Antique English Hame Horse Collar Conestoga Carriage Wagon Sleigh Bell Rack

Description

Antique English Hame / Conestoga / Team / Lattern bells for a stagecoach, wagon, buggy or carriage. Made of forged iron, brass and leather.

The most common type of hame bell bracket seen in the North American market is a forged steel bracket with three, five, or more bells mounted on it. The bells are usually the open-mouth type, but they are sometimes crotals. Each end of the bracket is attached to the top of the hames. Hames are the wood or metal arms that fit tightly around the leather collar on the horse's neck.

The American name for this type of bell assembly is conestoga bells or hame bells. American hame bells are exposed to view, in comparison to the English version, called team bells or lattern bells, which have bells on a similar metal bracket, but the bells are protected from the weather under a leather, cloth, or metal housing.

Condition

Good antique condition, wear and distressing commensurate with age and use, corrosion / rust, dry rot / alligatoring to leather, largest bell missing clapper .

Dimensions

3.25" x 17" x 15"h