Evening journal., 1893-01-13
MERRY o. sLEIeH eELLs.
An Oid-Timer Finds the New-Fangled
Substitutes Very Inferior.

An Oid-Timer Finds the New-Fangled
Substitutes Very Inferior.
"rhe old time melody seems TO have
all disappeared from the sleigh bells, -
remarked an old man who had just re-
turned from ride, says the New York
sun.
"You do not appreciate their jingle as
you did in your youth, perhaps said his
younger companion, as he removed his
fur lined overcoat.
1T is not that / am getting old, but
that the sleigh bells are becoming new, ="
answered the old man. II would give a
great deal to be behind one Of the old
time strings of bells again. There was
real melody ia the old strings. with their
big and little bells pleasantly gradu.
ated in tone, but they have
gone forever. and are replaced by little
sheet metal tinklers, which all tinkle in
one key, and that. TO me, disagreeably
sharp one. know something about
sleigh bells. and among the things |
| known rs that there IS more melody in q
cast bell than can be got out of any Of
the new forms which are made of sheet
metal by machinery The old fashioned
full toned and melodious sleigh bell was
a puzzle TO me in my youth. IL used to
worry me TO find ont how the little iron
button was ever forced through the
holes in the bell One day my old daddy
took me to a foundry and showed me
how the bells were made
"The metal was composed Of three
quarters copper and one-quarter tin,
with sometimes a small quantity Of iron
! in &C. The mystery of the iron ball in
side Of the bell was easily explained. A
J clay ball was made with the cast iron
slug or button inside of it. This clay
ball or core was thoroughly dried and
placed in the mould, supported in the
centre-by wire running through it.
After the balls were cast the core was
broken up and shaken out, leaving the
iron ball inside. They made bells as
big as my fist then, and they had deer
and harmonious notes The bells were
polished in tumbling barrel, and then
drilled for rivets or tapped for q broad
fat headed screw, with which they were
fastened to the strap. A dollar pound
was not a high price for sleigh bell.
then, and string would weigh from
Eve TO eight pounds with the big bell,
in the middle of the strap and the Other
sizes tapering down toward each end
Such strings can still be seen and heard
in the rural districts, for a sleigh bel
never wears out Happy was The bo,
who could get one or two Of these belll
for his sled I'm those days"
"What is the difference you observe II
sleigh bells nowg asked the younge
man.
1T is great string nf 'a~cv nickel
plated bells, all pitched ALIKE aud riyete
to an ornamental strap, cannot compar
with the old FORM Some ingeniou
Yankee hit upon the plan of punching
round bell up from a piece Of shee
metal cut in the form of cross. Thei
another man made peculiar machin
for spinning a disk of brass into hollow
ball, and since then several other form
have been created, to say nothing of tn
saddle gongs and shaft bells, with insid
or outside clappers There are som
cast bells made still and polished an,
nickeled, but the strings are composed o
bells all of one size, and they dom seen
TO know how 20 put the music In them
Give me back the old cast bell again 70
music, thrill aud harmony"