[Bell Historians] Re: Clapper failure information request

[Richard Offen]

> Obviously, the above system relies on the bells being hung in an H 
frame. If 
> they were in a lowside frame some sort of bridge over the pit would 
> presumably be necessary. All of the clapper turners which I've seen 
have 
> been on H frames.
> 
> I'm ringing at Leeds tomorrow afternoon, but I think the bells will 
be up so 
> I won't be able to inspect the clapper turner more closely - it's 
very tight 
> for space in the bell chamber. Anyway, we have several members of the 
Leeds 
> band on this list so perhaps they could provide further details?
> 
> David
>

All Saints', Maidstone are hung in an 'A' frame, but incredibly high in 
the tower.   The original clapper turner (designed and installed by the 
late Tom Cullingworth) consisted of a timber frame, hinged on a roof 
beam.   At the lower end was a loop of rope which, when the apparatus 
was pulled from the ringing room below, engaged on the flight of the 
clapper and flipped it across.   A counter weight then returned the 
frame to its original position out of the path of the clapper.

Tom always insisted that someone take the weight of the bell on the 
rope to save shock loading on the stay.

It's a very long time since I've been upstairs at All Saints and this 
system may well have been superseded.

I must admit I've always been nervous of these clapper turners.   
Flipping a clapper over so that is crashes down on the bell is a bit 
too much like the dangerous habit of clocking in my book!