Re: Automatic Bell Questions

Okay, after looking at the patent info again, it seems I may have assumed these "rang" the bell in both directions. But in actuality, I do believe that it was a double actuating cylinder where the first stroke opened a chamber inside the piston. This would then charge the piston to strike the bell, at the same time exhausting the piston to start the process over again... All with one moving part (two if you count the clapper)!!

In this particular patent, there is no separate "swivel" fitting for the air line. Instead, the swivel is actually the trunion of the bell yoke. it seems that on more modern versions of this style, a swivel joint was bolted or otherwise added to the outside of the trunion. Similar to the pics below:

[www.southwestspiritantiques.com]

[www.southwestspiritantiques.com]



Casey