins just below the head of the bell and forms the downward curve to the body of the bell.

Bead Line

The bead line is the raised line around the bell which helps set the tone. This is often found between the shoulder and sound ring, but not always.

Sound Ring

This is the part of the bell between the shoulder and the lip where the actual tone of the bell is created.

Waist

The waist is the center of the bell where it begins to flair out to the traditional bell shape.

Lip

The lip of the bell is the decorative, finished edge around the mouth of the bell.

Mouth

The open part of the bell is called the mouth and is always found at the bottom.

The complete bell is then attached to a yoke; a structure that allows the bell to swing freely.

There are many kinds of antique bells and it can be difficult to tell whether a bell was a farm bell, a school bell or another type of bell. Sometimes size will help with identification but not always.

Generally speaking the farm bell was between 10 and 20 inches in diameter. This allowed for a good, clear tone that carried across the fields but did not interfere with a school or church bell, whose sound might carry for a mile or more.

Always look for signs of wear but be careful. There are replica bells that are made to mimic the antiques. Authentic bells will have the following identifiers:

• There should not be a casting line because the old bells were cast in one piece.
• Edges should show heavy wear and will have become soft and irregular in shape. There may even be chips out of the lip.
• The body of the bell will look worn. It may be pitted, scarred, or discolored from years of use.

How to Clean and Antique Farm Bell

Most antique collectors prefer the natural, aged look and patina of an old bell. Simply brushing dirt and mud or washing carefully in a mild soap may be all you need to do.

If you really feel the need to clean it then you will want to use a product like Brasso. Always test the inside of the bell to make sure that it won’t damage the old metal. Use a soft cloth and only enough of the cleaner to get the tarnish off without marring the patina if possible.

Obviously, because of the size and weight of the bell, you should try to find your bell locally if possible. Antique stores are often a good resource for bells but if you live in a farming area you may be lucky enough to find one at a thrift store or garage sale. Letting an antiques dealer know what you are looking for is a good idea. They often go to auctions and network with other antique dealers so can come up with what you are looking for in a short period of time.

If you can’t find what you want locally then eBay or online antique stores are excellent sources of bells of all types. Just remember that you will have to pay shipping on top of the sales price and that can be expensive.

Nostalgic Décor

Displaying an antique farm bell, or even a collection of antique bells, creates a country feel in any home. Since the bells are durable you can even place them outside your back door and use the bell to call your family in to dinner just as the farm wife that originally owned the bell would have done.

Vintage and Antique Lighting

Antique Glass Knobs