One of the questions we often hear from bell owners is, ‘who made my bell’?
Cast in Hillsboro Ohio by The C.S. Bell Company for J. L. Haven Company of Cincinnati Ohio, the bell shown below represents the tens of thousands of bells cast by The C. S. Bell that had others names on the yoke or no name at all!
Why would that be?
Charles Singleton (C. S.) Bell and his son Charles Elliott (C. E.) Bell dominated the Bell business for 50 years from 1870 to 1920. They did it by creating an environment that attracted talented, creative individuals.
Just as important was branding their bells ‘Crystal Metal’, their secret formula.
Branding is critical in building a business. Bell and his son not only understood it they eliminated many of their competitors by partnering with them.
What? Partnering with competitors?
For example, James Haven started in the foundry business in Cincinnatti at the same time as Bell in Hillsboro in 1858. Haven was very successful focusing on household hardware, appliances and bells. He soon created his own catalogue and went head to head competing with C. S. Bell in the bell business. Haven achieved great success but could not produce the same quality cast iron bell.
Sometime in the 1870s James Haven gave up making bells and paid a premium to put their name on C. S. Bell patterns.
J. L. Haven is just one example. Sears Roebuck & Co, Montgomery Ward, Henry Field Seed Co. & The Belknap Hardware Co. of Louisville are just a few examples of others who sold
C. S. Bell bells with their own name on the yoke.
Hundreds of other, mostly smaller merchants and mail order companies purchased and resold thousands of C. S. Bell bells branded as ‘Crystal Metal’ with no other identification.
Key evidence includes the weight and dimensions of each part matching the original C. S. Bell patterns. Note also, in the yoke photo shown below with the name Haven, the lettering is mounted on tape.
Bell weight 146.4 pounds
Sound bow ring thickness 1 1/2
Rim diameter 23 11/16
Crown diameter 9 3/8
Height 13 1/8 inches
Clapper 5# 16 1/8”long
Head bolt & knuckle 11 3/16” 2.5#
Yoke 29 1/2 inches wide 11.8#
7/8 of an inch core 11 1/2 inches high
Wheel 18 1/4 diameter 12.6#
3 1/8 inch hub diameter
square wheel socket 1 – 1 1/8 inches
Hub bolt holes centers 2 5/8 inches
Spokes 1 1/4 wide
Rim 1 1/2 wide 1 inch deep
Purchased in New Paris Ohio April 2021. Original paint and components. No provenance. $700.
What’s the story with your bell?
