Only word-marked with STERLING on eccentric piece. While resting like a table bell, the tinkle can only be made by holding in a high raised position and rocking gently back and forth...side to side gets nada. Not in the National Trust depictions of any of the summonsing type bells, but could this have been designed to rest in a hanger that activated the movement? Or just for the genteel hand calling for attention at the feast? Wouldn't seem to do much for Xmas Caroling.
Hells Bells or Hum Dinger?
Re: Hells Bells or Hum Dinger?
There exists a set of similar "service bells" attributed to one Ramirez of Mexico (NY auction site). Looking at the style of letters in the STERLING mark here does indeed appear to have Mexican origin. Further, there is a maker named F. Ramirez (online sample) who also used a like lettered mark along with his normal compound mark. [There was a prior 2006 query here about an F. Ramirez but photos are gone.] Nothing is conclusive, but the trail is not completely cold yet.