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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rod's remarks about that good old M&S eight at
Axminster pre-restoration are very much to the point and in my opinion most
appropriate. It is a pity therefore to read of his recent disappointment. Rings
like Axminster was deserve to be cherished. It was always a pleasure
to go there and enjoy what Rod describes and then go to the marvellous
heavy six (JT 1925) at Axbridge.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also concur with his remarks about
the pre-restoration ring at King's Lynn. I rang there regularly in
1964-5 including a couple of peals, and found them tough going after a
while. They all had Mears single race ball bearings of 1953, but the
majority of the fittings were Mears 1887, with a frame partly of that date
and partly of 1766. This frame remains in the tower, the new frame beneath
it.</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2> At the time of the recent restoration it
was suggested that the two 1887 trebles might be recast, being vastly
inferior to the other bells (including the 8th of 1893). Taylors' recent
tuning has made them far more acceptable, and the money was better spent on
recasting and enlarging the uncharacteristically horrible Dobson 9th. The
L&P tenor is a superb bell even at only 28-1-4 in C# ; this untuned
bell retains its canons, which may account for some people finding it
slow turning or "ringing its weight". </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>If the natural speed of the bells is respected they can be appreciated as
a fine ten and a good job in every respect, notwithstanding the recent,
well-aired and now resolved problems, which were not of the Foundry's
making. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As I say, the bells were previously on Mears 1953
single race bearings. It used to be a "stock phrase" of Taylors that "these are
of a shafting type which we do not consider at all suitable for church bells."
In fact between about 1925 and the 1970's (when they went over to the
off-the-peg double-row housings) Mears & Stainbank fitted thousands of these
units. The substantial housings are beautifully
engineered and I would hazard a guess that a sizeable number
continue to give good service to-day. The main danger, as Rod says, is
dirt, which may enter through over-greasing and bursting the seals;
another danger is of course lack of use, which may cause spotting of the
ball races. These are equally enemies of double-race bearings.
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>DLC</FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>