Tune or re-cast?

[Mike Chester <mike@m...>]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, Izabelle Thompson 
<i.a.thompson at d...> wrote:
> We are currently thinking about restoring the bells at Brancepeth 
and 
> are undecided as to what to do. After the fire, 3 need recasting, 
and 
> the remaining 5 have been shot-blasted and 2 of these have 
been 'tonally 
> dulled'. They are a Taylor's eight of 1889 and, according to local 
> ringers, never sounded very nice. 

I would go along with that - I rang my first peal of surprise on 
these bells! They were not awful, just not nice. Why not visit a ring 
that has had similar treatment on it?

Perhaps you may wish to consider the strength of the tower. Would a 
ring of the same weight be OK in the tower following the fire? Would 
a brand new, lighter, ring be a better prospect? Mainly, for God's 
sake don't have the rope of the 4th going through the tread of one of 
the treads on the stairs to the belfry!

Good luck. I've fond memories of ringing at Brancepeth.

Mike