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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Not having rung on them, I can't say for d=
efinite=20
that they are grotty, but my experience of 1860s bells by Mears (and indeed=
by=20
most founders) is that they sound foul.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Of course it is difficult to define grotty=
- most=20
but not all true harmonic bells are good, and some old-style bells are also=
=20
good, but fundamentally I think that 'grotty' is when they sound nasty=
,=20
which, it is probably fair to say, the majority of mid-Victorian rings do. =
Of=20
course there are exceptions, but offhand I can't think of any 1860s rings f=
amed=20
for their fine tone....</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>David</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>