This tuned bell set was made in the United States, around 1900 to 1910. The four bells are made of metal and attached to a wood block. There are two clamps that fit into holes in the bottom of the block for attaching to a drum.
This tuned bell set was used by William T. Armstrong (1879-1965), orchestra leader and musician in vaudeville and silent film theaters. Armstrong grew up in South River, New Jersey and began playing drums at the age of 14. He continued his musical career through the mid-1910s, after which, Armstrong began work in banking and finance. This artifact is part of a collection of drums, sound effect instruments, and other percussion instruments used by Armstrong.
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