At the National Bell Festival, we pride ourselves on being a go-to resource for all things bell, and we’re delighted to field questions related to campanology from all across the United States. Recently, one such enquiry piqued our interest.
A school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sent us photos of a bell that hangs in the student weight room, rung frequently as a motivational rally and to celebrate personal achievements. As one might expect, the brass bell has seen some aggressive ringing. Over time, the bell’s profile has been reformed by the repeated tolling, resulting in a warped or bean-shaped appearance.
Image: The warped bell in question, disassembled from its mounting hardware and clapper.
Image: Side profile of the misshapen bell against a padded weight room floor.
The question then presented itself: Was it safe or advisable to force the bell back into its original, conoidal shape? Would that risk fracturing or damaging the bell further? We had some ideas, but first we turned to our friends at McShane Bell Co. out of St. Louis, Missouri, who know a thing or two about bell restoration.
First and foremost, the process to reshape the bell effectively would likely cost far more than the bell’s replacement value, so it’s worth evaluating whether the bell is of sufficient sentimental or heirloom significance to continue down the restoration path.
If restoration was declared essential, a mold would need to be taken off the good section (the part of the bell not subjected to hammering and still bearing its original, rounded profile). Then, the brass would need to be brought up to heat slowly. Once at the right temperature, it could be pressed over the mold and allowed to cool down gradually under compression.
The bell in question is quite thin, being therefore more susceptible to cracking or shattering during this stress-inducing process. Attempting the restoration could have resulted in catastrophic failure and the loss of the bell entirely. Was a restoration possible? Yes. Was it advisable? Not in our estimation.
Instead, we like to embrace the character of old bells that are deemed unsafe to ring. Perhaps this bell could be mounted to a block, turned into an annual trophy, and presented to the most deserving team or sport at the school each year. It could still be kept in the weight room in a prominent trophy case. Given that the bell is warped, the award could recognize ‘resounding’ success through adversity, and could be laser engraved with a motivational message.
If this were your school’s bell, what would you have done? Attempt the restoration, present it as an annual award, continue to ring it in its current state, melt it down entirely to be recast anew, or…? We’d like to know! Give us a ring and tell us: Would you unwarp or ring this bell warped? A most intriguing question.
Cover image: View of a misshapen bell from below.
