Dundee Courier – Friday 25 November 1881

As will be remembered, it was announced in these columns considerable time age that ex-Lord Provost Graham had, with characteristic generosity, offered replace the defective mechanism of the half-hour chimes in the Steeple of St John’s Church by machinery of the most improved and modern type.

The Town Council having granted the requisite authority for the execution of the work, Messrs Gillet & Bland, Croydon, were commissioned to carry it out, and for the last three weeks men have been busily employed in the replacement, under the general superintendence of Mr John Taylor, watchmaker, Perth. The work was on Wednesday so far advanced, and the bells so fairly tuned, as to allow of the inauguration ceremony being proceeded with, and accordingly there gathered by invitation in the Clock Tower of the church, at noon, a company, including ex-Provost Graham, Lord Provost Hewat, ex-Provosts Richardson anil Macdonald; Dean of Guild Brown; Bailies Martin, Walker, Sime, and Gow; Councillors Jackson, Logan, John Chalmers, M’lntosh, Hay, Moir, Wotherspoon, Norwell, Jas. Chalmers, Whittet, and Duncan ; Mr John Shields, Balhousie Castle ; Mr Lawrence Rintoul; Mr Wm. Cameron ; ex-Bailie Carnegie; ex-Bailie Greig ; Mr Wm. M’Leish, City Clerk ; Mr Robert Keay, Assistant City Clerk Mr Robert Dow ; Mr D. Galloway ; Mr John Taylor ; Mr John Wells ; and Mr A. M’Kendrick.

In handing over the bells to the Lord Provost and Magistrates, Ex-Provost Graham expressed the delight which he experienced in being able at last to accomplish a desire which he had entertained for many years, and gave utterance to the hope that the chimes as now renewed would prove to the community in the far future a thing of beauty and of joy, ministering to individual pleasure and enhancing the general amenity of the town. (Applause.) Lord Provost Hewat, in intimating acceptance of the gift, warmly thanked the donor for this latest— but as he hoped not the last—(laughter and applause)—mark of that generosity which so distinguished his life. (Applause.) They were all proud in having the ex-Provost one of their citizens—(applause)—and the universal wish was that be might long be spared to hear the bells peal forth in his praise. (Applause.) Bailie Martin added a few additional words of euology upon gift and gifter, and the care of the bells and machinery was then formally handed over to Mr Wells, Master of Works, the Dean of Guild, and Councillor Whittet, as Convener of the Works Committee.

In acknowledging a vote of thanks to the Committee associated with ex-Provost Graham in the promotion of the work, ex-Provost Richardson briefly thanked the company for the compliment, and hoped that Mr Graham would still be a long liver amongst them. (Applause.) During the proceedings cake and wine were served, and the chimes played over the whole 16 tunes for which the two barrels are arranged. But one opinion obtained regarding the quality of the music—it was infinitely in advance of the discordant tones of recent date. 

The following description of the new mechanism for driving the bells will be read with interest:— The valuable principle of the Carillon machinery— by which the chimes are wrought—lies in the separation of what was a combined action into two distinct parts. Usually, the pins of the barrel effected first the elevation, and then the blow of the hammer; as arranged by Messrs Gillet & Bland, of Croydon, the work of the pins is confined to releasing the detents and causing the hammer to strike the bell; simultaneously throwing forward spring finger in the path of peculiar cam wheels continuously revolving, which thereby immediately elevate the hammer again into the striking position.

The effectiveness and precision of this mechanism must be seen to be appreciated ; the advantage in the equalisation of the strain upon, and work of, the barrel, and in the great reduction dimensions, weight, material, and cost, to say nothing of uniformity of effect and faithful rendering of the melody—in itself an immense gain. The motive power is obtained by weights, and the speed, as in the clocks, is regulated by revolving vanes, capable of easy and instantaneous adjustment. In short, this automatic musician is the perfection of its kind ; and, by the addition of clavecin or keyboard, chiming the bells to any tnne improvised or otherwise, is brought within the capacity of everyone who possesses the requisite musical faculty. The application of the machinery to the bells will cost about £200. The driving machinery is enclosed in a neat case, with glass sides, which, besides preventing dust getting into the works, will afford to visitors a perfect view of the machinery while in motion.

A considerable improvement has also been made on the outside of the belfry. The bells formerly were very much exposed to the weather, their only protection being the roof which projects over the balcony from the steeple. This roof is supported by two pillars on either side. Between these pillars are spaces, and the space between the steeple and the first pillar has now been covered in, so that the bells and the wires communicating between the apparatus inside, and the hammers of the bells, are sheltered from wind and rain. The bells are hung in three rows, five bells being in each of the two lower rows, and four in the third or upper one ; and the wires connecting these with the driving machinery, are passed through small holes in the framework of a window which has been made in the steeple in front of the apparatus.

The roof of the belfry has also been repaired. The joiner work has been executed by Mr M’Kendrick, joiner; the zinc work by Mr Davidson, plumber; whilst Mr John Taylor, watchmaker, George Street (acting for ex-Provost Graham) has had the general superintendence of the work. The tunes played by the old bells were—”Ye Banks and Braes,” “The Boatie Rows,” “Kind Robin Loes Me,” “The Blue Bells of Scotland,” “A Man’s a Man for a’ that,” ” Auld Lang Syne,” and ” God Save the Queen.” The new tunes are— “Caller Herrin’,” “The Boatie Rows,” ” Nae Luck About the Hoose,” “The Blue Bells of Scotland,” “The Hieland Laddie,” ” Corn Rigs,” 4 ‘ God Save the Queen,” “The Garb of Old Gaul,” “The Harmonious Blacksmith,” “The Flowers of the Forest,” “‘Twas. within a Mile o’ Edinburgh,” “See the Conquering Hero Comes,” “Rule Britannia,” and “Auld Lang Syne.”