[Bell Historians] Re: Diameters (was Dogmersfield)

[Andrew Higson]

And there I was thinking you used a rubber tape measure!

 

Andrew Higson

Taylors Eayre and Smith Ltd

The Bellfoundry

Freehold Street

Loughborough

LE11 1AR

Telephone: 01509 212241 Fax: 01509 263305 Registered in England No.
1352309

________________________________

From: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Dawson
Sent: 07 August 2008 16:37
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Bell Historians] Re: Diameters (was Dogmersfield)

 

-sorry about that last one.

It used to be a cause of great ribbing between the late Christopher
Dalton & myself that we got differing diameters, he said I did not move
the clapper out of the way enough, but then he used a wooden (folding)
measure, whilst I used a steel tape. Ran Clouston even had a special
narrow steel tape for measuring shoulder circumferences. Perhaps we out
to have a national standard on these things (perhaps the CBC could
organise a seminar, and whilst we are at it how to do a rubbing
properly).

>From sunny Germany.

George





	========================================
	Message Received: Aug 07 2008, 02:45 PM
	From: "Chris Pickford" 
	To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
	Cc: 
	Subject: [Bell Historians] Re: Diameters (was Dogmersfield)

	We've been here before, I think, but no two people -
bellfounders or what the Victorians used to term "Bell hunters" - will
measure diameters exactly the same. Even people who are careful and
measuring in idea circumstances may vary by up to 1/8" and sometimes
more. 

	 

	While some bells are elliptical, that's not really a major
reason for variations in quoted diameters. It's much more about human
error, access, degree of care and (let's not forget it) the accuracy of
measuring equipment - minor damage to the end of a steel tape can easily
lead to an error of 1/16" or more.

	 

	Anyway, all I'm really saying is that while accurate measurement
is clearly desirable, there's a practical limit - and it's not worth
getting het up about differences of 1/8" or 1/16" 

	 

	CP

 

           
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ringingworld.co.uk/pipermail/bell-historians/attachments/20080807/0774ba2a/attachment.html>