Tuned Cowbell Set: Museum Object and Cultural History
Tuned Cowbell Set: date made: 1900-1910. Object Name: bell set. Physical Description: brass (overall material).
The object in the museum catalogue
This tuned cowbell set was made in the United States around 1900 to 1910. It is made of four brass cowbells attached to a metal frame.
This tuned cowbell set was used by William T. Armstrong (1879-1965), orchestra leader and musician in vaudeville and silent film theaters. Armstrong grew up in South River, New Jersey and began playing drums at the age of 14. He continued his musical career through the mid-1910s, after which, Armstrong began work in banking and finance. This artifact is part of a collection of drums, sound effect instruments, and other percussion instruments used by Armstrong.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: 1900-1910
- Object Name: bell set
- Physical Description: brass (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: 3 1/2 in x 3 7/8 in x 8 in; 8.89 cm x 9.8425 cm x 20.32 cm
- place made: United States
- ID Number: 1984.0335.16
- catalog number: 1984.0335.16
- accession number: 1984.0335
- Credit Line: Gift of Pamela A. Carlin and Evelyn A. Mark in memory of William T. Armstrong
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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