The Sunday globe., 1901-05-12
MERRY BELLS.
How they are Made Now and in Ye
0lden Times.
PURITY OF TONE OBTAINED.
The American improvement in Hanging The
Antiquity Of Bells, and Tho Largest
one In tho World In Mos
COW, Russia.

An incident, trivial I'm its nature, Int
one that is not seen every day. occurred
ON the Avenue recently, and put the
writer in the way of obtaining an inter.
esting interview. A circus vehicle
passed along the street on which was
mounted several large bells, the loud
of which attracted
much attention. "Well made bells,
remarked a bystander, turning to the
writer.
"Yes, as far as my knowledge of such
articles extends" was the reply, Do
you know anything about bells and
their manufacturer "
Well, / ought to know something
about such matters, as | was connected
with one of the largest bell foundries in
the country for many years"
Can you tell when the introduction
of bells dates from ?N
No, sir; nor can anyone. Anti
quarians have bothered their brains for
years about the antiquity of bells, but
to no purp Sc Their explorations
among the mists Of obscurity have
thrown no light upon the matter, and
we must, therefore, accept the fact that
bells have existed since time imme-
mortal The history of bells is not
without romantic interest, and has
been productive Of much literature
"What country are they supposed to
have first been produced iu?" asked the
writer.
Nothing very clear is known on
that point. Bells of gold are mentioned
in Exodus XVIII. They were first
used by the Romans to summon people
to the public baths, and by degrees
passed into use for religious purposes.
Their use was known in Oriental coun-
tries long before in Europe. In fact,
believe it was not until the seventh
century that they were introduced into
England. Several very ancient bells
are in existence in Ireland. On one at
Belfast appears the date 1901, and is
ornamented with gold and silver fila
gree work aud the most expensive of
gems. As they have for ages been used
to summon soldiers to arms and citizens
to assemblages, bells have played an
important part in historical events, and
many black and bloody chapter in
the worlds history has been rung in
and out 10y them. In days of old,
when knights were bold, the bells of
a conquered people were always seized
by the conquering forces and melted
down for military purposes. On the
other hand, it was a custom when a
revolt of the people occurred to capture
the cannon of the soldiery and melt
them to supply bells for the uses of the
town. The chief bell of q church was
considered the property of the citizens.
The influence of bells upon architecture
is worth remembering, as owing to
their existence and uses we have all the
towers and steeples which serve to
break the mOnotony of space the world
over.
"The bells Of ancient make, how do
they compare with those made now-a-
days in woTkmans ship, etc.,
Some of the most ancient bells now
eXtant are made Of thin plates of iron
rivited together There is a great art in
bell founding, as the quality of bell
depends not only upon the casting and
fineness and mixture Of the metals, but
upon the exact proportions of the COM
posite parts Of the bell. An expert can
readily see, upon examining the ancient
specimens, that the early bell founders
did not understand thoroughly the
mixing of metals and proportions,
which constitute bell perfect in tone.
l believe il is generally conceded by bell
founders that perfection in the art was
pretty nearly arrived at in the sixteenth
century. After innumerable trials an |
experiences extending over centuries
the bell Of that period may lie generally
considered as finished types Of success
full bell founding"
what is bell metal composed Of : +"
" 1t is mixture of copper and tin, in
proportions of about four to one Steel
has also been used; in some cases with
success, the tone being almost equal to
the best bell metal Experiments have
been made with glass, aud while the
be Is made of this material were fine
sounding, their utility was retarded by
their extreme liability to crack
" Describe the operation Of bell found
ingyn ~ 49,,
ing, and I'll detail It as near as posi-
BILE. A clay bell is made first. This is
the mod for the casting of the bell
proper. A kind of wooden compass,
called a crook, the legs Of which are re.
spectively curved to the shape of the
inside and outside of the bell is pivoted
ON a stake After brickwork Is built
round thi. structure, a fire is lighted in.
side. The outside is covered with
layers Of soft clay and hair mixed.
I his is called the cLre. The core is
covered well with grease, and the false
clay bell, the outlines of which are de-
fined by the legs OF the compass, is
finished. After being covered with an
other layer Of clay the baking process
goes on and after the requisite degree
of hardness Is obtained, the mold is
ready for the metal. BY the way, small
bells are made in Italy of baked earth.
They are made by a method known
only to the people of certain section
of that country, and have a remarkably
sweet tone"
What are they used for2 ,"
" Oh, they are simply toy bells. In
this country lead aud zinc are used i'm
the metal for the smaller kind of b lis.
But to return to founding. The time
for cooling of takes several days or
weeks, according to the size of the
bell. ."
" Is there any operation of finishing,
rs with other castings Yn
Not as a rule, Ifproperly east, the
bell should quire no touching up, but
should be left in its maiden state, as it
Is termed. Now, perfect bell, " hen
struck, gives out one note, and any per
son with a knowledge Of music can dis
Linguish what it is. Wh.n the con
'onant, as 1t is calle is distinctly heard
hen the bell is true. This Keynote
may be altered by cutting the inner
i'm, or by filing the inside Of the bel
ust above the rim. Then attention
must be paid to the hammer; If too
leavy, a crack in the bell will follow: if
irawn out.
What kind of bells are you speak
ng Of nowl"