[Bell Historians] House or servants bells

[Alan Buswell]

>From a letter heading dated May 1885 John Rowlatt (late Buswell) - Furnishing and General Ironmonger, bell-hanger, gas fitter etc. of Wellingborough Northants.
This may indicate that the making of sevant bells was a cottage industry.
AAJB.
----- Original Message ----- 
  From: aswarby 
  To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 7:05 PM
  Subject: [Bell Historians] House or servants bells





  Is the following extract from page 300 of Lincolnshire Bells and Bellfounders of any assistance?

  The various Trades Directories for the nineteenth century includes a considerable number of tradesmen who are listed as bellhangers under the general heading of Whitesmith, Locksmiths and Bellhangers. It seems very unlikely that these tradesmen did, in fact, hang tower bells and were responsible for installing and maintaining house bells, which, before the introduction of electrically powered bell systems, were installed in many private houses. This seems to be confirmed by White's 1882 Directory in which `Bellhangers' and `Church Bell Hangers are listed separately. 

  I suggest that most house bells were cast by the local brass founder.



             
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