[Bell Historians] Warners and Harmonic Tuning

[Richard Offen]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, "David Cawley" <dcawley at w...> 
wrote:
> You ought to have heard the eight at Mangotsfield (aka 
Maggotsfield), Glos. Cast and tuned by JW & Sons Ltd in 1921. 
Iremember the first time I heard them; I think it was the last peal 
on those bells - the striking was fine, but the most dreadful racket 
was being made. Yet they supported a very good band of ringers under 
John Jefferies and his family right up almost to the end.
> 
> I was given the task of helping to look after the parish in 1992/3, 
by which time the back three had become unringable; it was very 
necessary to get something going on which the people could become 
focussed. The bells project was the outcome, and an excellent new 
ring was cast by Taylors. I remember being present when the tenor was 
being persuaded (with difficulty) to part company with its latter 
existence. Apparently JW & Sons Ltd had vast quantities of shell-
cases left over after the Great War; I am not sure what they were 
made of, but wouldn't be surprised if some of them found their way 
into Mangotsfield's old bells.
> 
> They were supposed to be tuned "on the harmonic principles 
advocated by Canon Simpson". That did not happen, and if anyone is 
interested in the pitches, I will post them up.
> 
> RCO asks about Christ Church, Erith. I rang there last year and 
enjoyed them, but I am informed that this is not a universal 
sentiment.
> 
> DLC

The pitches for Mangotsfield would be very interesting to see. 
Thanks David.

I'll try and go to Erith with my minidisc recorder next time I'm in 
Kent, then we can find out what they're really like! 

R