Bell foundry – clay mixing

The sound of clay mixing in an electrical stirrer. The recording was realized in Felczyńscy Bell Foundry in Taciszów (Poland).

Quality and consistency of clay is of enormous significance within the process of bells production. Clay is used for manual production of the bell's mold, where the melted metal is poured into after drying. If there are any pellets in the clay mass, especially that creating a so called false bell, the imperfections will be easily visible in the ready cast. Therefore, the clay mixed mechanically is additionally triturated by hand.

Bells in the Felczyńscy Bell Foundry are produced with foundry methods, practiced from Renaissance. Any modernizations are connected with application of electric tools that stir the clay and polish the bells. The first Bell Foundry in the Felczyńscy family was established in 1808. Since then, the intergenerational transfer of craftsman traditions has taken place.

Sound recordist: Monika Widzicka
Photographer: Piotr Leszczyński