Most unlined bell straps are plain lengths of dark leather with a simple buckle installed at one end and a simple billet (tongue) at the other. These bell straps are much like an extra-long trouser belt that has bells in the middle. Some bell straps are considerably more elaborate, however, with unusual buckles, colorful felt or leather edgings, wool tassels, and other distinctive details.
This dark brown strap is a fairly conventional design except for the fancy "swelled and scalloped ends." These ends are fiddly to make, but they sure look elegant after they're done! I explain more about this piece in these YouTube videos: Video 1 and Video 2.
The 38 globe bells on this strap are 1 1/4" in diameter spaced 1 3/4" apart. The owner liked the existing dark golden brown color of the bells, so we used the bells as-is without further cleaning or polishing. There were no bells missing on the original strap.
The overall length of the strap is just over 82 inches long and the strap is 1 1/8" wide. The buckle and billet are 3/4" wide. The new strap features the original buckle after cleaning and adjusting. This buckle is unique because it has a celluloid covering over the buckle frame.
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.
