Wilbank foundry bells

[acakars]

Thank you all for posting this great information on John Wilbank bells. The Chester County Historical Society has a bell marked "John Wilbank Philad 1828". I am researching it's provenance and will be happy to post more (and pictures) as I learn it.

Andrea Cakars
Collections Manager
Chester County Historical Society
West Chester, PA

[hjlong3]

This is a gorgeous bell. The design is reminiscent of the Liberty Bell, but the crown has the 6 loops that are typical of Paul Revere Bells. Interesting when trying to decide where Wilbank learned his trade.
Harry Long, MD

[hjlong3]

Despite the wear & tear, this is a beautiful and rare bell.
Harry Long, MD

[Barry Wilbank]

Can anyone tell me where the marks on the Wilbank bell may have occured. It appears that this bell was not use as achurch bell based on the markings on the outside of the bell. How could the bell have been used in the 1800s to get these markings?

[Carl Scott Zimmerman]

The marks probably came from stupid people hitting the bell with a carpenter's hammer or similar tool. They certainly didn't come from any proper usage of the bell! The only "normal" wear mark found on the outside of a bell is from a clock hammer, and that would be a single spot on the sound bow (the thickest part of the bell). If there is such a mark on this bell, it has been obscured by all the hammer blows.

[Rev Jerry Johns]

The congregation I serve, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Winchester, KY is in possession of a Wilbank bell that was cast in 1836. I'll be posting pictures soon.

[Rev Jerry Johns]

Here is a picture of the Wilbank bell cast in 1836 that is in the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Winchester, KY.