An Unusual Method of Tuning

[Richard Offen]

Over the past couple of years I have often stood at the bus stop 
opposite Perth (WA) Town Hall and winced as the clock sounded the 
quarters on a pair of miserable sounding little bells.   I had always 
assumed that these two bells sounded so horrible because they were 
cast by Robert Stainbank in 1868 – not exactly Whitechapel's greatest 
period, especially for small bells (the hour bell isn't too bad)!

Last Wednesday, Chris Pickford and I were given the opportunity to 
inspect the Town Hall clock and bells and I discovered that I 
couldn't actually blame Robert Stainbank for the strange tone of the 
two quarter bells.   

We were surprised to discover that there are large lumps out of the 
soundbows of both the quarter bells, apparently removed (the edge on 
the second bell having been filed smooth) in an attempt to tune them 
rather than caused by accidental damage.   No wonder the bells have 
an incredibly `wobbly' tone when struck!

I have put a photograph of the second quarter bell on the photos 
section of this list to illustrate this odd method of tuning.

Has anyone come across this unconventional way of tuning anywhere 
before?   

Richard