Silencing the Bells

Why would we want to silence the bells?  Because it's the only way to practice on the bells without subjecting all within listening range to the monotony and pains of rehearsal (repetitions, mistakes, trying out different arrangements, etc.)  Like most chimes ( and unlike most carillons), the Jefferies Chime does not have a separate chimestand or console for practicing.

Finding a way to silence the bells came courtesy of some English folks - the Kent County Association of Change Ringers, very clever and resourceful people - who figured out a way (and posted it on the internet) to cut moped tires and mount the resulting U-shaped pieces of rubber on bell clappers, thereby effectively silencing the bells.  (Automobile tires with their radial plies are way too difficult to cut and, even if they could be, the resulting sharp edges from their radial construction would be a safety hazard.)

If you are interested in how this is done, here's a link to the document:

Silencing bells for instruction 

The pictures from above link show change ringing bells with the silencers in place (bottom) and turned 90° to allow the bell to ring (top):