Spur

Object Name:

Spur

Object ID:

1946.037.12

Date:

circa 1810

Description:

Pair of spurs, owned by Gov. John Bell (1765-1836). Brass and steel. U-shaped brass arm, flat on inside, slightly rounded on outside. Front end of each arm is rounded; arm tapers slightly to smaller width. At mid-point between ends, arm is fared into slightly tapering brass arm that drops down, then curls back up slightly where it ends in rounded hub. Vertical slot in hub. 0.8" diameter steel spur wheel rides in slot on steel pivot rod, slightly peened over on ends. Hub with pivot pin, slightly cone-shaped. Approximately 32 small points on outside edge of spur wheel. Where spur support shaft meets main body, there is a slightly square protuberance that extends slightly above top surface of U-shaped arm. On inside of U-shaped arm is a threaded brass point, 0.85" long. Evidence of threads at bottom edge of elongated point. At front end of arms, single chamfered hole on either side.
Spurs contained in rectangular wooden box with 0.3" thick walls. Two black-painted steel butt hinges on back. Each hinge uses four flathead slotted screws. On front, brass wire S-hook that pivots on escutcheon pin. Hook engages brass wire staple on front surface. Four nail heads on front and back surfaces near bottom edge. Nailheads go through paint on ends. A lot of paint has flaked off on top and sides of lid. Paper label adhered to inside of cover, inscribed in ink: "Spurs of Gov. John Bell / of Chester / Presented to Chas. H. Bell / by John M. Mallon, / March 16, 1881."

Material:

Metal
Brass
Steel

Dimensions:

H-1 W-2.3 L-4.4 inches

Provenance:

Gov. John Bell (1765-1836) was the uncle of the donor.

Credit Line:

Bequest of Samuel Dana Bell

People:

Bell, John (1765-1836), Bell, Samuel Dana (1798-1868), Bell, Samuel Kent (1888-1946), Bell, Charles Henry (1823-1893)

Subjects:

Horses