A little about wedding bells and about us
Our Story
We are Tina and Craig, a “couple” of mechanical engineers, with a strong interest in traditional manufacturing techniques and a passion for travel. Running our small consulting firm, we have worked together all day, everyday (we have been called crazy on more then one occasion). We love to visit new places and learn about the culture and traditions, and nothing gets us more excited than a good factory tour!
On a trip to France soon after we got engaged, we had a chance to visit the Cornille Havard Foundry. This is where we first learned we could commission a bell for our own upcoming wedding. Our wedding bell has been special to us ever since. It commemorates our wedding and marriage, and is a wonderful reminder of our travels.
Why Bells
We have always enjoyed engineering, and love the challenge of designing new equipment and solving problems. But, we wanted to do something that we felt would have a lasting impact. Being the geeky engineers that we are, we have a strong interest in historical manufacturing tools and methods. To us, it is important to preserve this history, because it teaches us how we developed the technology we have today. We feel it is also important to appreciate the level of craftsmanship and amount of work that went into making things that today may be taken for granted. Once we had our bell, we always thought people should know that they could have one of their own.
Our bell is as important to us as our wedding rings. It is something that we can enjoy together and ring in celebration of all sorts of occasions. Plus, it is a great conversation piece and beautiful to display in our home. We are happy to be able to work with these incredible foundries, bringing a new audience to their art and to help preserve this history. We are also excited to be able offer couples a keepsake from their wedding which symbolizes their new life together, and like their love for each other, will last a lifetime.
History
The ringing of wedding bells originated with Celtic cultures of Ireland and Scotland. The ringing of bells was believed to ward of evil spirits and bestow good luck on the newlyweds. The practice expanded and church bells were rung after the ceremony to announce the happy news far and wide. The sound of the bell is also a reminder of the couple’s vows and love for each other.
These traditions carry forward to today, where church bells are still rung as the happy couple walks back down the aisle. Maybe some of the superstitions have faded, but a chance for a little extra good luck is never a bad thing.
Bronze
Bells are cast from a type of bronze referred to as “bell metal”, which has higher tin content than other types of bronze. This alloy has superb resonance and produces a beautiful sound.
Bronze is produced by combining two metals, copper and tin. Each metal has strengths and weakness on it’s own. Copper is soft and can be formed into many shapes, but it is not strong. Tin is also soft, too soft to be formed into useful objects, but is very good at resisting corrosion. When combined to form bronze, these two metals become something much greater than either one alone. Bronze is easily cast, very strong, and resists corrosion. The alloying of tin and copper to produce bronze is similar to a wedding – the result is better and stronger than either of the two components on their own. Bronze symbolizes strength and durability, which is why it is also the traditional gift for the eighth anniversary.
Making a Bell
The first step in the process is to sculpt the decorations and couples’ names and wedding date out of wax and apply them to a form which matches the size of the finished bell. This creates what is known as the “false bell”. The next step is to cover the false bell in a thin layer of clay to capture the detail of the wax decorations. This thin layer is then covered with a thicker layer of clay or casting sand to add strength to support the molten bronze during casting. Once the clay has dried, the false bell is heated, allowing the wax to melt and drain away. Once cooled, the inner form is removed leaving the outer mold with the imprint of the wax design. The outer mold is then attached to an inner mold, which matches the inner size of the finished bell. Bronze is heated in a 2200 degree furnace until it has melted. The red-hot liquid is then poured in, filling the cavity between the inner and outer molds and flowing into all of the features left from the wax. The bell will now solidify and cool, which can take several days. Once cooled, the inner mold is removed and will be reused. The outer mold must be broken apart to remove the bell, making each bell truly one of a kind. After removal from the mold, the bell is polished and attached to its mount ready to be enjoyed!
