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<font size="+1"><font face="Arial">I do not recall seeing straps on
the floor but they were very common on boxes. They fell out of
use some 40 or so years ago, were gradually removed and have all
but disappeared altogether now</font></font>.<br>
<big>There is a reason for their disappearance.<br>
<br>
Contrary to popular belief their function was not to assist in
pulling harder. <br>
I can remember trying one and found that it was of no help at all,
in fact the opposite!<br>
When shoes had leather soles and heals, sometimes with metal
studs, they could be very slippery on wood and the toe strap
helped you stay in one place when pulling.<br>
I can remember getting up on a box in a new pair of leather shoes
some years ago and shooting off the front of the box the first
time I had to cut the bell in at backstroke!<br>
<br>
After that I took more care of what I was wearing on my feet for
ringing, although one very hot summers day down at St Buryan for
their 6 bell contest I tried to ring the 36 cwt Tenor barefoot on
its plain wooden topped box. As my feet along with the rest of me
broke into a sweat the box turned into a skating rink and
backstrokes became lethal and futile! I think the box was carpeted
after that!<br>
<br>
With the advent of rubber heals and man-made material soles we
gained more friction and the straps became redundant.<br>
<br>
A bit of social history and nothing to do with ringing technique.<br>
<br>
Andrew<br>
<br>
</big><br>
Laura Dickerson wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4FAA768C.2000201@LDLGipxGYV8Orrk0TDLiy5wa8I-dH6DUi8x5aOciqUmw5u9KrbfQ9mp6UaeZavYSROciAK99D3dJraOGVbgmtjQ.yahoo.invalid" type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> See the top illustration in this facsimile article (originally from
1895):
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.digitalhistoryproject.com/2011/08/restoration-of-christ-church-bells.html">http://www.digitalhistoryproject.com/2011/08/restoration-of-christ-church-bells.html</a>
How common were the toe straps one can see on the floor? I guess the
related question is how common was overpulling :-)
Thanks for any information.
Laura Dickerson
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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