Deagan Tubular Bells

Orwigsburg, PA

 

This sixteen-bell chime is located in the belltower of St. John's UCC church in this small hamlet in Pennsylvania. These photos were taken during my first visit, while repairing some strikers and performing its first cleaning and lubrication in decades. More repairs are pending, along with the possibility of installing an automated clock & control system to chime the hour, play the Westminster chime, and play hymns, written for a sixteen bell chime, at specified times and days of the week.

Four of the tubular bells, resting on their dampers.

Seven of the bells hanging through the support girders.

Notice local telephone numbers had only TWO digits back then!

Half of the 16 relays, each of which passes a large current to a striker when activated by a keyboard contact.

Original Motor-Generator unit, refurbished several years ago, converts AC to DC to operate the strikers.

The remote keyboard - another work of Deagan art - mounted on the side of the pipe organ console.

One of the 16 strikers with the cover removed - located on top of the girders, next to the holes the bells pass through.

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