[Bell Historians] Steel bells

[Carl S Zimmerman]

On the bells I've seen which appear to retain their original clapper 
spring pads (or at least fragments thereof), the pads generally 
appear to have been made of rubber reinforced with multiple layers of 
coarse fabric. They are bent to fit the shape of the spring end and 
are held in place with two rivets. The springs encounter the clapper 
shank a few inches above the ball, and the pads wear down between the 
rivets.

If your enquirer wishes to make replacement pads, any hard rubber or 
leather material will do the job. The thickness of the pads should 
be based on the spacing between clapper and spring - if they are too 
thin, the springs may be ineffective. (They may be ineffective 
anyway, if they are cracked at the top, or have become bent over the 
course of a century's use. If so, they will need repair.)

The fact that the bell is steel is irrelevant - clapper springs were 
supplied on both bronze and steel bells, in varying styles according 
to the foundry. Some springs were supplied without pads, and forget 
the noise and wear!

_____
At 17:33 +0100 2005/04/15, George Dawson wrote:
>Perhaps someone can help me with an American enquiry I've just received.
>
>The steel bell in question has clapper springs to lift the clapper off the
>bell after striking. At the end where the clapper shaft hits the spring
>there was some protective material so that its not metal hitting metal (just
>as handbell springs have felt). Does anyone know what was originally used?
>
>All the ones I've seem had nothing.
>
>Thanks.
>George
_____

-- 
Carl Scott Zimmerman, Campanologist
Avocation: tower bells: http://www.gcna.org/ (Co-Webmaster)
Recreation: handbells: http://gatewayringers.homestead.com/
Mission: church bells: http://www.TowerBells.org/ (Webmaster)
Voicemail: +1-314-821-8437 (home) E-mail: csz_stl at ...
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - - 19th c. home of at least 33 bell
. . . . . . . . . . . . . foundries or resellers