FAMOUS BELLS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 299, 1 August 1929, Page 7

FAMOUS BELLS.

SOME RUSSIAN MONSTERS. “ Big Ben ” and “ The Matchless Tenor.” In his book, “ Bells Throughout the Ages,” Mr J. R. Nichols corrects the common belief that “ Big Ben,” at the Houses cf Parliament, is one of the largest bells in the world. It is considerably smaller than “ Great Paul ” (St. Paul’s Cathedral), which, weighing 161 tons, is the largest in England.

This weight, however, is almost negligible in comparison with those of other world-famous bells, such as the Great Bell of Moscow (known variously as Czar Kolokol, the king of bells, or Empress Ann’s Bell), which weighs 192 i tons. The bell at Trotzkoi (Russia) scales 171 tons, and another large bell at Moscow tips the scale at 110 tons. Burma has a bell, at Mignon, of 90 tons; while the well-known bell in Cologne Cathedral weighs 25h tons. But world - famous bells possess other qualities besides mere weight of metal. In the realm of resonance and beauty of sound such bells as “ The Matchless Tenor ” (of Lavenham, Suffolk), east by that master bell-found-er, Miles Graye, in 1625, holds a high place. Of this bell it has been written: “ The tenor hath such an admirable note, as England has none to compare with it.” The tenor bell at Row is likewise noted for its exquisite tone. Other bells or “ rings ” whose tonal qualities call for special mention are to be found at St. Peter’s, Mancroft (Norwich), Fulham, Painswick, and Stepney. Unfortunately, many celebrated bells or peals have gone out of use through cracking or other damage, because, in former times, it was impos- , s-ble to effect a repair without seriously impairing the tone.