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16th June 2012, 02:46 PM #1Woodswarf
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Ok - who's made one of these before?
What is it?
It's a bell wheel! One of the ones that live up church towers, has a rope running around it, and turns change-ringing (not striking, or clanging) bells upside down so that they make a sound when the clapper hits their inside edge.
Yes, I'm a bellringer AND a woodworker (two time consuming trainspotter hobbies) and want the bells in my home tower to be easier to ring.
This one is probably 120 years old, and has endured way too much pigeon poop and diesel pollution for it to run true and round. The ends of the spokes are cracking and it's just dry and sorry and old and wonky.
So, has anyone had any experience in their construction? Any tips you can share? It has a steam-bent rim (euro ash), oak spokes and elm 'shrouding' (rim edge) - any Aussie equivalents? A bellringer from Lismore suggested a laminated rim, rather than steam-bent. The joints are all draw-bored and pinned M & T, with a weakness in the design: the rim being screwed through into the end grain of the spokes. Bear in mind that the heaviest bell that this wheel may have to get momentum up enough to swing is nearly 700kg, this one was on a 200kg bell.
Thanks, MarkLast edited by veloaficionado; 16th June 2012 at 03:01 PM. Reason: adding photos
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16th June 2012, 03:12 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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Last edited by dabbler; 16th June 2012 at 03:17 PM. Reason: added comment
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16th June 2012, 03:17 PM #3Woodswarf
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I don't reckon there's anyone on the Gold Coast who gives a rat's about Anglo organised religion anyway. But thanks for your concern.
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16th June 2012, 03:40 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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Ouch! Didn't mean to offend. I thought the thread was about bell wheels and their uses.
You'd be surprised.
We locals typically live in suburbia or on acreage, of no real interest to the media, hence unknown to the population in general. Day-trippers and weekenders from Brisbane and surrounds mostly haunt the beaches or shopping centres and are usually harmless.
It's mainly those "tourists" with no interest in tourism and come for the place's reputation who end up giving the place it's reputation.
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16th June 2012, 05:14 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
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As an apprentice I had the task of making a few of these. Timber of choice was Crows ash. Did one that was Spotted gum but couldnt hold a candle to the Crows ash. For a 700kg bell the design you have there would be way too light (IMHO) Anything I've seen for much over 500kg has been metal.
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16th June 2012, 05:47 PM #6SENIOR MEMBER
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I am surprised you are able to find time for woodworking and bell ringing. I was a ringer for several years in Perth prior to coming to Tasmania and found it to be a totally consuming and addictive pastime. Definitely not one for the instant gratification brigade.
I got the chance to repair one of the wheels at Swan Bells which had a split rim and was surprised that even on these wheels, which unlike the bells themselves, were only a few years old the design/construction was pretty much the same as those in St Georges Cathedral just up the road which are considerably more than a few years old.
I seem to recall trying to find info on the internet at the time regarding wheel construction without much luck. I suspect you will be largely on your own with the repairs/improvements.
That's All
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16th June 2012, 05:53 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
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Just saw Rusty Nails response. I don't think the over 500kg needs a metal wheel idea is correct. At Swan the biggest bell was 1500kg and that still had a wooden wheel.
Philip
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17th June 2012, 01:42 AM #8
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17th June 2012, 07:26 AM #9
does it have to have a bent rim?
I saw a number of monster wooden cogs, just recently in Europe which were no more than what the wooden clock maker guys use but massively bigger. Anyway the point is that the rims of both those (and cart wheels now I think about it) are made in curved sections joined. Both the big cogs and old cart wheels would surely be overkill for your needs,
I have some pix if you are interested (and also some pix of bell towers in spain from a few years ago which might also give some clues)
Regards
SWK
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17th June 2012, 08:05 AM #10GOLD MEMBER
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