Unlined strap with 43 globe bells

The 43 "globe" bells on this strap are #2 size (1 1/4" diameter) and were made in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The owner wanted the grime removed from the bells, but also wanted them to remain as old-ish looking as possible. The compromise was to just clean the bells -- the grime is gone and the bells are smooth to the touch, but they have a soft brown color. More about globe bells...

The owner wanted the new strap to be similar to the old one and asked that I reuse the original celluloid-covered buckle. The new unlined strap is made from dark brown leather. It is 89 1/2" long overall and 1 1/8" wide. I darkened the screws and washers used to fasten the bells to the strap, so this brass hardware blends better with the strap and bell colors.

The buckle is 3/4" wide with a matching billet (the other end with the holes for the buckle.) The buckle and billet are stitched onto the main bell strap. To control costs, I made these ends in a simpler style rather than recreating the original fancy "scalloped and raised" ends. Click "See more images" to compare the new and old strap ends.

This particular item is a custom, one-of-a-kind project made for a past client. Items in this Custom Projects section are for information only; they are not available for regular sale.