Does anybody have any idea what I should ask for a brass firehouse bell? It has been in my family since 1931 - the bell itself is 12" across the base and 9" high - the yoke and clapper are cast either iron or steel - total weight is about 75 pounds. It is in good shape - has been kept inside - the bell is not cracked and the yoke is not rusted. the yoke is the pedistal type that bolts into the top of a pole with 4 lag bolts. Has a clear true ring. I have to use it in trade and don't know how to value it. Can anyone help??

Have you thought about contacting some of your local fire departments to see what value they would place on such an item? I know firehouse memorabelia is highly collectable and extremely valueble.

The bell is from NE Pa [where I am from] - the firehouses out here use sirens. There isn't much use for bells. I get more interest in the fact that it is brass.

I just saw this post and did a little research. I agree with Pap - this could turn out to be a very valuable piece. My suggestion to you is this - look in the yellow pages under "antique dealers". Preferably the box ads, not the one liners. Call three of them over to your house to look at it for a FREE appraisal. Tell all three of them that you have, in fact, called three dealers. That way, no one will pull the wool over your eyes. And then let us know how much it's worth. Don't forget to post your address....

The closest antiques dealer big enough to have a box ad would probably be in Tulsa [about 100 miles].
There is some 'history' with this bell - none of which can be proven - there's no actual provinence.
It came from a firehouse just outside Nanticoke, Pa [and I do know which one] - it was one of the bells that supposedly rang during the funeral of the girl that the movie 'Miracle of the Bells' was based on. It was considered 'posessed' and that's why it was sold.
My Grandfather painted it black [to hide the fact that it was brass] and it was used as a 'dinner bell' for as long as I can remember. [I had a half hour to show up when it was rung - and I couldn't get far enough from the house that I couldn't hear it.]
I hate to get rid of it - it's the only thing I have left - but my car has decided to have tissy fits - I have to be able to get to work.

Mimi, I come from a long line of dealers in my family - antique, book and ephemra dealers. The more facts you have on this bell, the better. The fact that it was thought "possessed" can actually help it's value, believe it or not. Don't try to remove the black paint yourself - a restorer can do that for you if you choose to keep it. Any dealer worth his/her salt will come to YOU.

LL - This is not an area that has a lot to do with antiques. When I lived in PA, I did a lot with antique machinery - it's a whole different ballgame out here. They'd rather bulldoze an old building than fix it. It's really sad. I'll try to call some, but for the most part nobody is interested in anything old.
I haven't done anything to the bell that would hurt it's value. The black paint has worn off the bell itself enough to tell it is brass, but
I haven't tried to remove it.
As a last resort, I'm thinking of trying eBay. Any suggestions?