steam-bending ash for sliders

[nitramwe]

Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:54 pm Laura Dickerson:

"Do we know when people first started making sliders this way? I
suppose this might count as a technology history question rather than a bell history question."

I was hoping that someone might come up with an answer; but i would GUESS that it was not too long after full circle ringing was underway. Of course it depends on what clearance there is, thus a straight piece of wood works _IF_ the clapper is able to swing clear of it, otherwise, if there is little clearance between the clapper and the floor of the pit the slider bar needs to be bent
Woodworkers already knew how to bend wood; in fact I would be surprised if the wheelwrights who made bell wheels did not see the efficiency when making wooden wheels, & preferred to bend to a contour rather than saw it out and cause so much more expensive wasted wood.

I suppose that it really begs the question when were stays first used.
I believe that Paul Cattermole claimed written evidence of 'stays' being fitted but this was countered by John Eisel who suggested that this particular reference rather referred to the structural supports to the full wheel ie to keep it rigid and at right angles to the headstock.

Does anyone know if this was ever resolved or can anyone give ref. for the date of the earliest installation of a stay?

Cheers
Eddie Martin