[Bell Historians] Cleaning old bells

[Richard Offen]

Photos in RW articles about bell restoration projects almost always 
show that the bellfounders and bellhangers respect the antiquity of 
the bells. New fittings are cheerfully bright with new paint, but 
the patina of the bells is undisturbed.

Unfortunately, that respect for antiquity is not widespread in 
America. The major maintenance firms seem bent on persuading their 
customers of the "need" for sandblasting or other harsh methods of 
polishing to make old bells "look like new." I find that practice 
deplorable, and speak against it when I can, sometimes comparing it 
to making one's grandmother get a facelift so that one doesn't have 
to see her wrinkles any more.

But I'd like to have some more specific recommendations to make to 
those who are considering renovation projects. Hence this message, 
with the following question:

What methods do English bellfounders and bellhangers use to clean 
grease, bird droppings or other forms of dirt from old bells without 
disturbing the patina significantly?

Thanks in advance,

Carl

There is a specialist conservation firm in Italy called Etechnica who, in
addition to being one of the leading stone conservation companies in that
country, have some remarkable specialist cleaning equipment which utilizes
computer designed water sprays and specialist detergents to remove graffiti
from stone work and almost any stain from other materials without damaging
the surface.   

We had a demonstration here in Perth last year and I was able to place my
hand on some graffiti covered masonry, over which the spray was passed with
no discomfort whatsoever and when I took my hand away there was a
hand-shaped patch of graffiti was left.

The firm claims that this equipment works as well on metals as it does on
stone, so this could be a very viable alternative to much harsher methods of
cleaning bells.

Richard



           
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