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Author: Bill Hibbert

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Posts by Bill Hibbert

Ceramic bells

Posted on 24th June 2025 (7th July 2025)

A brief investigation into the acoustics of ceramic or clay bells, installed in the UK in a number of mini-rings, and also installed by Meissen in at least two European carillons or chimes. […]

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Posted in Steel tubular, hemispherical and ceramic bells

The Van Aerschodts of Louvain

Posted on 2nd December 2024 (9th December 2024)

English translation of a paper written by Paul-FĂ©lix Vernimmen on the family history of the Van Aerschodts. […]

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Posted in Classic papers, the van Aerschodts

The musical quality of van Aerschodt bells

Posted on 29th November 2024 (10th December 2024)

The partial frequencies and tuning characteristics of van Aerschodt bells, compared with bells from Rudhall and Mears. […]

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Posted in the van Aerschodts

the van Aerschodts

Posted on 29th November 2024 (2nd December 2024)

The van Aerschodt family of Leuven, Belgium were one of the most significant founders of bells in the low countries in the latter part of the 19th century. […]

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Posted in the van Aerschodts

Modes of vibration of a tubular bell

Posted on 7th November 2024 (7th November 2024)

Results of an experiment to show the vibration patterns in a tubular bell. […]

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Posted in Recording and analysing bells, Steel tubular, hemispherical and ceramic bells

Hemispherical bells

Posted on 9th October 2024 (7th November 2024)

Investigation into the strike pitch and partial frequencies of hemispherical bells, including a detailed analysis of modes of vibration, and pitch shift due to variation in thickness. […]

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Posted in How bells make their sound, Steel tubular, hemispherical and ceramic bells

Long-waisted bells

Posted on 5th August 2024 (25th January 2025)

Partial frequencies of 24 long-waisted bells, including 12 where the partials have been identified using nodal patterns. […]

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Posted in Individual sets of bells, Recording and analysing bells

Manipulating bell sounds

Posted on 23rd January 2024 (10th February 2024)

This page explains the mathematical techniques I use to manipulate bell sounds for various purposes. Sound file examples demonstrate sharpening or flattening bells, adjusting individual partials, and the effect of thin and thick bells. […]

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Posted in Recording and analysing bells

Simpson, Van Aerschodt, Lower Beeding and Kilburn

Posted on 18th November 2023 (2nd December 2024)

Canon Simpson in his first paper On Bell Tones discusses the bells at Lower Beeding. His conclusions about the way continental founders tuned their bells proves not to be correct […]

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Posted in Individual sets of bells

A history of Gillett and Johnston in bell sounds

Posted on 17th March 2023 (31st March 2023)

This article investigates the changes in design of Gillett and Johnston bells from the 1870s to the 1950s, by looking at tierce tuning. […]

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Posted in Uncategorised

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