2009 Cathedral Bells

In 2009, the Cathedral Bells were inoperable and had been so for some time. We took some photos of the current state of the bells to assess what it would take to potentially repair them.

And why do they need repair, one might ask. This picture is NOT upside down, but the bell is, having swung and jammed when a cable dislodged. The large, 40 inch bell, was manufactured by McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore MD in 1886. The Cathedral large bell was donated by the Butler family, who also has several stained glass windows in the Cathedral. The cable mechanism is strung though the belfry floor to the motors below. The striker, which was operated manually by pulling a rope (Quasimoto?), sits at the base of the bell foundation. The large bell bracing. The second, smaller bell, approximately 18 inches in diameter, is still in working order.
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