Bell with Silver Top and Brass Bottom

Hello Board Friends - this is a new one for me. This bell came along with some other items I won at auction. It appeared to be the same color throughout but it was very dirty. I polished it lightly and realized that the handle is silver (plate I assume) but the lower part appears to be a brass or bronze. It stands about 5" tall and the handle has the same pattern on the front and back sides. The handle looks like it was placed over the lower part and there is a small slit on one of the handle seams. No mark that I can find. Has a pretty loud sound given it's size. I'm assuming circa 1900? Any information regarding this bell would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Don

 

To me (who knows nothing) it appears that the handle of a hand mirror or other vanity implement was "married" to a bell..................but that is just an observation, not an identification!

 

That's a very astute observation. It does look like that though.

 

but silver wouldn't produce a good peal ...so i suspect a dinner or servant'[s bell !!

 

How about that! But I have to say - it still looks like a marriage to me. There is something wrong with the proportions, or plain vs decorated surfaces, or something. But then again, no one ever made it mandatory that folks who design and manufacture things get it "right" every time. Sorry if I offended anyone!

 

Don - check the handle for either "sterling" or "sterling handle" running up the side. May be small, may be faint or partially worn off. But take a look with a loupe or magnifying glass.

 

Thank you for the help everyone! I wouldn't have got there on my own.

It makes perfect sense that someone could have used some leftover button hook or dresser accessory handles to dress up an otherwise unremarkable bell. I'm assuming the bottom part of the bell may have had a light silver plate at one time which has worn off of mine. I checked my bell again but couldn't find any silver marks. I did notice, though, that mine is a bit smashed at the top. It looks the handle came off at one point and someone reattached it rather roughly by banging down on the top. That might also explain the slight split at the bottom seam.

I may give it another go with the silver cleaner to see if I bring back a little of the shine. It will never look like the example INH found for me but I think I can improve it a little more (and maybe find a mark). Thank you all so much!
Don

 

Thanks, INH! Sure enough, mine is marked in exactly the same spot! I don't know how you did it!
Don

 

Its either a coincidence, OR these bells were produced commercially, as we see them, by someone who bought the generic handles wholesale. The same handle seems to appear on a number of different items, in a number of categories. I'm fairly certain that I have seen it used on letter openers, etc. as well. I have a manicure tool that has a very similar handle.

 

Yeppers.

 

My favorite find demonstrating the popularity of silver handles ("Valuable Premiums" for buying oats, April 1900 newspaper) :



(edit to add: yes, tea/call bells with similar handles from same era)