Antique farm bells were typically 10-20 inches in diameter and weighed 25-100 lbs. The best way to distinguish a farm bell from other bells is by its size. The toll of these farms’ bells would signal lunch times and when it was time to down tools at the end of the day. They were used to summon the workers home from the sprawling lands and fields. Farm bells Image Credit: fineartamericaīells have been an integral part of farming life in America and the Nordic countries. Here are examples of different types of cast iron bells. The bigger the bell, the louder the sound. Over the centuries bells have been used as part of religious festivals, as warning signs, and at homes.Īlso Read Antique Fire Extinguisher Value (Identification & Price Guides)īells used in public buildings, such as churches were larger since their purpose was to summon people from further away. They have been used on farms, on boats and trains, school houses, town halls and churches and to call firemen to extinguish fires. Styles Of Old Cast Iron BellsĬast iron bells come in many forms and sizes.

The oldest cast iron bell has been dated back to 1079. Using iron made it possible to build bigger bells with unique shapes and designs using a new Chinese method where molten iron was poured into molds to create the desired shape. Iron replaced bronze as the main material for bells around 1000 AD. They were cast, mouth down, and molten bronze or molten copper would be poured into a two-part mold. The bronze bells, which included 23% tin, had the best tones. Some of the earliest bells were made of pottery, then copper and bronze became more popular. They were usually positioned on top of barns and they would ring them to tell the farmers to come home at the end of the day. Some of the earliest bells found in Europe have been discovered in the Nordic countries. At home, you would often find a cast iron dinner bell used to call household members for dinner. Bells were put in the clock towers in villages, towns, and institutions to denote time. Since the early days of bells in Europe, churches have used them in religious ceremonies. When bells were introduced in Europe, they became popular in clock towers, churches, and homes to signify time and important events. However, bell-founding in Europe only began in the fourth or fifth century compared to around 2000 BC in Asia. How much are old cast iron bells worth?īells are an important part of the western countries’ heritage.

Antique cast iron bird bell