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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> When I was at College, a sconce
was a silver tankard holding about a quart. If one committed a breach of
etiquette at dinner, such as talking about women or religion, one was "sconced"
and was challenged to drink the contents in one draught. The insurance
company insisted it be kept in the safe at all times, so it is not a practice of
today!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I would suggest that the ringers
might have been given a tankard.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Christopher Sykes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ptrotman@CmQr3bXA7bhFfd5IY8faI4nV-LKKA0Hl0ecsXrSSOs0Wlc0tdL1gWduZnSPv_TbodlDHXEeWvOKWg7Sjg-7i9iWPBSk.yahoo.invalid href="mailto:ptrotman@V_6P1IHUzgbehhHLTGP5PkBqQf2-mQ5g5I9-2Yjej7LAtpSFTxwfoXiieOSmJoE_BmoXrx7tGfkfibLf.yahoo.invalid">Peter Trotman</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, April 25, 2009 2:23
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Bell Historians] Re: Enquiry
about 'a new sconce"</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P>PS: I've already mentioned to the enquirer the use of rope
spiders.<BR><BR>On 4/25/09, Peter Trotman <<A
href="mailto:webmaster@tdzuTP3p65lGqn6ZYE6_aWvYM6i9EPuWG4blVV8YvF-i8HV-Mv29RZjAh52SyqPiOGcGmh7e38DgMVM2sQ.yahoo.invalid">webmaster@cccbr.<WBR>org.uk</A>>
wrote:<BR>> I would be grateful for any information with which to respond
to the<BR>> email below. I'm familiar with the use of light bulbs under
vertical<BR>> pipes as heaters to dry tail ends but have never known the
term sconce<BR>> applied to them.<BR>><BR>> Peter
Trotman<BR>><BR>>
============<WBR>=========<WBR>=========<WBR>=========<WBR>=========<WBR>=========<WBR>=<BR>>
OLGA SHOTTON<BR>> <<A
href="mailto:olgahome%40btinternet.com">olgahome@btinternet<WBR>.com</A>><BR>>
Dear Sir<BR>> An English folksong celebrates the gift of 'a new sconce' to
the<BR>> ringers of Chew.<BR>> The folk group who wish to add this song
to their repertoire would<BR>> like to know the meaning of 'sconce'. It is
said to 'rise and to fall'<BR>> so hardly likely to be the usual meaning of
a light with a shiny<BR>> backing.<BR>> It has been suggested that it
was a method of keeping bell-ropes soft<BR>> and supple by hanging the ends
in a circular container with some form<BR>> of gentle heating (ie an oil
lamp, or a lit electric lamp bulb.)<BR>> I would be most grateful for any
information that your Society can supply.<BR>> Yours sincerly<BR>> Olga
Shotton<BR>><BR></P></DIV><!--End group email --></BODY></HTML>