Materials and Features:

• Fred Harvey era Bell Indian Trading Post Company Navajo hand stamped ‘sheriff’s star’ concho design panel bracelet

• Seven slightly domed and scalloped edge nickel silver concho panels linked together

Type: Fold-over clasp

Age/Origin: 1938 - 1940’s

The Story: Bell Indian Trading Post were responsible for mass producing Fred Harvey era jewelry. Furthermore, they distribute these machine stamp jewelry and trinket pieces throughout tourist stops and trading posts across the West. The Bell Indian Trading Post Company starts in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1932 by Jack Michelson and his wife Mildred. As a result, the Michelsons sell Native American Indian jewelry at various tourist locations throughout the southwestern United States until 1972. Consequently, the Bell company name honors Jack’s wife, whose maiden name is Bell. Especially relevant is that Bell’s main competitor was Maisel’s Indian Trading Post. Consequently, Maisel’s merged with Bell Trading Company in 1935.

Most noteworthy, the types of jewelry by Bell Indian Trading Post includes sterling silver, nickel silver, gold, and copper. A common belief is that nickel silver contains some silver content. Consequently, nickel silver contains absolutely no silver content at all. Over the years numerous different hallmarks are used on items sold by Bell Trading Post. The hallmarks typically included the image of a bell or that of an arrow sign post with a bell sign hanging from it. Especially relevant, they manufacture an enormous amount of jewelry during the Fred Harvey era with typical stamped thunderbirds, arrowheads, and crossed arrows.

Marks: Unmarked, (It would have originally come with a foil tag attached. I included the original Bell Trading Post wholesale catalog showing the page on which the exact design is located for reference)

Measurements:

• Dimensions: Approx. 8.125" in length from end to end and approx. 1” (23mm) wide, conchos are approx. 1” x 1”

Condition: Excellent vintage condition, no spots of wear - any anomaly observed is from the camera flash