[Bell Historians] Re: Levels of Bell Production

[Richard Smith]

Andrew Cairns wrote:

> Looking at the two graphs they both seem to show 
> consistency in number and weight from 1600-2000 (if you 
> take the period 1850-1950 out as abnormally high).

You have to remember that my graphs are of surviving bells 
(and then only those listed in the pNBR).  I imagine the 
vast majority of 20th century bells survive, although even 
then there are notable losses due to war or fire; but much 
earlier, and significant numbers will have been lost.

Just in the city of Cambridge, for example, in the last 
hundred years we've lost:

2x probably earlier
1x 1667
1x 1677
3x 1683
1x 1684
5x 1705
1x 1722
2x 1723
1x 1749
1x 1770
1x 1773
4x 1843
1x 1852
2x 1856
2x 1911

(This includes one bell that have been moved to Wolfson 
College, a location that is not in the pNBR, and so will 
appear to have been lost on my graphs.)

That's 28 bells in a city that currently has only 76 bells 
and that suffered no war damage whatsoever nor has had any 
major church fires during the period in question.

RAS