April 19, 2024
Rare Wood "Battle Rattle" Alarm Possible Civil War Era
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Extremely Rare Battle Rattle Alarm These battle rattles were used during the Civil War, often aboard vessels to alert and summon an alarm for help. They have a handle that is attached to an arm that turns two wooden cogs. These cogs contact the two wooden springs and produce a very loud rattle. When the alarm was sounded, the man on watch would grab the handle and rotate the alarm briskly. These alarms were highly effective in summoning help to repel unwanted boarders and intruders. I have read of them being used in light houses (see Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy) and the early fire stations. In my research, I have only come across pictures of two of these. One was a single cog rattle and the other was a double cog like this one, but it did not have the metal (appears to be bronze) weight. The weight allows the alarm to swing more rapidly, making it easier to use and thus more effective. The body of the rattle appears to be maple with oak cogs and handle. The workmanship is outstanding and the condition is excellent. Everything is tight and is like the day it was made. The turning on the handle is superior to the other two that I found information on. As you will note in the pictures, t is a signature that appears to read, " Rus G". The dimensions are 6 Inches Long - Handle length 3 1/8" Top Width - 2 5/8" Bottom Width -
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