The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-02-04
The CAST OF A BELL.
Interesting Process Which Few FouI.-
ders Have Been Able to Master.

EOu.--
ders Have Been Able to Master.
The operation OF casting bell is q
most interesting one. The flask where
on and wherein the mold is made con-
sists Of two parts, constructed OF boiler
Iron. OF n general bell form. and plenti-
fully perforated with holes for cscap-
Ing gas while casting. one being so
much less i'm size than its fellow as TO
give space for the loan forming the
mold between the two. No pattern"
as the term is generally used. is pro-
Vlded. The two parts OF the mold are
swept by formers" accurately fin
ished from thin iron TO the form intend
ed for the inner and outer surfaces of
the bell. These formers" are mount
ed and rotated over the applied loan.
Five courses of loan and clay are sue
ceSsively applied, Swept" and baked.
to complete each mold Before this
work is done. however. the inner flask
Is wound near the top with a rope made
of hay. As the shrinkage is very great
as the castings cool difficulty would
be met with in getting the flask and
loan out of the nearly parallel inside
top; this pinch" is obviated by using
this destructible base. which permits
the collapse of the loan after the heat
OF the metal has consumed the hay.
The five courses laid on the TASKS
are: Loan, mixture of loan. fire clay
ana manure; two successive contings
1f powdered fire clay. and. lastly. n thin
coating of brick and fire clay combined
with foundry facing Each If these
coatingS is baked I'm an oven before
the succeeding one Is applied. The
coatings are swept" by the formers.
as applied, both in the inner and outer
TASKS. by careful adjustments as to
thickness of materials, so that when
the exterior mold is placed over the in
terror space corresponding to the
intended thickness and shape Of the
bel shall exist. Inscriptions of ON
refreshments 10 be made upon the bell
are provided for with the last coating
by means Of "knurl'' or wheel. having
the desired motto raised upon It's peri
ph"ry, the wheel being carefully rolled
around the soft surface and leaving it's
imprint i'm the clay. other designs are
impressed from dies of the required or.
nament. and the usual "haading'' is nc.
complished by notches in the edge of
the sweep.
In" two parts of the flask being plac.
ed together are firmly help in position
ny many clamps, the tendency of hot
bell metal TO squeeze through and force
separation of TASKS being very great.
As the mold ncars completion n fire is
started In nearby reverberatory fur
mace. In which is placed the desired
charge of copper, and when the copper
Is melted the tin is added i'm its propor-
ton. The melted metal being ready.
the furnace is tapped. the bright stream
caught in a huge ladlc swung over the
mold 10y crane and poured into the
open mouth of the mold until ii is filled.
After cooling and removal from the
mold the bell is usually polished with
sand and water in special revolving
grinding machines. The tongue and
clappcr, the yoke and wheel are now
attached and the whole suspended I'm
its frame. In making chime the bells
are. after completion, temporarily set
up and regularly tested by skilled bell
ringers, from the permanent Ginning
stand of the foundry.
y bell of such proportions as the large
one proposed for Milwaukee's city hall
has to be nodded and cast in a pit
Milwaukee Wisconsin.