[Bell Historians] Re: Charlton Adam, Somerset

[Bickerton, Roderic K (SELEX) (UK)]

Indeed! Getting back to Charlton Adam, how much is being re-used and how 
much is being replaced, like for like? I still don't understand how patching 
up existing fittings is more expensive than having new fittings.
Nick


Simple, modern fittings are mass produced off the shelf items.
Recovery of old fittings requires expensive labour to hand make or  machine parts.

If an old gudgeon has 2mm ovality it cant be turned down because of strength so has to be remade. If the baring block is warn it needs boring over size and a bigger gudgeon fitted by either sleeving the old one or re making.

A ball race is self aligning. Plane bearings need lapping in if the bell is not to go badly for 10 years whilst the baring "runs in"

A set of modern bearings will cost £30 or so each, re engineering aligning and fitting plane bearings could easily cost £500 each.

Frames are similar.
Steelwork is cut up on an NC machine and goes together like a big meachano set.
 
Every joint in a timber frame has to be hand fitted, when replacing parts in an old frame.
The cost of designing and drawing up a bracket to recover a rotted joint will cost more than a new steel frame side before anything is made.
Rod

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