clappers

[the_mcwomble]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "jim phillips" <jim at p...> 
> There is one material which
> has, as far as I know, never broken when used as a clapper shaft and 
that is
> wood. Wood is capable of absorbing the shock produced in the shaft 
when the
> clapper ball hits the bell. It is high time some serious research 
went into
> clapper design

Perhaps a Wrought Iron ball on a wooden shaft is the key.
Wrought Iron for the glorious tone and wood to absorb the impact - 
sort of a lollipop I guess.

McW {8D