1886 Rare Patented Brass Ringside Boxing “Signal Gong Bell”

Details

Description

[Recent Update Posting On February 20, 2026 -
the optional mounting board was refinished with 3 coats of Minwax Satin … Read more [Recent Update Posting On February 20, 2026 -
the optional mounting board was refinished with 3 coats of Minwax Satin Polyurethane.
And … a small optional chain was attached as now pictured. The chain simply consists of two links of standard chain and a new brass latch … to provide a hand grip to pull the mechanism if you so desire. It is easily removed too, if it doesn’t suit your fancy.]

Wonderful brass Gong Bell … a boxing ring bell ! And alarm bell….

Very rare. Only a couple out there and not at all close to this condition.

Wonderful patent information included !

Boxing became popularized in England in the “mid to late” last half of the 19th century….

Very fine condition.

Heavy as heck; at 8.9 pounds! The brass bell alone, weighs close to 4 pounds and it is easily removable for quick shining sessions … to allow you to mount the base on a wall stud, post, or the wooden plaque that we are including as shown in the photos. See photo # 12 … the bell is close to being 1/4”
thick.

That backboard is a wonderful piece of old growth pine that we believe was designed for a sign that was never painted….

As to the 3 “mounting through” holes … on its cast iron base … the 2 holes on the lower part of the base and the 1 on the top … are all countersunk.

The other 2 indented “circles” apparent on the back side of the base are not “through holes” … but are evidence of joints … for iron pieces attaching and securing mechanisms from the front side.

To mount it …
Just easily unscrew the brass bell (with gloves on to avoid smudging it) from its threaded iron post … then attach the iron base directly to your wall studs, post, or the backboard that we include, or your own mounting backboard.

Then … simply screw the brass bell back to its threaded iron post on the base.

The iron frame/body is a real warm, aged, mellow iron. It appears to be its original; with distinctive brass accents evident.

The brass bell itself, is great. Some very mild wear, and very tiny pitting spots.

We could not avoid the temptation of mildly polishing it for 10 minutes … with Barkeeper’s Friend … as the aged patina was appealing; but, not original, and it was smudged here and there. But, if you like really brilliant brass (and we do too) this will shine up even more brightly, no doubt, with 10-15 more minutes of polishing and buffing.

We currently have it mounted on that board … but we will take it off for boxing it up and shipping.

The sound ? When rung ?
Resonates impressively ?
(Note - it seems to be noticeably louder, when not mounted to an attached board, which probably absorbs some vibrations.)

The “ring” will knock you over !

We are providing the chain that you can leave attached (or remove by opening up the top chain link with pliers)… to pull the plunger down to release the hammer when ringing it; but, BE CAREFUL not to pull so abruptly and hard as to pull the bell and its base off of the board or wall. AND DO NOT STRIKE IT WITH ANYTHING TO RING IT ! Brass is soft and that will bruise it ! (It rings from its hammer inside.)

It’s so LOUD….

This is TMI … but, if you’re going to ring it …secure it well … with or without a mounting board … as the spring mechanism does take a bit of effort to pull it down … as it has a strong spring.

Wonderfully designed. Do please look at the Patent photo and description to better appreciate it.

A special piece !

It’s a “knockout” … this is a boxer gong bell … couldn’t resist the pun. See less