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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As David B says, there is technically nothing to
stop them being rung up provided they are roped properly; unless, of course, as
at Oxford, there are obstructions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> There's probably a world of difference
between fairly average sized bells with 'balanced' headstocks and really
large ones. I've many times swung 'Great George' of Bristol (9 1/2t) on both the
old and the new fittings. Of course the rope is impossible, because of the angle
at which it comes off the wheel and then goes through a right angle bend at the
wall; but even without the rope and with two ringers heaving on the wheel -
and it is in a concrete frame, so no movement there - it will only go about
2/3 of the way at best - striking right side as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The large 1949 G&J bell (22-0-0) with
balanced fittings at St Nicholas, Leicester, goes up "right side" and "all
the way" without difficulty. Last year whilst in St Helier I rang the Town
Church bell (9 cwt, balanced fittings 1959, Whitechapel) it was up in three or
four whole pulls, right side. And of course the Veronese system is a
variation on the theme.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To return to the Oxford bell: Richard said
something about Fred ringing it before it was rehung. Old age is creeping up on
Richard as sure as it has on me. We were both (well, I was) at a lecture
given by Fred in Tenterden when the great man showed "before" and "after" prints
of Great Tom; and it was in a pretty derelict condition. What Fred said was that
everyone wanted the bell rehung in time for the Coronation, except the then
Christ Church Bursar, who would of course be paying the cheque. He relented on
one condition, "That when Great Tom is rehung, Sharpe will be the first one
to ring the bell, and when Tom Tower collapses, the villain will perish with
it!" </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>DLC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davidhird_uk@ZS3cmrF07TFMsIsNFp4rgQglja7uD2RahnhcP5kjjOK6X2EUCC3MuSBKMokRaa6uImBv7_7KhweWH-2fCytb9CLDLJvt3pZa1g.yahoo.invalid
href="mailto:davidhird_uk@bQIG797jgy5xWGZ9-vFCFoLvvQTKdN65AlUQuyrjyM7vRhlYiRSK295MQ0jsAhlHQoFUhljlCEY6JN3kbjMAnQ.yahoo.invalid">davidhird_uk</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com">bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 09, 2007 9:54
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bell Historians]
Oxford</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P>--- In <A
href="mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com">bellhistorians@<WBR>yahoogroups.<WBR>com</A>,
"David Bryant" <BR><David.Bryant@<WBR>...> wrote:<BR>><BR>> "I
think you'll find that happened before it was rehung on its <BR>present
<BR>> iron headstock."<BR>> <BR>> Techincally, there is nothing to
stop a slow-swinging bell being rung<BR>> full circle, provided there's
nothing in the way and the rope is long<BR>> enough. They handle strangely
because of being tucked up and the<BR>> position of the garter hole, and
clapper unevenly at the top, but <BR>they<BR>> will go up.<BR>> <BR>>
David<BR>><BR><BR>How high have you had Gt
Peter?<BR><BR>David<BR><BR></P></DIV><!--End group email --></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>