From Donovan Larson
I had heard that there were problems with the bell mounts on one of the bells in
the church bell tower, which contain two bronze bells cast in St. Louis in 1881
and 1910. One of two ropes were removed to avoid the 1910 bell’s use.
I contacted McShane Bell, which specializes in bell and clock towers, recently
relocated to St. Louis from Baltimore. The technician and I climbed into the
tower on February 29. The second (upper) ladder needs to be replaced. (The first
one is a pull -down ladder mounted on the ceiling of the balcony stair well.)
Both bells swing on pivots (fulcrums) that are mounted on the cast iron
frames. The bells are hung with bolts (4/5) through the bell’s center, into the cast
iron yokes above. It appears that the reason that the 1910 bell is not used is
because those bolts are slightly loose. Otherwise, the cast iron yoke and wood
stiffeners seem strong and undamaged.
The tech pointed out that the 1881 bell is rung with the rope pull, which is
mounted on a 3 ft diameter wheel that rotates the bell. The wheel is cast iron on
this bell; the wheel on the 1910 bell is wood and not perfectly tight to that bell’s
yoke.
A third rope reaching the bell platform is accessible from the balcony below, and
it operates a 15 inch striking hammer that is mounted and pivots next to the 1910
bell. When used, the bell does not move. It rings loudly, but less than if it were
rung by the clapper (if the bell were rotated/swung).
First, the wood ladder from the balcony ceiling to the bell platform needs to be
replaced (12 to 16 ft long). Second, the bell pivots need to be greased, and all
bolts checked for tightness. The tech noted that the slightly loose bolts holding
the 1910 bell to the yoke, may be frozen.
Third, we could purchase/install automatic clappers that would electronically
strike the bells with a push button, or from a computer connected by Wi-Fi, or a
phone.
Fourth, we will be offered a maintenance contract where the bells and equipment
will be checked/maintained, probably annually by this company.
The photos will show that the floor holding the bells and frames are very
strong. The space is dirty, and open to the weather. The vented windows are
backed by hardware cloth, so birds are kept out. I saw no evidence of bird
droppings. McShane Bell will send a quote for the various work items noted.