St. Oswald's, Bidston

Work carried out on the Bell Installation 1995 - 96

Bell and fittings completely dismantled.
All iron work scaled and given two coats of red lead.
All screw threads dressed.
Bearings dismantled, cleaned and examined. Condition good. Old grease seals discarded and new ones fitted.
Headstock and gudgeons examined and found to be sound.
This bell always had a tendency to become loose upon the headstock in spite of continual tightening of the canon strap nuts. Upon examination it was found that the bell was only landing on the argent i.e. the central supporting loop and the two side canons. The front and rear canons were not touching the headstock at all. The wood in these regions was cut back and two new pieces of oak were let in and trimmed to fit snugly into the canons. This appears to have cured the problem.
One lower spoke of the wheel had a piece broken off it and was consequently detached from the soling. A new spoke was made and fitted. Other small repairs have been done to the wheel at this time.
Headstock and bearings re-erected on frame and hardened down. All free.
Ground pulley box discarded and replaced with overhauled spare unit.
Clapper eye bored true and fitted with new "Tufnol" bush and stainless steel pin. R.S.A. brackets made to give wheel greater rigidity.
Bell hoisted back into position and secured with new canon pins, washers and split pins.
Slider, pintle, stay and rope refitted.
Clapper refitted. Bell rung up and checked for set at hand and back strokes and even clappering. All in order.
New ceiling boss made and fitted to Ringing Chamber ceiling.