Have others seen these wood Walnut bells ? I have only seen a few sets of these over the years. (I have a set) The bid is low to me, at $31 as of now. Sorry I don't know how to post a link to the site, but the number is 182431006647
I have seen and have glass bells too.
Vern
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182431006647 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/182431006647)
What would these have sounded like? A squirrel cracking a couple acorns? A woodpecker in a tree? I can't imagine they would have much volume. They were their own resonator, so to speak.
sargeguy shared the sound of wooden gongs, posting a gif recording....... you could do a search for 'anemic woodpecker' - link (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11334.msg121085#msg121085)
Woodpecker is a good description, annoying is another that comes to mind.
JMO,
Jim S.
I would imagine it was a an early attempt at Doctor office ringers.
D/P