[Bell Historians] heaviest three

[David Bryant]

> Clearly shows two bells on cast iron arched headstocks - the larger bell
> being fitted with a stay and slider. It states that the picture shows the
largest
> of three bells supplied to Newport, Rhode Island. It does not say if all
three
> bells were hung in the same way - if they were, and still are - these must
be
> taken as the heaviest three, slow swinging or not.

So what is the difference between a ringing bell and a slow swinger. A
ringing bell can have no stay and still be a ringing bell, but can a slow
swinger have a stay and still be a slow swinger. Where is the dividing line?
The conclusion I've come to is that it is entirely arbitrary!

David