*Location:

   Molyneaux-Western Bell Tower
   Miami University
   Peabody Green
   Western College Drive
   Oxford, Ohio, USA
   LL: N 39.50131, W 84.72636

Site locator map

*Former Location (1924-1960s):

   Heath Chimes
   Alumnae Hall Tower
   Western College for Women
   (now part of Miami University)

   (unknown)

*Contact:

   Miami University
   501 East High Street
   Oxford, OH  45056
   T: 513-529-1809  [general information]

*Schedule:

   (unknown)

*Remarks:

   Donated by Mr.F.S.Heath of Columbus OH.
   Original added semitones sharp 4th &
   flat 7th.  Both old and new bells
   retuned by R.Watson, 1988-89.
   Electric keyboard in Kumler Hall.
   Also on this campus: Beta Bell Tower,
   1941, containing 4 bells cast in 1939
   by Meneely (Troy), Westminster quarters
   in E-flat, hour strike on the bass.

*Technical data:

   Electric-keyboard chime of 14 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is E  in the middle octave
   Transposition is unknown
   Keyboard range:     ----  /    ----  
   The arrangement of tones and semitones is unknown.
   The bells were re-tuned in 1989
     by the maker cited in Remarks above
   Prior history:
     In 1979, the instrument was enlarged to 14 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
     In 1924, the instrument was begun with 11 bells
       by McShane     
       Transposition was down 1 semitone(s)
       Keyboard range was:     F G   /    ----  
       There were two added semitones
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 1989

On the MU Website, the tower photo page on the campus tour says nothing about the bells, and no information has been found elsewhere.

The McShane 'Chimes' catalog of 1928 included a page which depicts the original location and describes the bells (all with inscriptions).

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the McShane bellfoundry.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all North American chimes by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American chimes by weight (pitch).
Ranking among all North American chimes by year of completion.

Index to all tower bell instruments in OH, including the carillon in Pulley Bell Tower (-2) on the same campus.

   This page was built from the database on  4-Nov-23
   based on textual data last updated on 2021/08/15
   and on technical data last updated on 2021/08/15