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Octagon Bells
The angular octagon design appears to have been popular about the same time as the egg and round bells - in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Our nickname for this type of bell is the "octagon", because a bell is roughly octagonal in cross section if cut in half from the top through the base. The original manufacturers, however, called it a "band" bell. The most common bell of this style is the "flat" type with a gently pointed top. The least common type comes to a much sharper point and is a bit taller. Both styles generally have one throat with no holes at the ends. Occasionally we find these bells with two throats. All have a rivet-style base. Four holes circle the base of these bells. Many were plated with nickel, although this plating is mostly gone on most of the bells seen today. We have found these bells in only one size: about 1 1/4 inches in diameter. They were usually attached 2 to 3 inches apart in a single row on a leather body strap roughly 1 inch wide. |
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| Flat bell, the most common type. The single throat is just visible at the top of the bell. | Sharply-pointed bell, a less common design. | Octagon bell similar to bell at far left, but with two throats. |
