[Bell Historians] Big bells in Oz

[Chris Pickford]

Can certainly confirm the existence of these bells - having heard them when 
in Sydney in the past. Still in regular use when I was last there (2001) - 
old style tuning, but quite impressive. The Post Office stands on one side 
of a fairly large square and the bells sound well in the open space nearby.

There are details - and pictures - of the bells in John Keating's "Bells in 
Australia" (1979) where it says the clock was supplied by Joyce of 
Whitchurch. The hour bell is the second largest in Australia (after the bass 
bell of the Canberra carillon). The tower, clock and bells were apparently 
taken down as a war precaution in 1942 and not rebuilt until 1964.  I have 
details of the weights of the bells (from Taylors) at home

CP

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Bagley" <david at PSl2oNNd1V7OxKxQCNGUKRFIjf4Jzfjhu2eYyE7GCrsj4J2VIIFXejHYNPyXEslZwuzuA1sZJpNQDmMh9JOG4g.yahoo.invalid>
To: <bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 2:53 AM
Subject: [Bell Historians] Big bells in Oz


> Stumbled over this today at :-
> http://warrenfahey.com/Sydney-Folklore/SECTION-14/sfp-section-14-observation
>
> Can anybody add to the details?
>
> David.
>
>
>
> SYDNEY POST OFFICE CLOCK.
> May 4 1891
>
> Cast in England in 1890 "the castings have come out remarkably successful,
> possessing very rich tone, especially the 5-ton tenor bell. Its fine, full
> resonance being greatly admired. Canon Cattley (Worchester Cathedral who
> blessed it) expressed high approval. He said they are certainly the best
> bells ever sent out of England. The first quarter bell is 2ft 9in in
> diameter, the note C sharp, and weight 81/2 cwt.; the second, 3ft in
> diameter, B 111/4cwt; the third, 3ft 4 in diameter, A 143/4 cwt., the
> fourth, 4ft 4in in diameter, E 30cwt, and the tenor bell, 6ft 6in in
> diameter, A weighing 5 tons. Each bell has the imperial crown and monogram
> VIR with the words 'General Post Office, Sydney 1890.
>
> The following lines from Tennyson's 'In Memoriam' are inscribed on the
> bells, one line on each, commencing with the largest.
> Ring out the false, ring in the true
> Ring out the feud of rich and poor
> Ring in redress to all mankind
> Ring out false pride in place and blood
> Ring in the common love of good
>
> Cast by John Taylor of Loughborough designs by lord Grimthorpe.
> The initials of Henry Parkes also appear H P
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>