La vie est belle!
Bell Toys by John C Wells of East Hampton, CT
John Chappel Wells of East Hampton Connecticut patented this turtle bell toy January 26 1904. The patent
was witnessed by Lucy Barton Wells, and George A. Strong. The turtle
is 4” long. The bell 1 15/16” diameter. The materials used as well as the nickel and copper finishes are typical of toys made by Watrous Mfg. Co.. Even the rivets used on the turtle are exactly the same as those used on toys shown in the 1905 Watrous Mfg. catalog. The toy does not show in the Watrous Mfg. Co. catalogs of 1905 or 1907, nor any later Watrous catalogs known. It is also not in any of the Gong Bell or N. N. Hill catalogs found so far. John C. Wells patented a gong signal in 1892 assigned to Bevin Bros., a bell in 1892 witnessed by Lois Barton and Abner A Bevin, patented a bell with Abner A. Bevin in 1892, a gong bell assigned to Bevin in 1893, and an alarm bell assigned to Bevin Bros in 1894. In 1895 he patented a bicycle lantern bracket. Also in 1895 he patented a spring wire bicycle saddle assigned to the Climax Manufacturing Co., the year he started the company with E. G. Cone.1 In 1898 there were from ten to fifteen employees, with E. J. Rich President; J.C. Wells Secretary and Treasurer; S. W. Wardwell, E.J. Rich, J.C. Wells and L. O. Wells Directors. John C. Wells married Lucy Barton, a teacher and painter, in 1902. According to his granddaughter Drucilla Wells, electric wire was strung from their house at 36 North Main Street to the one story shop, now apartments.
The patent shows several potential variations. Another bell toy in the collection of Bob Watrous that is probably by Wells is a duck
shaped steel cutout sandwiched between two chimes. The wheel style and the wire diameter used for the wheels is the same for both toys. Both toys utilize 2” diameter chimes. The duck wheels are 2 5/8” diameter whereas the turtle has 1 1/16” diameter wheels. The duck is 4 7/8” long. The turtle is 4” long.
Photos by Robert K Watrous, of toys in his collection
Footnote 1 Penny Press Special Illustrated Edition Supplement, Middletown Conn. M.DCCC.XCVIII
was witnessed by Lucy Barton Wells, and George A. Strong. The turtle
is 4” long. The bell 1 15/16” diameter. The materials used as well as the nickel and copper finishes are typical of toys made by Watrous Mfg. Co.. Even the rivets used on the turtle are exactly the same as those used on toys shown in the 1905 Watrous Mfg. catalog. The toy does not show in the Watrous Mfg. Co. catalogs of 1905 or 1907, nor any later Watrous catalogs known. It is also not in any of the Gong Bell or N. N. Hill catalogs found so far. John C. Wells patented a gong signal in 1892 assigned to Bevin Bros., a bell in 1892 witnessed by Lois Barton and Abner A Bevin, patented a bell with Abner A. Bevin in 1892, a gong bell assigned to Bevin in 1893, and an alarm bell assigned to Bevin Bros in 1894. In 1895 he patented a bicycle lantern bracket. Also in 1895 he patented a spring wire bicycle saddle assigned to the Climax Manufacturing Co., the year he started the company with E. G. Cone.1 In 1898 there were from ten to fifteen employees, with E. J. Rich President; J.C. Wells Secretary and Treasurer; S. W. Wardwell, E.J. Rich, J.C. Wells and L. O. Wells Directors. John C. Wells married Lucy Barton, a teacher and painter, in 1902. According to his granddaughter Drucilla Wells, electric wire was strung from their house at 36 North Main Street to the one story shop, now apartments.
The patent shows several potential variations. Another bell toy in the collection of Bob Watrous that is probably by Wells is a duck
shaped steel cutout sandwiched between two chimes. The wheel style and the wire diameter used for the wheels is the same for both toys. Both toys utilize 2” diameter chimes. The duck wheels are 2 5/8” diameter whereas the turtle has 1 1/16” diameter wheels. The duck is 4 7/8” long. The turtle is 4” long.
Photos by Robert K Watrous, of toys in his collection
Footnote 1 Penny Press Special Illustrated Edition Supplement, Middletown Conn. M.DCCC.XCVIII
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