What Was This Mysterious Vintage Gadget Used For?
September 9, 2024
source: eBay
In the days well before we had installed electric door chimes ringing ‘diligently ding ding ding’ as strangers approached the bell, there was the mechanical doorbell. These cute bells which may be hung on or within the front door are not only antiques that serve a particular purpose but also tell us about the art and consideration that went into making even the most mundane objects in the previous centuries.
The basic model of the mechanical doorbell was intended to serve its intended purpose while at the same time having an appealing appearance. A visitor would pull a small wing shaped handle usually located in the center of the door and this would cause a certain mechanism inside the door to make a ringing sound. The sound was not loud at all but it was distinctive and musical and clearly served the purpose of alerting people of someone’s arrival. As opposed to the contemporary electric doorbells that are either battery operated or wired, these mechanical ones had no need for power source as they worked on the basis of a simple twisting motion.
It is very simple yet very elegant and this is the beauty of this design. These doorbells had no dependency on electricity or rather complex electronics and therefore were designed with more durability. Some examples of which are shown in the image below have been in existence for over a century and yet they are still able to fulfill their intended function with the simple act of turning a handle.
Such doorbells were mechanical in nature and these were the first interface between the house and the outside world. In the old days when door to door delivery was much more prevalent, the bell rang for everybody from the milkman and the postman to the neighbor who dropped in for a cup of coffee. It was a regular part of the routine; it told people about the presence of guests, relatives or even unexpected guests at the door.
For those people who live in houses which are constructed in the late 19th or early 20 th centuries, these bells are the nostalgia of the olden days – the golden era when life was not as hectic as it is today and everyone took great pride in their work. Mechanical doorbells are not just inanimate objects since they can tell a story, such as the number of people who have rung the doorbell or how many years the doorbell has been attached to the door and watching the change that has taken place.
Although the current doorbells serve their purposes and are quite effective, there is something nostalgic about vintage mechanical doorbells. There is something quite retro about this ‘ding ding ding’ sound, knowing that this sound has been ringing for years. For collectors, preservationists or home owners having old properties under restoration, a perfect way of giving life to history is by looking for and installing a mechanical doorbell. These bells can be usually bought from antique stores, architectural salvage yards or from online auction sites.
It is something special, for instance, to be able to turn a real mechanical doorbell; even in the present age of digitization. It is a direct link between the individual and the machine, a basic action that does not involve the use of electronics yet is very important. For many people these bells represent a time when homes were not only built to be functional, but also aesthetically appealing and long lasting.