How are Handbells Made ?
Manufacturing handbells is an intricate process. The shape of the bell is designed to produce a certain fundamental tone and overtones. A pattern called a match plate is formed from the designer’s drawing. From this plate, sand molds are made into which pure bronze (which is 80% copper and 20% tin, heated to 2,150o F) is poured. When the bronze hardens, the sand mold is broken away. The bell is then turned on a lathe to a specific shape using a template. The tuning of the bell happens on a lathe as well, cutting from the inside by the hand of an experienced craftsman. The bell’s vibrations are tuned with a scope that measures overtones to 1/100th of a semitone. Machine polishing is next, and the handle and clapper are added. The assembled handbell undergoes an indexing procedure to find the best strike point. After buffing to a jeweler’s finish, the bell is ready to make music. Handbells range in size from the C8, which is 2″ in diameter and weighs 7 oz, to the C2, which is 15.25″ in d
