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. The finished strap met with approval from my cat Hobbes.

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.