Chats on Old Copper and Brass

by Fred. W. Burgess

Bell Metal and Other Alloys.

There is yet another important alloy, which from its chief use takes the name of bell-metal; its companion alloy is gun-metal. In the mixing of these metals special alloys are aimed at according to the object in view, that is to say, the ingredients vary, but, broadly defined, the copper and its alloy tin used in bell-metal are in the proportion of three to one. The metal was in the past used for those much employed articles of commercial and domestic use, mortars, in addition to the founding of bells. Bell-metal was also the material of which weights and measures (especially the standards kept in many of the old cities) were chiefly made (see illustrations and references thereto in Chapters [X] and [XI]).