Unique Deagan Instruments

John Calhoun Deagan manufactured his first set of bells in 1880, but it wasn't until 1910 that model numbers were used. This period of three decades represents a time of experimentation when the origins of numbered model designs were being developed and instruments were made on order to the buyer's specifications. It seems logical to speculate that this period of development may have been when Deagan instruments with unique characteristics that do not appear in any Deagan catalog were produced. This is most often the case with orchestra bells as these were among the first instruments made by Deagan, and are most commonly the instruments found without model numbers.


Instrument Model Number Name Octaves & Range Bar Size Date Built Notes
BellsNONEFlat Top2.5 F-C1x1/2Pre-1910Unique bar size with
rail resonators
(Case rebuilt)
BellsNONEFlat Top2 oct + 1 B-C1x1/2Pre-1910Unique bar size with
rail resonators
(Original case)
BellsNONERound Top2.5 F-C1 1/4x7/16Pre-1910Model 60 specifications
with rail resonators
(Case rebuilt)
BellsNONEFlat Top3 C-C1 1/2x3/8Pre-1910Model 1518 specifications
with resonators