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

[David Willis]

At the risk of sounding like an edition of TV " Call my bluff "
 
"Sconces" is a term used in the piano trade for pairs of candlestick fittings
found on older pianos . ( subject to my spelling being correct ).
 
These fittings can be more valuable than the piano itself !
 
David
 

--- On Sun, 17/5/09, cjgbells cjgbells at X8g_Xn3rKa79O4OkL3f4SblpY-SIe4HcfH87elrMxAiXLryKrLvdoh6z4aRs0Xv5KNqWz1j-b53zI1l_JoOIzw.yahoo.invalid> wrote:

    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@ 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 cccbr. org.uk> 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 btinternet .com>
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 sincerely
Olga Shotton





                 
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