Traditional Swiss bells and treicheln
Traditional cow bells, horse bells, sheep bells, goat bells
The Berger bell foundry produces a variety of real Swiss bells: cow bells, horse bells, goat bells, sheep bells and gift bells. You will also find special pieces in the range: Crier bells, ship bells, table bells or club bells are available. Even individual, colorful bells for your business in your club colors or as a splash of color, with corporate design and logo in all RAL colors possible.
Bronze bells are made in the traditional manner according to grandfather’s recipe with a lot of love. Imagine every sand mold is destroyed when the bell is born. Each bell is unique and unique in the world. The alloy of the classic bronze bell consists of 20% tin and 80% copper. The exact recipe is top secret and has been passed down orally for generations.
All Berger bells can be individually labeled and provided with suitable subjects, e.g. for weddings, birthdays, Schwing- and Hornusser festivals, or with club and company logos or with country, family, canton and municipality coats of arms. Cowbells are a piece of craftsmanship that can be given away instead of chocolates, flowers or even a bottle of wine. Giving was yesterday. Create experiences.
And which alloy is right for you?
Traditional bronze cowbells
The advantages of bronze bells:
Modern cowbells made of aluminum
The advantages of the aluminum bells:
- Lighter and quieter than traditional bells
- Noble appearance
- Stylish and elegant
- Something special for all individualists
Unique break-proof cowbells
The advantages of break-proof bells:
- Extremely robust and durable (ideal for the Alps)
- Nice and appealing sound, similar to the bronze bells
- Suitable for pasturage
- Lower repair costs
Traditional bells and treicheln
Regardless of your preference, you will find the right thing in the range of the Berger bell foundry. High-quality hand-forged and inexpensive machine-made treicheln in all shapes and sizes from various suppliers are available from stock or can be procured for you within a short time.
Hand-forged treicheln:
- Bartenbach driving and pasture bells
- Dominik Brun Treicheln
- ETRO AG clamps
- Gasser clamps
- Gyger clamps
- Kramer driving bells
- Morier driving and pasture bells
- Schelbert frog mouth bells, Gotthard bells, Muotithalertrychle and Pragel
- Steiner Fahrreicheln, Central Swiss
Fahrtreicheln, trycheln and steel bells ❯
Machine-made treicheln:
- Firmann Buller Weidetreicheln and Fahrtreicheln
- Tiroler Froschmaulschellen
- Alpine Treicheln
- Brescia Schaf- und Ziegentreicheln
- Varrone Chamonix
- Cortina Stahlglocken
- Piemonte Treicheln
- Varrone Premana
- Varrone Premana Premiere Qualite
- Valsassina Bissen
Bell straps in all styles and colors
Individuality is the key! Find your personal favorite from a variety of hand-carved or embroidered bell straps. Or do you have your own idea? Inquire about Kerstin Milde or Roger Kern at individuell@glocken.ch or at +41 34 408 38 38 and receive the bell strap of your choice for your Swiss bell or treichel.
Whether prints, special embroidery or carvings based on a template, almost anything is possible. Family, community or country coats of arms can also be printed on special leather using a vectorized template and sewn onto the bell belt. Your wish is our command, does not work, does not exist. Thanks to our own saddlery and bell strap embroidery, almost anything is possible, even in a short time.
Would you like something cheap? There is also a large selection to discover among the smaller gift straps. There is something for every budget.
Interesting facts about cowbells
Why even cowbells on animals?
Have you ever wondered why bells are worn on animals at all?
In the past, the cowbells were a sign of prosperity. The larger the bells and the more richly decorated they were and the more bells the farmer could buy for his animals, the richer and more respected he was.
In addition, the bells should keep evil spirits and demons away from the house, yard and loved ones.
What’s left of it?
Even nowadays, bells and treicheln are attracted. Partly as an ornament (cattle shows, alpine ascents and descents), partly to protect the herd (summer pasture on the alp).
The animals can be found more easily on the alp in the fog. In addition, the farmer, the shepherd or the alpine farmer can hear whether everything is okay with his animals and whether they are grazing calmly. If the bells sound hectic, the person responsible for the animals can react very quickly and prevent damage to his herd. Especially in the Alps, where electricity is not always available, cowbells are still indispensable today and cannot be replaced by modern GPS systems.
Bells and treicheln are also used on chesslets, on the üebersitz or for trychling.
In the Far East, the bell is still a popular lucky charm today. In Asia, anyone who hears the sound of a bell is lucky.
So the cowbells are more than “just” a beautiful tradition. It’s a piece of history and also protects livestock.
Some anecdotes about bells
The sad goats
One day a goatherd showed up in the store. He put a little goat bell on the counter and said: “I need a bell that is a bit the same size, but doesn’t sound the same”. The customer has chosen a bell and then paid for it. On leaving, the seller asked why the bell couldn’t ring the same way. The shepherd replied: “Well, the old mother goat unfortunately died. And every time I attach the bell of this goat to another, they all stop eating. They are so sad that the mother goat is no longer there ». Mother’s love is omnipresent.
The stubborn guide cow
A customer went to the store and put a completely broken Swiss bell on the counter. Somewhat astonished, the seller asked if he wanted to have it repaired, as this would cost a lot due to the defects. The customer replied that he really wanted to have the cowbell repaired, no matter what the cost. The main thing is that the cow recognizes its cowbell. Otherwise his lead cow wouldn’t take a step when he wanted to go to the alp. So hang it on her cowbell and just stop. And when the lead cow is standing, the whole herd is standing and he never comes to the alp.
The stubborn guide cow, part II
A customer once said that he wanted to do something good for his lead cow. The cow was a bit older at this point. He put a smaller cowbell on her than usual when it came time to move back to the alp. The animal did not step back, forward, or to the side. She just stood dead still. What should you do there? The farmer pulled off the smaller cowbell, put the usual cowbell around his neck and lo and behold: the cow immediately marched ahead and the other cows behind. All’s well that ends well.
Cowbells as a lifesaver
An elderly man said in the shop that he was only standing here today because he had put cowbells on the cows. One night it was “ghebuletet” in the pasture and “tängelet das nümme nice sig gsi”. He thought why his cattle were causing such a commotion, so he got dressed and went to see. He was shocked to find that his barn was on fire! He immediately woke up his wife and child and immediately rescued his animals from the stable. Today he is very grateful that his cattle with their Swiss bells saved his life.