Witzenberg, Ceres, Ceresvallei, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

Ceres, Dutch Reformed Church Ceresvallei. In the slim and high tower of the Dutch Reformed Church in Ceresvallei hangs a bell that can hardly be approached. The bell hangs above the clock and can only be viewed from underneath. We nevertheless succeeded in measuring the bell and to collect its acoustical properties. From the pictures that have been taken from the sides, one finds a first decorative moulding wire with flowers and angels playing the violin. Below this a band that runs all around the bell and with the following text: + A.D. 1963 + Petit & Fritsen Aarle-Rixtel, Holland + On the reverse side of the bell stands, Gelewer Deur Suid-Afrikaanse Orrelbouwers, (EDMS) Beperk, Silverton. After the word Holland figures a number that we guess is 4052. Then follows a second decorative band with hanging flowers. At the sound bow one finds a further set of five moulding wires. The Royal Bell Foundry Petit & Fritsen is the third oldest family business in the whole of the Netherlands. It started operations in 1660 and remained one of the main bell founders in the world. In 2012 it was amalgamated with the Koninklijke Eijsbouts in Asten, the Netherlands. We have found information on this specific bell in the Regionaal Historisch Centrum, Eindhoven that houses the archives of the foundry. We learned from these archives that South African Organ Builders (SAOB) was billed on 21 October 1963 for the bell of 238.5 kg and that the bell was later delivered by the m.s. Oostkerk. Because the bell has been hanging in the open air, it suffered severely from visits by pigeons and other birds.