Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-03-21 16:09
Solid (unplated) nickel silver bell rings are formed from extruded nickel silver bar (with a ridge on one side), cut to length, formed into a ring and hard soldered, then compression fitted to the bell blanks, then the bell is machined to shape both inside and out. As this is done at a fairly early stage, the wood can still shrink and the bell ring can become loose. They're usually left unplated as plating a bell ring once fitted isn't always possible.
Plated bell rings are often made from thin sheet metal stamped out to shape, then formed and then stamped (crimped) onto the specially shaped bell rim.
Howarth clarinet bell rings were made oversize from round brass rod that was cut to length and hard soldered, then plated and then fitted to the finished bells on a press to compress them into the recess turned around the bell rim (as they did with oboe bell rings) and then the underside shape of the bell flare was formed. As this was done at a late stage, the bell has had time to stabilise so reducing the likelihood of the bell ring coming loose (but not eliminating it).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
