Bell Foundry

[biglouis]

I went on a visit to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in East London today. It claims to be the oldest manufacturing company in the world tracing it foundry activities back to 14th century. It is now only one of two bell foundries left in the UK. It is famous for having manufactured both the Liberty Bell and Big Ben.

All pictures are M8 with 24/2.8

Cast iron bell moulds which are filled with loam to form the outter and inner casting moulds (the one in the foreground is definitely an outter and the smaller one in the background may be an inner). Notice the loam left to dry overnight.

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A shot of the outter loam mould in its finished state ready for casting, with stamp for the bell hanger and the foundry.

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A series of four bells (note inner and outter cast iron moulds) left to cool over the weekend. These were cast the day before and are part of a series of 8 for a customer. They could be opened at this point but would still be hot to the touch, the alloy of bronze and tin is heated to 1100 degrees before pouring.

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Shot of a bell being tuned on a lathe. An electronic tuner is used to adjust to the right pitch. Once tuned a bell will not lose its tuning unless it cracks.

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Apart from casting bells, the Whitechapel Foundry also repairs bells. Several in this batch go back to the middle ages! In most cases the 'canons' from the bells are hung have deteriorated and Whitechapel specialises in replacing these with a more modern drilled and bolted assembley, which will last another 1000 years.

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[biglouis]

One final shot (CV12/5.6) of the wood shop which is at the top of the foundry. Apart from casting Whitechapel can also make the entire mechanism for mounting, hanging and ringing the bell. Parts of the enormous wheels are on the right.

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[spylaw4]

A fascinating, instructive and interesting series Louis - well photographed!

[cocker]

Superb, interesting series Louis

[biglouis]

Brian/Keith, thanks for the comments. One last shot. The Whitechapel foundry also makes hand bells - in bronze. These are castings waiting to be tuned and polished.

M8 cv50/1.5 iso640 1/250 f5.6

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[George James]

Louis,
Super set of photographs. I should love to visit the inside, although I have walked past the outside many times.
GeorgeChurch-Bell-Foundry.jpg

[biglouis]

George

Nice picture of the outside! I should have mentioned in my original post that tours of the foundry only occur at the weekend, as it is a working factory and therefore too dangerous for visitors during working hours. Tours are pretty much booked up until the end of the year (we had to wait 3 months to get on this one). It is well worth booking up for the future because as tours go, you won't be disappointed.

Just google Whitechapel Foundry for details.

LouisB

[George James]

Louis,
Thanks for the information.

George

[andit]

Hi Louis,

Being a technical and manufacturing person myself, I find this series totally fascinating and would love to see this work being done in real life. One tends to forget how much work, craftsmanship and above all, feeling (this is one of those things that can not be measured or duplicated by a machine), goes into something like a bell. That 24 Elmarit seems to be an incredible lens and extremely sharp. Thanks for sharing this series with us.

Regards
Andreas

[stuny]

Big -

Superb series for interest, story, framing, light, color and detail.

[biglouis]

Originally Posted by andit

Hi Louis,

Being a technical and manufacturing person myself, I find this series totally fascinating and would love to see this work being done in real life. One tends to forget how much work, craftsmanship and above all, feeling (this is one of those things that can not be measured or duplicated by a machine), goes into something like a bell. That 24 Elmarit seems to be an incredible lens and extremely sharp. Thanks for sharing this series with us.

Regards
Andreas

Andreas

My sentiments exactly but sadly it is a pretty dangerous place when they are working so they are very strict about tours outside of working hours. And I agree about the 24 Elmarit, given the crop factor it does become an excellent reportage lens on the M8 - most of these shots were at f2.8 or f4 and I am staggered at how sharp they are.

LouisB

[Michael Hiles]

Great photographs of a really interesting place. Thanks for this.

Michael

[Artichoke]

a fascinating subject, beautifully illustrated by your fine photographs
your offerings here had me visit their website where I came across this humorous tidbit in their historical section on the Foundry at War:

" The war gave the foundry immediate work from the British Government producing aluminium castings of submarine parts for the Admiralty. The Government not only guaranteed the orders, they guaranteed good prices and they also guaranteed quick payment, which is something that the Church of England has never managed to do with us!"

thanks for this delightful offering