The bell signed "The Meneely Bell Foundry, / Meneely & Co., West Troy, N.Y. 1879, with cast iron mounts additionally signed with patent date "Oct. 9th 1860," includes clapper and wheel.

Bell 24 x 31 in. diameter; bell on iron stand 46 in.; wheel diameter 57 in.

Private Collection, Durham, North Carolina

Former Estate Collection of Edgar S. Toms (1898-1952) and Julia Carver Toms (1898-1960).

The Bell is believed to be from the bell tower of one of Durham, North Carolina's first fire stations originally constructed between 1888 and 1893, on the north side of West Main Street, across from the W. Duke & Sons cigarette factory, and eventually located between Liggett and Myers leaf handling and storage facilities, known as the Cobb and O'Brien Warehouses. This station was later torn down in the 1950s, becoming a courtyard between the the two warehouses, before it's move to Ninth Street. The land, per the original lease agreement, reverted to the tobacco company.

The Bell was acquired from the Estate Collection of Edgar S. Toms who was the general manager and director of Liggett and Meyers Tobacco Company (formerly American Tobacco Company). Edgar was the son of Clinton White Toms (1868-1936), who was a well-known North Carolina teacher, school superintendent, businessman, philanthropist, and hired by the the Duke family as manager of Liggett and Myers. Clinton would later become vice president and president of the company until his passing.

Note: this lot is of substantial weight and will require professional transportation from the gallery. Leland Little Auction is not able to assist with movement or transportation of this lot.

Scattered surface wear, rust and staining to metal from outdoor exposure; clanger detached but present; the iron mounts and wheel detached for transport; some but not all bolts and mounts are present.