[Bell Historians] steam-bending ash for sliders

[Chris Pickford]

DLC is right, and I was a little adrift in what I said. I don't disagree 
that straight sliders were generally the most common in the C17 and C18, 
although reliable dating is another matter. Certainly when frames were 
taller and pit-sizes more generous then there was no need to experiment 
with other forms as there was plenty of room for "traditional" (one of 
the most over-used and mis-used words in the dictionary - like 
"original") stays and sliders.

I think that what I meant was that where space was tight, things like 
spur stays and pendulum sliders probably came before "bent" sliders - 
and I imagine there were a great deal more of those at one time than any 
of us might think from things we have seen in our lifetimes. They were 
largely replaced in successive rehangings, themselves now superseded 
(e.g. installations like St.Martin-in-the-Fields)

But my main point was that one needs to have looked - and often, 
although one has seen, one hasn't always made a conscious note of 
details like these. A similar point arose re deadrope ringing, where I 
became aware that although I've seen many instances I wouldn't be able 
to identify many of them confidently from my tower notes (which often 
include sketches and notes on unusual features). I'm quite sure that 
I;ve never paid aany deliverate attention to whether stays and sliders 
were steam-bent or not, and I guess other "bell hunters" may be the same.

One addition to the discussion though - the 1834 engraving of Great Tom 
of Lincoln shows a curved slider (and a short double stay)

-- 
Chris Pickford
E-mail: c.j.pickford at a-MdQXSWh0ImTPzSX-KmFA2q7q0ssZBEm7FRjCav13qPXQvnptuXnx-fBnb4wi4TPyeAH26EcZbUs_U_xPw.yahoo.invalid or (interchangeably) 
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