CLOCKWORK CARILLON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 December 1924, Page 9

CLOCKWORK CARILLON.

BRITISH BELLS FOR CANADA. _ dshaw.a, near Toronto, in. Canada, will , shortly .be the . proud professor, in its St. .George’s .Cfiiireh; of a. wonder-' ful - combined .’ clockwork .arid handplayed, carillon of. -fifteen bells, wfiich haye . beeh cast .at .-the Whitechapel foundry if Messrs Meats and Stainbank,. The- clockwork playing barrel, by, ..which five hymn ; tunes'' and'. 130 changes can be , rendered on the bells, is probably the largest of its. kiriu in the world. Made by“the' well-known; firm of -Messrs «J\ W. Ben son• Ltd., at their -clock factory in•' London, this playing barrel, which resembles a huge musical box, studded,with pins, is connected /with the: bells by; wires. It is 13ft. long and 33iii. in diameter, and. with its stand weighs nearly :tWo tons. Yet it is such a marvel of delicate, mechanism, with every wheel on ball bearings, that the handle by which it is worked can be easily turned by one man. The times, indicated on a. dial, are “Fight the Good Fight,”, the Coronation Hymn; “Rock of Ages,” “Abide with Me,” and “Onward. Christian Soldier*.” i But the carillon is' not confined to this expression of mumc. It has also a hand clavier and keyboard, by-means of which the cariloneur can chime any tune of which the range of belte is capable, and can ring innumerable changes. For this combination of purpose the bells are fitted with two sets of hammers, those-worked by the barrel striking the outside, and those operated by the keyboard striking the inside. The big tenor bell, weighing over 2$ tons, is so constructed that it can also, be worked by a Tope and used separately for tolling. In all tile 15 bells weigh nearly 12 tons, and the additional weight of the framework arid levers is about 10 tons. , , A deiripnstration on the carillon at the foundry satisfactorily revealed the power .and scope of the combination. At first trines arid changes ivere chinied by, the playing barrel, then the bounti-fully-toned tenor bell, so perfectly balanced on its frfimework that it cain be swung. by »a piece of string,, was rung, and, filially, turiefi and' changes were played, on the manual. Tlie test, which was .attended by a representative of' the Daily Telegraph, was completely successful, the tone of the bells and the .clear individuality of the notes, whether, inaile by the barrel or from the keyboard; being much admired. interesting to note that the Wliiteclidpel Bell Foiihdfy has been in existence, over 350 years, and bells cast kv .Mpssr.s Meai'S: and Stainbank are in ..use all over .the world. They in-' oiride .the .Great Bell of Westminster, weighing 131 tons, th e largest ever least in London. . - ' ' “ .