Commercially repurposed for sale from army surplus this attractive old bell measures approximately 3 ¼ inches across the mouth and stands about 6 inches high. The bell remains in excellent untouched and original condition retaining a pleasing bronze patina and a goodly amount of its black enamel on the handle. The bell sports an attractive cast in panoply of American Eagles with shield, banner and star bursts. Examples of these bells, with an account of their origin, may be seen in the U. S. Army Quartermaster Museum collection at Fort Lee, Virginia. These bells were cast in four sizes (this being the smallest) under contract to the U. S. Army during the Pierce and Buchanan administrations for use by experimental Army camel pack trains moving from Texas to the West Coast. A solution to the occurrence of blinding dust storms, Camels were trained to march in line following the sound of the bell of preceding camel during long treks. The bells are said to have been later pressed into use by the Army during the Civil War with collectors of that era frequently referring to these artifacts as Union Cavalry Bells referencing Dr. Francis Lord's Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia. Though in our fifty plus years of seeking out such things, we have had three or four of the patriotic motif bells in addition to a full set of varying sizes in our own collection, we have seen only two other example of this small size repurposed bell. One remaining in our own collection, all are identical in so far as construction clearly repurposed by the same source. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques! COLOR=#0000FF>