Description:

Rare New Orleans Bronze Bell, marked "C.H. SLOCOMB & CO/NEW ORLEANS/1860", original yoke and wheel, later standard, dia. 18 in.; accompanied by CDV of Capt. C.H. Slocumb. Note: Samuel Bannister Slocomb of Maryland started his business career at the Rogers Hardware store in Philadelphia in the early 1800s. After proving himself in the trade, he moved to New Orleans and help established a hardware store by the name of Rogers, Slocomb & Co., which in some years became Slocomb and Co. Samuel died in 1834 when his son Cuthbert Harrison Slocomb was only three. Eventually, Cuthbert took control of the family hardware store. By 1861 he was a prominent citizen of the city with significant land ownership and an active businessman, serving as the director of the Bank of Louisiana and the New Orleans Water Works as well as First Vice President of the Mechanical & Agricultural Assoc. of LA. His hardware business was suspended during the Civil War when he joined the Confederate army in 1861, rising in rank from Assistant Quartermaster of the Second Company, Washington Artillery, to First Lieutenant of the 5th Company, the latter unit assigned to the Confederate Army of Tennessee and engaged in several major battles throughout the war. Wounded in April 1862 at Shiloh, Slocomb was promoted to captain and given the command of the company. On September 1, 1864, Captain Slocomb was seriously wounded at Jonesboro and was hospitalized in South Carolina. Slocomb returned to the regiment in December 1864 and remained with the regiment for the defenses of Mobile and Spanish Fort until the end of the war. After the war, Slocomb resumed his work at his hardware business C. H. Slocomb & Co., which a few years later became Slocomb, Baldwin & Co. with the addition of partner Albert Baldwin. And finally, in 1873, the firm became A. Baldwin & Co. Slocomb was a dealer in livestock, particularly horses and helped build a race course in New Orleans. He was active in Metairie Jockey Club, the Louisiana Jockey Club, the Pickwick Club, and served as Director of Equitable Life Insurance Company. He died in 1880. His daughter Cora was Queen of Rex and married Count di Brazza-Savorgnan of Italy. This bronze bell was reported to be used at his store on 74 Canal St and was spared from being melted for use in Confederate cannons made at either Leeds or John Clark foundries. Considering Slocomb was a well-respected businessman in the city, it is quite possible that this bell was made at one of these New Orleans foundries in 1860. Both were known to do work in both iron and bronze.

  • Condition: All lots are sold “As is” and “Where is”. Neal Auction provides condition reports on items with a low estimate over $500 as a courtesy to aid in your bidding decision. No statement regarding age, condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Completed condition reports are posted as an additional image with the lot. Neal Auction does not give refunds.

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November 17, 2018 10:00 AM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $49,999 $500
$50,000 $999,999 $5,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $10,000
$2,000,000 $2,999,999 $15,000
$3,000,000 + $20,000