p1090485 Villedieu-les-Poëles is known for its foundry activity around copper metal.
Villedieu-les-Poëles is known for its foundry activity around copper metal.
p1090483 One of the last French bell foundries is located in the small town.
One of the last French bell foundries is located in the small town.
p1090484 The foundry also makes decorative objects.
The foundry also makes decorative objects.
p1090469 Founding a bell: the lost wax technique is used. A
Founding a bell: the lost wax technique is used. A "cope" made of clay, hair and horse manure is used to give the final shape to the bell.
p1090470 A gauge used to shape the bell model.
A gauge used to shape the bell model.
p1090471 A bell after casting still inside the cope.
A bell after casting still inside the cope.
p1090472 Wax decoration letters.
Wax decoration letters.
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p1090479 The oven (left) can melt up to 11 tons of metal. A bell can be any size up to 5 tons. For large bells the oven is operated just a few times a year and it takes...
The oven (left) can melt up to 11 tons of metal. A bell can be any size up to 5 tons. For large bells the oven is operated just a few times a year and it…
p1090480 When the metal is liquid it is carried from the oven to holes in the bells' copes to fill in a void between the cope and a core; that void is bell-shaped.
When the metal is liquid it is carried from the oven to holes in the bells' copes to fill in a void between the cope and a core; that void is bell-shaped.
p1090481 A bell made for the state of Japan but never reclaimed.
A bell made for the state of Japan but never reclaimed.
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