Jamestown's First Bell Comes to Life

Ben Sunderlin, the only traditional bellmaker in the United States, reconstructs the colony's first bell with the aid of only a handful of bell fragments found in the excavations at the James Fort site. Witness as one of the most important early sounds of Jamestown comes back after remaining silent for over four hundred years. www.sunderlinfoundry.com/

[@stratocaster1greg]

That is impressive. The sound of that bell is beautiful. I like keeping the old ways alive. My machine shop is a trip back into the 1940s and I make stone marbles too.

[@NSYresearch]

Such a complicated process but when the chap struck the bell it was such a beautiful sound.

[@cweefy]

it's so great to see such intelligent and talented younger people . hats off this young man .

[@mouija1450]

I've done a lot of small castings by comparison, and to tackle a giant bell like that with traditional loam is truly a labor of love. Bellmaking is not a moneymaking endeavor, and to do it traditionally is something only a dedicated artist would do. Anyone who purchases a Sunderlin bell is going to get the best and most authentic piece that money can buy.

[@johnf.kennedy7339]

I work in a Church. It's all electronic now.

[@danacantu6714]

Utterly obsessed with Jamestowne. So sad to be moving to Florida next month. My heart will always stay in Jamestowne ❤️

[@swdweeb]

As a guy that is learning to cast bells, this was a great video to watch. Thanks Ben, well done.

[@fredferd965]

A major problem we have with our fast moving, forward advancing society, is that old technology disappears, sometimes forever. There are few people today who can manufacture old wagon wheels, for instance, but there are a few. A simple bell, but how difficult it was to make. Well done, gentlemen. May you always keep the art alive!!!!

[@grownjohnboy]

My daugher had to do a study of architecture for a fine arts project. I gained permission for her to set her easel up at a Mennonite barn raising. She focused on the arms and hands and tools making a wooden joint with hand tools in heavy timbers in one image that came to life. Her idea was worth $ when she had her work featured at a studio. Yes, slower more manual times are better. I moved far away from the cityscape deliberately and choose that tool which makes my body use energy.

[@dalekundtz4603]

What beautiful tone your bell has!! What?? No 3-D laser to construct your mold? JK

[@lesahanners5057]

The tone of the bell was truly lovely. Thank you for all of your hard work and efforts to bring history alive. It literally gave me a delicious shiver down my spine to hear it.

[@mezellenjohnson2753]

What a fantastic sound the beautiful bell makes, it should last for centuries. What a great craftsman that young man is and how lovely to have a bell for the church.

[@suzeaa]

My ancestor was there. He must have heard that bell.

[@squeegeebeeb]

I did not expect it to have such a lovely sound!

[@VoteBlueNov.2024]

The sound of the bell transports you back in time to Jamestown. The familiar sound of the beautiful bell ringing along with friends and families voices around you, calling all to church or perhaps a town meeting of some kind. Great work. Thanks for the clear explanation of your processes and your hard work recreating the metal wonder.

[@alexvlk]

Who got a smile when they heard that bell?

[@mookzmom]

Talented young man. Hard for this old brain to follow, but very interesting! I love your channel!

[@celiasea]

Incredible. That's for sharing this.

[@marymathis9299]

Love the bell!! So glad that's around now to add to the whole experience of Jamestown! That's just really wonderful!! Thanks for taking the time and effort to produce and share online with all of us who love to see each new thing!!

[@PDGreen-ec7ss]

Fantastic job on that bell, what a pure tone!!

[@NostromoVA]

Excellent work! Thank you for working to preserve history!

[@familybills2908]

Labor intense process - Thank You for sharing this craft. Would be interesting if you find more pieces of the bell one day.

[@joannamallory2823]

Fascinating and hearing the sweet tone of that bell, I can see the people gathering to it.

[@lucinda2329]

Fascinating process. Thank you for doing what you do!

[@grownjohnboy]

I used a method of lost wax casting to make gold and non precious metal teeth. What you have done is a wonder to watch. Thank you.

[@sb4759]

Beautiful sound. Great job to rebuild such a treasure! Thank you.

[@kimberly_erin]

Holy cow ! That is some fantastic work! I can’t believe how nice it sounds too! Thank you!

[@tpobrienjr]

Beautiful sound. Thank you.

[@milkmanzwife]

The bell is tolled beautifully.

[@georgerobartes2008]

Founded by The London Company otherwise The Virginia Company of London in 1607 , the original bells were likely the product of the Aldgate ( Whitechapel) Bell Foundary either Joseph Carter 1606 or William Carter 1610 . Sadly at the time of discovery ofthe fragments and the new production , the Whitechapel Bell Foundary had cast it's last bell in 2017 .

[@frankiepips]

Truly awesome work thanks for that.

[@timothymercer3526]

I really enjoyed the video I have quite a bit of foundry experience and I know the work that goes into different casting's and I appreciate the work you put into casting the bell from the pieces of the old bell well done very impressive!!

[@scottnyc6572]

You’d be able to hear that bell for miles back then probably.

[@gwaine]

Enjoyed it! Hope you all are well.

[@JamestownRediscovery]

Come visit man, we miss you.

[@litealite]

Mr. You are awesome !

[@RevGunn-jq3cq]

That was soooooooo cooool !! ...........subscribed

[@JONNYHOTROD]

Fantastic job!

[@carincillierssouth-africa7089]

Oh wow its sounds amazing!

[@thezpn]

What would the age range of the bell fragments be? Is there a chance they could be from the 1607 church?

[@amybarb25]

Very interesting

[@twstf8905]

Amazing 👍

[@TheMistysFavs]

Awesome!

[@patrickbush9526]

Thanks a lot man we buried that Bell on purpose we were tired of them getting drunk ringing it and keeping us up all night

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

What was the purpose of the 'crown'? I love that this knowledge is being recorded - would be terrible to lose it. And the bell sounded SO beautiful...great work!

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

Thanks Danny - I assumed it might be but it seemed so elaborate. Appreciate your response.

[@JamestownRediscovery]

That's correct. The crown is what connects the bell to the swinging mechanism. This could be rope, wrought iron, etc.

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

Thank you!

[@rosepyle2692]

@@JamestownRediscovery , when it s metal as this one does it contribute to the toll of the bell ?

[@adamm2693]

@@rosepyle2692 Not really, in fact in the UK most bellfounders will remove the canons of older bells, and replace them with flat-topped resin or wooden pads. It's just part of the hanging procedure (nowadays they use flat-topped bells with thick bolts going right through it). Though I'd never cut off canons personally!!

[@velvetindigonight]

Wow listening to history........

[@debbralehrman5957]

That is great.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Awesome

[@johnshoosmith]

Great!

[@olivernash2240]

Neat!

[@alanconnors8881]

Cool

[@meemahmcdoogle]

Have some paranormal investigators there and ring the bell. See who you have conjured up!

[@SIMONP1965]

0:40 obviously he was bit by a vampire

[@jonbryn4]

Scholarship? Save hose remnants.

[@DARisse-ji1yw]

Whats brown and sounds like a bell? " DUNG " ! .... Monty Python.

[@JamestownRediscovery]

Nice

[@notme437]

1:58

[@fado792]

Restauration with a grinder!!!! Use explosives!!!

[@shelbylynn1781]

be

[@danhuffman4455]

Horse manure? Really? There's not more modern techniques you could use, say clay and straw or chopped grass or something to that effect?

[@iamcarbonandotherbits.8039]

I think less talk and more time lapse video would have been more educational.

[@laurie4275]

Awesome!!!