bellfounding
Casting bronze bells
Bellfounding is the craft of casting bells, particularly large ones for churches, clock towers, and carillons.
The process requires specialized knowledge of metal alloys—traditionally bronze—and precise mold-making to achieve the desired tone and resonance.
Bellfounders work in foundries that may have operated for centuries: The bellfounding tradition at Whitechapel dates to 1570.
Tuned bronze bell instrument
- pealResonant ringing burst
- chimeMelodic bell sound
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- change-ringingRotating bell sequence patterns
belfry · tower · steeple · yoke · headstock · wheel · stay · slider
Form-giving container
Copper-tin alloy
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- tinElement fifty, Sn
- alloyMetallic combination
- crucibleVessel for extreme heat
smelting · pouring · molten · patina · tempering · furnace · speculum · composition
Quality of sound
- pitchFrequency of sound
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- overtonesImplicit secondary meanings
partials · hum · prime · strike · nominal · vibration · resonance · tuning
Custom passed through generations
- guildProfessional mutual-aid society
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- WhitechapelEast London district
- TaylorSeamster-derived name
historical · cathedral · church · monastery · inscription · commemoration · restoration · preservation
carillon
Tuned bronze bell instrument
change-ringing · belfry · tower · steeple · yoke · headstock · wheel · stay · slider · sally
mold
Form-giving container
annealing · profile · loam · cope · core · crook · canons · crown · lip · waist
bronze
Copper-tin alloy
crucible · smelting · pouring · molten · patina · tempering · furnace · speculum · composition · cooling
tone
Quality of sound
overtones · partials · hum · prime · strike · nominal · vibration · resonance · tuning · harmonic
tradition
Custom passed through generations
- guildProfessional mutual-aid society
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- WhitechapelEast London district
Taylor · historical · cathedral · church · monastery · inscription · commemoration · restoration · preservation · legacy
bellfoundingmuffling
Reducing sound intensity
clockmaking · watchmaking · gunsmithing · blacksmithing · silversmithing
bell, bells, casting, founder, founding, founded, foundry, foundries