[Bell Historians] Light rings (was 4-cwt eights)

[Richard Offen]

--- In bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com, David Bryant <david at b...> 
wrote:
> 
> > Presumably to slow them down a bit. 
> > 
> > Is this why, in quite a number of Taylor's larger rings, it is 
hard 
> > work to strike the little bells over the large ones (and for the 
> > tenors to have to pull off in front of the trebles in order to 
strike 
> > over them). Compared to Leighton Buzzard, for instance, the 
trebles 
> > at Canterbury are a doddle to ring and strike properly (I've rung 
> > peals on the treble at both)!
> 
> But does it slow them down? York Minster trebles were hung right 
out with flange tops, and David Potter had them cut off to slow the 
bells down. I find the trebles at Leeds, which are hung out with 
large timber blocks between bell and headstock, rather too fast.
> 
> David

If I remember correctly (and it's now a VERY long time since I've 
done any serious engineering - or bell hanging come to that!), 
hanging bells out speeds them up until an optimum point is reached, 
after that they slow down - longer pedulum = slower swing, etc. I 
think I'm right in saying that quite a number of mini-rings have the 
bells hung right out (looking at the pictures on Matthew Higby's web 
site confirms this) for this very reason.

R

R