Re: Bell cap how to

[jvrjenivs]

That's a good how-to Jurjen- a nice, simple method for creating a convex ring. But I've never heard the term 'bell cap' used in conjunction with a type of washer before- it's usually an exposed decorative element. The piece you have there is what's called now a self-aligning washer. I have a pendant with a true bell cap in its centre- a sheet metal hemisphere through which a rivet is passed, just as decoration. And is there any evidence at all that it'd be used with belt plates? I have two originals with definitely small, flat squares of copper alloy as simple washers, so clearly they worked just fine. That pendant image isn't really large enough to evaluate but it seems a odd choice to use since it has a loop (broken) at the top suggesting it was suspended from not rivetted to something, no?

I have to admit I use the term bell cap just because thats the name Brian Stobbs use to call them. Most of the sources I have found for them are from horse gear instead of belt plates. As to you comment on the original I show, that is because of mis-identifying this object. It is from horse gear also. It's the upper part of a pendant. So this is the part attached to a lose hanging strap and originally the pendant was attached to this piece by the loop. So, you've to look to it the other way around. Hope it is clear what I mean.