[Bell Historians] Comical Reporting

[Richard Offen]

> I think that some bellhangers get away with poor workmanship 
because the  
> recipents of their are either too polite or ignorant to say 
anything at the  time 
> , and I have noticed a reluctance on the part of some ringers to 
get the  
> hanger back and sort out the problems they have left . [ In a  
project I was 
> heavily involved in the bellhanger didn't want any of the  locals 
involved in the 
> 'try-out' , and the T/C at the time was happy with that  . However 
after 
> politely pointing out that we were paying for the job I  insisted 
that the locals 
> were present . After all if one is buying a car  would you let the 
owner test 
> drive it him/herself ? As it turned out the  bellhanger did an 
excellent job ] 
> . Word of mouth does get around and if I  were having a job done 
there are 
> some firms that I wouldn't touch with a  bargepole . Not wishing of 
course to 
> find myself sued for libel I decline to  name any firm .
>  
>  
>  
> Jim

A few years ago, I well remember a member of this list telling me 
that he rang in the dedication touch of a ring which had just been 
rehung with new fittings and frame.   

He said the bell he rang had some very obvious defects.   A quiet 
word with the Tower Captain provoked the response, "Well it always 
used to go like the side of a house."

What else can you do?

I have always find it amazing that people who will quite happily take 
their new car back a dozen times to get various squeaks and niggles 
sorted out are quite happy to put up with whatever a bellhanger 
leaves them with.   They will also take their new car back for 
regular servicing ...no thought of doing the same with their bell 
installation!

In my experience, most bellhangers try and do the best job they can, 
but they are not psychic and if they're not told about a problem it's 
rather hard for them to fix!

Ignorance is bliss!

Richard