Adam Ujda

my works

Przełącz na Polski 🇵🇱

Bell refurbishments

In years 2016 – 2019 I helped three parishes in organisation bell refurnisbment.

In 2019 all four bells of Holy Trinity church in Stalowa Wola were fully refurbished. They got new headstocks, linear motors, clappers and amortisation system. Before restoration all bells had arched
headstocks, fortunately during repair bell company managed to hang smallest bell on straight headstock.

Details of bells:

  • Trójca Przenajświętsza (Holy Trinity), 970 kg (2138 lb), f3, 1986
  • Św. Michał Archanioł (Archangel Michael), 470 kg (1036 lb), a#3, 1986
  • Maryja (Mary), 260 kg (573 lb), c#4, 1986
  • Bronisław Markiewicz, 60 kg (132 lb), a#4, 1986

The refurbishment had very positive impact on bell dynamics, that is well seen in amount of beats per second:

Big: 50 / 54

Medium: 57 / 59

Small: 53 / 65

Smallest: 68 / 88

Both small and smallest bells were significantly sped up, in case of medium bell the change isn’t so spectacular because of high swinging angle caused by slightly arched headstock. Big bell’s headstock has similar dimensions like the old one, but thanks to improved construction the speed of swinghing was increased by 4 beats per second. What is interesting, the Edge of bell in critical moment is only 5 cm far from wall of tower!

Renowację przeprowadzono za czasów Ks. Prob. Mieczysława Kucla.

Before refurbishment

After refurbishment

In 2017 bells from parish church in Pilchów got new automation. The old-fashioned hand ringing method didn’t work well in this case because of some technical issues. Because of practical reasons
parish wanted the bells to be rung by motor. During refurbishment bells got linear motors and new clappers.

Details of bells:

  • Bł. Jadwiga Królowa, Królowa (Blessed Queen Hedwig), 290 kg (639 lb), c4, 1991
  • Św. Henryk (St. Henry), 150 kg (330 lb), e4, 1991
  • Maryja (Mary), 90 kg (198 lb), g4, 1991

Thanks to new forged clappers bells have improved sound quality and autimation with using linear motors allows them to swing safely.

Before refurbishment

After refurbishment

The idea of bell refurbishment in Rozwadów Cloister originated in 2015. At first, it was cast new bell named Anicetus Francis to complete existing set of bells. Next year the following works were done – the bell equipment was completly changed and linear motors were added. Till that moment bells were moved by hand but because of their safety and technical problems it was necesarry to switch into automation. Before refurbishment two old bells were hung on arched steel headstocks and for decades they were connected by some unusual mechanism.

Details of bells:

  • Maryja (Mary), 80 kg (176 lb), g#4, 1953
  • Anicet Franciszek (Anicetus Francis), 30 kg (66 lb), d#5, 2015
  • Sygnaturka (smallest bell in church), 20 kg (44 lb), c#5, year unknown (before WWII)

Due to restoration bells got new sound quality which happened thanks to straight wooden headstocks and finally manager to ring in correct way. The new bell matches to the old bells well and took away part of the old bells’ ringings in their daily ringing schedule. What is important, after refurbishment the bells’ dynamics are improved a lot, what’s shown in beats per minute:

Big: 66 / 85

Medium: – / 103

Small: 66 / 111

Such a huge difference in their tempo is the effect of using optimal equipment, adjusted to the size of bells and ringing conditions. Because of limited space of tiny tower, the swining angles were reduced by using specially designed clappers.

Before refurbishment

After refurbishment

Initiaiton the project of clockfaces change in Parish Church in Rozwadów

Before and during refurbishment

After refurbishment
© Adam Ujda 2023