[Bell Historians] Ellacombe or not?

[John Norris]

On Fri 21 May, Carl S Zimmerman wrote:
> 
> In private correspondence with Mike Chester about chiming mechanisms, 
> I raised a question about use of the term "Ellacombe". I've often 
> used it as a loose equivalent for any sort of taut-rope clavier. He 
> uses whatever term has been reported to him by his sources, which is 
> quite reasonable.
> 
> But shouldn't that term really be reserved for what H.T.Ellacombe 
> actually designed--a quick-release rack for use with chiming hammers 
> mounted below ringing bells? And if so, what should it actually be 
> called? Possible candidates:
> Ellacombe apparatus
> Ellacombe stand [analogous to chimestand]
> Ellacombe rack
> something else?
> 
> If the term should be restricted to Ellacombe's invention, then what 
> terminology should be used for other taut-rope (non-keyboard) playing 
> mechanisms? Such mechanisms are still in use with Harrington tubular 
> chimes in England and Canada, as well as Hooper conventional chimes 
> in Massachusetts.
> 
> Ideas, please?
> 
> Carl
> 
> 

At Hurstpierpoint we call our chiming apparatus just that - the 'chiming
apparatus'.

(As it has a label stating it was made by Warner it would hardly be
appropriate to call it Ellacombe, quite apart from the design being
slightly different)

John Norris