The 26 "acorn" bells on this strap are #1 size (1 1/8" diameter). They were made in the late 1800s to early 1900s by W.E. Barton of East Hampton, Connecticut, or The Barton Bell Co. that succeeded Barton in ownership. Antique acorn bells like these are highly sought after by collectors.
The characteristics that identify these bells as W.E. Barton bells include the distinctive brass plate used to fasten the billet onto the main strap, the use of screws to fasten the bells onto their original strap, and his patented buckle. I had to use modern screws to fasten the bells on their new strap, but I reused the original buckle and fastener plate. More about acorn bells...
The original strap was an extra-fancy style. The main strap was originally black with a sewn-on edging of thin red leather or oilcloth. These edgings are delicate and deteriorate badly with time (click "See more images" to see fragments of the old strap), although I am sure the edging looked sharp when new. I sewed lines of red stitching -- purely decorative -- along the sides of the new strap to echo the look of the original red edging.
The new unlined strap in black leather is 79" long overall and 1 1/8" wide. The buckle and billet are 7/8" wide. (The billet is the end with holes for the buckle.)
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.
