Plans for a bell

[Colin62]

Reading nz_carver's thread on plans for a cannon made me realise that perhaps here is the right place to ask for plans for a bell.

My brother-in-law wants a cast brass bell, and has someone who will cast it for him, but needs a sample. He hasn't had a lot of luck in convincing churches to lend him their bells for a week or two to have a copy made, and it occurred to me that if I could find plans I could make a blank out of scrap timber so that the foundry can use that to cast the bell for him.

I've done some google searches, and found one or two bell foundries but overseas shipping on a big brass bell is likely to be a killer.

So, any suggestions are welcome.*



*As long as they relate to finding plans and not where to shove the bell...

[chuck1]

I turn plugs or moulds for someone that does small foundry stuff , some of the craft suppliers sell bell kits but they are not overly Big bells!

[Sebastiaan56]

Bells are a subject that have kept acousticians busy for centuries. If you are up for it try here https://www.msu.edu/~carillon/batmbook/chapter5.htm There is also the venerable Benades "Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics" 5.3 from what I just looked up.

It depends a lot on how big and what, if any, acoustical properties he is after.

[Colin62]

Thanks for the replies and for the links. I realise that it's one of those questions with no single answer, I suppose anyone can knock out a bell that looks OK, but it needs to sound decent too.

Knowing my B.I.L., he'll be wanting big and loud. He lives out in the country, and would be mightily impressed if his neighbours could hear it.

[chuck1]

do you live near a church? see if they will let you measure it up?

[Paul39]

Have a look here: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...44.d95pfxsM8zs

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ml%3B291%3B242

Bell (instrument) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You could make a print of one you like and then take it to a copy place and have it blown up big enough to make a template.

[oreos40]

Just the other day I watched a you tube video in a bell manufacturer in france he discussed the accoustics of bells and ratios for the best sound. I am not on a computer that allows video feeds at the moment or I would look it up. I will se if i can find it.