The Bell Trading Company was founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1935 by Jack Michelson and his wife Mildred. They sold Native American Indian jewelry at various tourist locations in the southwestern United States until the late 1980s.
Their main competitor was Maisel’s Indian Trading Post.
The Bell company got its name from Jack’s wife, whose maiden name was Bell. In 1972 the company name was changed to Sunbell Corp. and items including giftware and moccasins were added to the jewelry inventory.
The types of jewelry sold by Bell Trading included sterling silver, nickel silver, gold, and copper.
Over the years numerous hallmarks were used on items sold by Bell Trading. The hallmarks typically included the image of a bell or that of an arrow sign post with a bell sign hanging from it. Shown here a just a few of Bell Trading Company’s hallmarks.
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I found a very sweet mother of Pearl ring stamped with “Bell Sterling” with a bell in the center with Bell above and Sterling below in a circle.
Thanks for the info….have any idea how old this ring may be?
Pre 1972
Thank you for helping me identify the Bell Trading Post hallmark on a copper bracelet from the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. I purchased it second-hand many years ago because I attended the fair at age 5 and didn’t have a souvenier. I now need to sell it and knowing the hallmark certainly adds value. I grew up in Puyallyup, WA — a Native American area — and was glad to learn that this equisite bracelet was also crafted by Native Americans
Opps, can’t believe I mis-spelled Puyallup – a name most can’t prononce when they read it.
i’d like more information about my ring. I bought it in 1976 and a friend is convinced it is Bell and probably made by a Navajo artist. I’ve worn it and loved it for a long time.
I sent you a reply to tell you where to send a photo.
I hope to resume blogging after fire season….until then…Paula
some years ago I found a bracelet in an old junk shop in Australia. One day I decided to go through my junk shop finds of which I have a trunk full, and found the bracelet something made me look it up. It looked American Indian I found it was made by the Bell Company and is post war the large turquoise is real. I have never been able to find a bracelet to fit me in my life yet this fits perfectly. There was a picture of the exact bracelet on the internet and it said it was the only one and was sold already. I was so pleased with my find.
Georgia
I hope to resume blogging after fire season…….Paula
i was given a turquoise ring stamped ” bell sterling ” in a circle around the bell. how would i tell what time frame it was made in?
I wouldn’t know exactly.
http://nativeamericanjewelrytips.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/bell-trading-company-history-and-hallmarks/
There was a California based competitor to Sunbell and Maisel active in the ’70s and early ’80′s making turquoise rings and bracelets. Do you remember that company’s name and/or have their hallmarks? I sold goods from all 3 firms in the 70′s..
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Hi, I came across a hair accessory of the Bell Trading Company and was wondering if I could get some more info about it. May I send you a picture?
We have a cpl charm bracelets that have multiple charms with the Bell Stamp. We were curious to know if they are collectibles? Worth anything?
We’ve corresponded via email. Best of luck.
I came across some native american jewelry that belonged to my grandmother and maybe even my great grandmother who was full native american. The ring i have a question about is sterling silver with turquoise and inside its stamped Sterling with the Bell Trading Post hallmark. The hallmark is a arrow sign post with the arrow pointing left with a sign hanging from it with what looks to be a small dot inside it. I was wondering what the age of this ring was. Any help would be much appreciated.
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Thats really interesting! I got an old turquoise ring on Etsy and i noticed it had the bell& arrow hallmark on it, now i know where its from!
I HAVE A TURQUOISE NICKEL SILVER BELL NECKLACE,WITH THE BELL STAMP. IS IT WORTH ANYTHING?
I sent you a personal reply.
Thanks for the interesting post! I went to an antique store today and picked up a lovely copper pendant and chain. It’s stamped on the back with the bell image and the words “Copper” and “Bell” I poked around the internet and couldn’t find anything similar, so I’m not even sure this piece really came from the Bell Trading Company. I’d love to know more about it if you have a moment. Also, I’d be happy to send you some pictures. Thanks!
Sure I’d be happy to take a look at it. Please send a quick note to me. Go to http://www.horsekeeping.com – click on the bear at the computer, then the link E-mail, phone, mail. Send me an email from there. If I post my email address here, it will be scooped up by spammers, so I can’t post it !! I’ll watch for your email. Paula