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Unfortunately, some churches with chimes are closing.
In recent years, due to a changing population shift out of downtowns, chimes have been and will continue to become available.
In a perfect world (were money not involved) the consensus
of chimers and caretakers are that there is a moral obligation to use something
resembling the pecking order offered here:
- Is
there a reason for them to remain in the current location?
- Should
an attempt be made to keep them in the area of their original funding?
- Make
it publicly known that they are available.
- Can
the Diocese move them elsewhere within itself or another diocese?
- Should
they be sold to a business without a guarantee that they will be kept
together as a chime? Unless they have a tower already waiting for a chime, I doubt it.
Remember, they
are 50-150 years old historic instruments.
- Getting
them out of the tower. Who pays?
Moving a chime to another location? - A significant but nowhere complete checklist
- Should
it be tuned? Does this destroy the 'historic' nature of the chime?
-
Foresight for maintaining, training and staffing with multiple people.
- Getting
the chime into the tower on the correct levels..
- Where
and how should the chime and playing apparatus be placed?
- Should
it be re-mounted and played automatically? Possibly yes.
Automatic computers have a legitimate place, but often last less
than 20 years.
- Should
it be re-mounted to also be played manually? Absolutely YES. Once
the manual operation is gone, the true ‘historic’ of the chime is
destroyed. Some chimers consider
past upgrades and disabling manual operation as criminal. Often, inattention to
step#2 caused a misguided upgrade.
- Should
more bells be added? Or provided for?
As each bell is added, more tunes can be played. There is a set pattern to get the most
tunes from each new bell.
- The
most music available is in “C”, so most devices are labeled “C” regardless
of the real notes. Saves on manual
transposition.
- Tours
of several other installations is advisable. No two chimes are alike.
Actually, it is part of the charm of each chime.
- Should
a consultant be used to oversee all of these and other details?
Something you have to assess.
Competent companies from CT, MD, OH and PA can
perform the physical work.
We have NEVER seen incompetent workmanship in over 250 towers,
but we have seen things which we would have done differently.
You have to know what to contract for.
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