Is this a bell???

[newbyfromnewy]

I found this in my backyard whilst I was trying to learn my latest obsession. MDing. It appears to be made from copper, at first I thought it was a plumb bob like builders and brickies use, but after a quick clean up I found that it was hollow and not at all heavy enough. It is about 7.5cm tall and approx 3cm wide. Whilst it looks round, the outside has been ground down making many irregular flat sides that give the impression that it is round. Inside there are the remnants of 3 little lugs that something could have hung off to act as a chime. The bottom of it opens up like a flower with 3 petals, these would have been quite pointy but have been squashed in now. Any suggestions on what this may be or at least where to start looking would be appreciated.

Happy digging
Newy

[Rwork]

maybe a baby"s rattle ?    Rwork

[happyhunter]

a cat bell maybe?

[Red]

Ummm...

 http://www.psi.edu/coronado/historicbackground.html has some small copper bells...but it's hard to say

as both pictures ( yours and theirs) are a little dark for detail.

Cheers

[NME]

Looks like it has some age to it - what is the history of your back yard?

[newbyfromnewy]

Thanks everyone,

Rwork- I think that the ends would have been to sharp for a babies rattle
Happyhunter- sorry mate but I think it would have to be a hell of a big cat to carry that around
Red- much closer but I dont think so
NME- I agree with you that it does have quite a bit of age about it.
 
I am starting to think that it may not be a bell, but  I dont have any other ideas what it may be. I am trying to find out a bit more about the history of my backyard but I think that back in about the 1870s it was part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve, about 650 hectares of land that was home to thousands of Newcastle residents, mostly miners that built houses on land parcels of up to about 4 acres but didnt pay rent or actually own the land.
I would imagine that this land would have been developed a few times since those days but you never know, it could possibly be a remnant of those days and possibly a link to mining. One thing is for sure I have grown quite attached to it but it was my first find of any value (monetary or sentimental) i would dearly like to know more about it.
Newy

[newbyfromnewy]

Common theory from the local antiques and collectables people is that this is a sort of weight from a window blind or curtain that held the cord to open them. Definitely handmade, age unknown but guessed to be any where from 60-100yrs old. Another mystery solved. Not valuable but I still love it.

[bigpud]

Hi newbyfromnewy, I was watching a MDing video and they found a crotal bell and I remembered your post.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotal_bell
Do a google image search there is some similar to yours  

[Snowy]

My guess would have been a brass bell, probably attached to a goats collar.

In the old days they used goats to keep the grass down in back yards.

My brother in law had a lamb he kept for that same reason,
and because he kept the lawn finely cropped he named the sheep "Victa." 

[newbyfromnewy]

Thanks Bigpud,
Some of the pictures of a Crotal Bell are fairly similar. I would love to know the age of it, but I guess some things will never be known.
Thanks anyway, I had never even heard of a crotal bell before but was interested to read about them.
Cheers
Leigh 

[aushunter]

Hey Snowy,
I think you nailed it mate.
Looks like a goats bell as I have seen similar on goats, best damn lawnmowers around and clothes eater and rubbish disposal unit etc
Cool find though.
Cheers and HH
Brad

My 2 cents worth.

[pinpointa]

You are spot on Snowy,
It is a crotal bell used around the neck of a animal. The one here in the picture i have posted was found when i was up prospecting in coolgardie with Raoul and the club from Perth. The one i have has a small stone in it as the ringer.

Regards Pinpointa.