[Bell Historians] Re: Enquiry about 'a new sconce"

[cjgbells]

    When I was at College, a sconce was a silver tankard holding about a quart.  If one committed a breach of etiquette at dinner, such as talking about women or religion, one was "sconced" and was challenged to drink the contents in one draught.  The insurance company insisted it be kept in the safe at all times, so it is not a practice of today!
    I would suggest that the ringers might have been given a tankard.

Christopher Sykes.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Peter Trotman 
  To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 2:23 PM
  Subject: [Bell Historians] Re: Enquiry about 'a new sconce"





  PS: I've already mentioned to the enquirer the use of rope spiders.

  On 4/25/09, Peter Trotman <webmaster at lwa3N-m1U7UX9LgVTPnED-DKqnUjm7PQAskPjEzoDEYQ99fdupuWsgYA_KIYJuPE6QpuWrgLRWu6-2BI6A.yahoo.invalid> wrote:
  > I would be grateful for any information with which to respond to the
  > email below. I'm familiar with the use of light bulbs under vertical
  > pipes as heaters to dry tail ends but have never known the term sconce
  > applied to them.
  >
  > Peter Trotman
  >
  > ==========================================================
  > OLGA SHOTTON
  > <olgahome at SqHbfcXPTB8zp8CEoi1c2fWxqCxHpqTzAiyHWEXeN6zA-XaGC4WMHhr40isg2oNaHJ8WpAfALXc6mj1LlTyE.yahoo.invalid>
  > Dear Sir
  > An English folksong celebrates the gift of 'a new sconce' to the
  > ringers of Chew.
  > The folk group who wish to add this song to their repertoire would
  > like to know the meaning of 'sconce'. It is said to 'rise and to fall'
  > so hardly likely to be the usual meaning of a light with a shiny
  > backing.
  > It has been suggested that it was a method of keeping bell-ropes soft
  > and supple by hanging the ends in a circular container with some form
  > of gentle heating (ie an oil lamp, or a lit electric lamp bulb.)
  > I would be most grateful for any information that your Society can supply.
  > Yours sincerly
  > Olga Shotton
  >


             
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