The Smithsonian Bell
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The Smithsonian's bell on exhibit in the Children's Room of the Castle, 1996. |
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18th century engraving of bell mold making. |
The Bell Casting Process The bell casting process has remained virtually unchanged since medieval times:
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Filling the ladle with molten metal. |
CASTINGThe metal used in the casting of bronze bells is an alloy of 77% copper and 23% tin. Heated to 2140°F (1171°C), the molten metal is poured from the furnace into a massive ladle which is then brought to the mold on an overhead crane. The ladle is carefully tilted, discharging the liquid metal into the mold. After a day of cooling, the mold is broken open to reveal the bell. |
Pouring the molten metal into the mold. |
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Scraping stuck loam from the bell surface. |
CLEANING
AND TUNING
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Tuning the bell on the vertical boring mill. |
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Front entrance of the 575-year-old Whitechapel Bell Foundry, |
THE WHITECHAPEL BELL FOUNDRYThe Smithsonian Bell was made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which also creates ships' bells and handbells. The company is legendary in the field of bell-casting. It was chosen primarily because U.S. bell makers no longer cast bells of this size, and also because of its history as maker of many of the most well-known public bells in use today, such as those of Big Ben, the Old Post Office and the Washington National Cathedral. Whitechapel also created the first Liberty Bell.
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The Whitechapel bell yard with bells that have been brought in to the bell yard for recasting or retuning. |