Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/517

 BELL 497 ever made here was the alarm bell formerly on the city hall in New York. It was cast in Boston, and weighed about 23,000 Ibs. Its diameter at the mouth was about 8 ft., its height about 6 ft., and thickness at the point where the clapper struck 6J or 7 in. The wooden tower in which it was hung having been burned in 1858, it was placed in a sep- arate tower in the rear of the hall. In 1867 it was dropped and broken in the process of removal, and recast in smaller fire bells. The bell now on Independence Hall hi Phila- delphia is celebrated as being connected with the ever memorable 4th of July, 1776, when it Bolshol, Moscow, 21 ft. high, 18 ft. diam. Tsar Kolokol, Moscow, 19 ft. 8 in. high, about 19 ft. diam. first announced by its peal the declaration then made, the most important event in the history of our country. It was imported from Eng- land in 1752, and, having been cracked on trial by a stroke of the clapper, was recast in Phila- delphia under the direction of Mr. Isaac Nor- ris, to whom we are probably indebted for the following inscription, which surrounds the bell near the top, from Leviticus xxv. 10: "Pro- claim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof." Immediately beneath this is added: "By or- der of the assembly of the province of Penn'. for the State House in Phil'." Under this again, "Pass & Stow, Phil'., MDOCLIII." In 1777, during the oc- cupation of Philadel- phia by the British, the bell was removed to Liberty Bell, Philadelphia. Lancaster. After its return it was used as a state house bell until the erection of the present steeple with its bell in 1828. Then it ceased to be used excepting on extraor- dinary occasions. Finally it was removed to its present appropriate resting place. Its last ringing, when it was unfortunately cracked, was in honor of a visit of Henry Clay to Philadelphia. There are no other bells of particular interest in this country. Those used upon the fire alarm towers in our cities are from 10,000 to 11,000 Ibs. in weight. They are hung in a fixed position and struck by a hammer, instead of being turned over. Bells have been made of various metals. In France iron was formerly used, and in other parts of Europe brass was a common material. In Sheffield, England, the manufacture of cast-steel bells was introduced several years since. The Peking. 14J ft. high, 13 ft. Oiam. Great Bell of Erfurt, 10J ft. h., Parliament, 81 ft. diam. 6 ft. 9 in. h., 7 ft. 1 la. d. material is said to have the advantages over the ordinary composition of greater strength and less weight and cost. They have been used in various parts of the United States for schools, manufactories, and steamboats, and for churches, ranging in weight from 100 to over 5,000 Ibs. They appear to have given satisfac- tion, and to possess the power of sending their tones to a great distance. They are said to be well adapted for fog, fire, and alarm bells. The smaller steel bells do not compare so fa- vorably in tone with bells made of bell metal as do those of larger size. Steel bells are also made in Germany. As the swinging of heavy bells often endangers the towers in which they are hung, it is of no little consequence to re- duce as much as possible their weight. Steel bells are cast by pouring the contents of the steel pots into the bell mould instead of into ordinary ingot moulds. Bell metal is an alloy of copper and tin in no fixed proportion, but varying from 66 to 80 per cent, of copper, and the remainder tin. Other metals are also often introduced, as zinc, with the object of adding to the shrillness of the sound, silver to add to its softness, and also lead. Dr. Thompson found an English bell metal to consist of copper 800 parts, tin 101, zinc 56, and lead 43. Cymbals and gongs contain 81 copper and 19 tin. Mr. Denison, of England, thinks the use of silver is entirely imaginary, and that there is no reason for believing it could be of any service. He condemns the use of all other materials but cop- per and tin, and advises that contracts for bells stipulate that the alloy shall consist of at least 20 per cent, of tin, and the remainder copper. Three and a half to one is perhaps the best proportion. The tone of a bell depends upon its diameter, height, and thickness. The Ger- man bell founders have a rule which regu- lates these dimensions. The thickness of the sound bow where the clapper strikes, and