SALE PENDING 1890s Brass Lewis & Fowler Horsecar Trolley Bell - USA POSTAGE INCLUDED

Antiques : Transportation : Railroadiana : Trolleys : Horsecars

 

Here is an authentic, late 1800s solid brass horsecar bell made by the Lewis & Fowler Company. Located in Brooklyn, New York, Lewis & Fowler operated between 1889 and 1895, building railway cars and manufacturing related transportation accessories -- including small bells that would be hung from the harness of horses and mules pulling streetcars. This is one of those bells.

Lewis & Fowler sold to numerous horse railway operations, but did not cast individual company markings into any of their bells. However, they did cast a patent date around the top: PAT'D JAN 21 1890 . This appears on the top of this bell, slightly worn from use but still legible, authenticating its origin.

This bell is a tiny 3 inches total height, and 2-3/4 inches in diameter across the bottom. Its outer surface is in beautifully bright, polished condition. It is complete with its original cast iron clapper and has a peal that is strong yet sweet, loud yet appealing, and very melodic. This bell has no damage -- it is sound and solid, and has no cracks or splits that are often found in these old bells. There is some slight, expected wear from use that only adds character. At the top, an ancient piece of leather harness strap remains riveted in place.

BACKGROUND: In the days before electric and machine operated trolleys, these small bells were attached to the harnesses of horses and mules pulling passenger streetcars, to sound a warning to pedestrians that the vehicle was coming.

Horse-drawn railroad cars were a popular method of transportation throughout the United States for nearly 100 years between the 1830s and early 1900s. Horsedrawn streetcars, which began as an offshoot to the horse-drawn omnibus, followed regular routes on steel rails and could be hailed by people wanting to ride. Many improvements and ingenious design achievements over the years resulted in 500 horse railways operating in 300 U. S. cities and towns by the 1880s, powered by 100,000 horses and mules.

However, with the introduction and continuing improvements of electric driven railways which offered faster, more reliable transportation, the days of the horse car suddenly became numbered. After an abrupt decline of just a few years, almost all the horsedrawn railways were gone by approximately 1910, driven into sudden extinction by technology.

Perhaps due in part to this unanticipated demise, very, very few artifacts have survived from the horse drawn railroad industry. Steel cars were scrapped, wood and leather articles were not preserved. The horsecar bell is one of the few tangible items that survived as mementoes of the old days. They are very hard to find, but one occasionally will surface.

This Lewis & Fowler bell would be a fascinating addition to any collection of not only horsecar bells but any antique bell collection or for someone who enjoys early trolley and streetcar history, especially from the New York or New England area.

Item ID: 2008-00261