Hame Bells

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The most common type of hame bells seen in the North American market consists of three, five, or more bells mounted on a metal bracket. The bells are usually the open-mouth type, but they are sometimes crotals. Each end of the bracket is attached to the top of each hame. (Hames are the metal arms that fit tightly around the leather collar on the horse's neck.)

The American version -- called conestoga bells or hame bells -- are left exposed to the weather. English team bells, or lattern bells, are protected from the weather by a leather, cloth, or metal housing.

Russians also mounted one to several open bells on a metal or wooden bracket (duga) used in traditional Russian harness. The duga arches high above the horse's head and attaches at either end to the hames or to the vehicle shafts. Saddle bells look a bit like these traditional Russian bells.

A simpler hame bell design consists of two forged iron brackets. One or two crotals (sleigh bells) are attached to each bracket. Each strap is attached to the top of a hame. A variation on this is a pair of buckled straps, each of which has a single crotal (sleigh bell.) The straps are buckled onto rings at the top of the hames.

American conestoga bells featured on a card postmarked 1920 sent from Lancaster PA to Sydney NY.

Note below the photo says: "Notice the Bells on each horse and they drive all with one line."

Message on the back says: "Just a card now. I will answer your letter in a day or 2. I hope you will help Mama some now. We see lots of these rigs here now. They have nice horses here. Dad."