[Bell Historians] keyed ironwork

[Neil Skelton]

Thought it about time I made my debut in these columns!

The date of the bell might be an important factor in that the fittings, or
some of them, could be coeval with the bell. Generally, I would expect
wedges (or keys) that have survived, to date from the late 16th to the mid
17th centuries but examples were known to exist as early as the first
quarter of the 15th century. However, someone is now bound to come up with
an earlier example! Nailed sheres are generally earlier though these were
used until about the mid 17th century - maybe later in the more rural areas.

On another matter..
In some ways I am glad that creosote is to be phased out later this year. In
the meantime, I would suggest it is confined to the garden fence and
certainly not bellframes. Whilst it might kill off DWB it tends to kill off
everything else, including the natural properties of timber which then dries
out and becomes brittle.

Neil Skelton.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Bryant" <david at b...>
To: "Bell Historians" <bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 3:13 PM
Subject: [Bell Historians] keyed ironwork


> This morning I helped to remove a headstock from a cracked and disused
bell
> which is going to be welded and returned to use. The ironwork on the
> headstock was secured by wedges, and the headstock had drive-in gudgeons
and
> stock hoops. Anyone hazard a guess as to how old it is likely to be?
>
> David
>
>
>
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