Next >> Next >>Welcome to the next level of the bell tower! This particular floor houses the clock mechanism that controls the ringing of the bell on the hour and the Cambridge Chimes. There are Pealers up here on a weekly basis, since we turn off the quarter hour chimes on Fridays while we play.
It will probably not come as a surprise to you that this particular apparatus is not to be removed from the bell tower. After all, one really can't imagine how we could remove it even if we wanted to do so. Be that as it may, there is actually a sign telling us not to remove it. We don't know how it got there. The actual text is:
DO NOT REMOVE
RETAIN FOR KENYON ARCHIVES
or
KNOX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
All jokes aside, this large piece of machinery was the original clock mechanism. It still controls the clock on the outside of the bell tower today. (The bells now are controlled by a different clock, which is why the timing sometimes seems a bit off.)
Another feature of particular interest on this level is one of our best-kept secrets, even though we don't particularly try to hide it from anyone. The largest bell (low F) is actually fitted with an "old-fashioned" style rope, in addition to the mallet that we use to play it normally and that rings the hour. That means, of course, that we have a real bell rope on which we often swing on Fridays at five when we are technically done playing. This is quite an experience (the bell is more than heavy enough to lift one off one's feet!) and should definitely not be missed.
The picture on the right is the only one I have of the bell rope. Unfortunately, it is a picture of the old bell rope. We now have a new one that is in excellent condition. (Even if the rope were to break completely, it would do no harm, as the rope plays no part in supporting the weight of the bell.)
Source (and more information): Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
Traditional English-style change-ringing would be done entirely with bells attached to ropes, somewhat like our low F. (That's why one typically hears patterns instead of songs—there is a delay due to the time it takes for the bell to swing, and it's very difficult to piece together a melody.) Carillon or chime-style bells are easier to play and can easily handle melodies because of the clever way they are built, but the sound of a properly swinging bell is completely different in quality from one that has been struck (the interesting and beautiful reverberations are another reason to play patterns instead of tunes).
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, it's time for the true adventure: an expedition up to see the bells!
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