EMD Bronze bell (more info than you ever wanted to know)

[UnionPacific6936]

Nice! I just got an EMD flat top bell. your lucky it is complete and original. mine got a new ringer, and various missing/broken parts.

[metraman0102]

When you get it working could you message me? cant wait to hear how it sounds :D

[mafarnz]

@metraman0102 That's going to be a very long time. I need to get some sort of stand or tripod mount built for it, and since that will require a welding shop, it's not high up on my list of hobby projects.

[iqbaln206]

how dare you you insult the e bell!!!!!!!i love bells!

[mafarnz]

@iqbaln206 I love b ells too... mechanical bells made out of metal!!! I wouldn't mind E-bells so much if they didn't sound like crap...

[wwrr98]

aww man!!! i want that for our SW1!!!

[ACLTony]

MaFarnz, thanks for your info. It's not a waste of time. I learned about locomotive horns but am trying to learn as much as I can about bells.....particularly the ones used by Amtrak's locomotives during the 70s and 80s.

[mafarnz]

@ACLTony By the late 70's, EMD was starting to use steel bells as the standard bell, though bronze was still an option. By the mid 80's, only steel bells were still being made. For Amtrak F40PH's, I would expect to see a mix of steel and bronze bells, all of them frame mount similar to this one.

[ACLTony]

@mafarnz Thank you for replying. I don't know which is which, but I remember the SDP40fs having their bells emitting a pleasant "Klang" sound that had a slight reverb. I think your bell is that type. The F40s that showed up on the Florida trains had a harsher sounding bell, which I think may be the steel bell. Would you be willing to post a clip with your bell ringing steadily for 10 seconds or so? I think your bell is the same type I heard back in the day. Thanks again for your info!

[mafarnz]

@ACLTony My bell is currently in pieces, but if you search youtube for EMD steel bell and EMD bronze bell there are several good clips of both. The SDP4F's would certainly have had bronze bells.

[J3110M4N14]

why was it under stering wheels and auto pars

[mafarnz]

@J3110M4N14 Because some people don't know how to look for categories on ebay. There is a Whistle bells and horns sections on ebay...

[mafarnz]

@xfaesarx Some people may want to know information like that, I'm sorry that you feel it was a waste of time.

[xfaesarx]

@mafarnz Err i didn't mean it like that sorry :/

[pipus10]

Awesome ! +1 and to favorites!

[cweis127]

I say an EMD steel bell sounds better

[izzwardo]

Thats a great find Matt. I just recently purchased a bronze early EMD bell with the ringer. It does not have the mounting plate so I will end up making one.

[mafarnz]

@izzwardo One thing to keep in mind is that the top of the bell stem is beveled (at an angle), making fabricating a mounting plate a but difficult, but not imposable.

[jpaufsc]

Where did you get your bell valve? I just bought a nice EMD Steel bell and I would like a valve for it.

[mafarnz]

@jpaufsc I got mine from ebay, but I'm sure Tommy Aker could find you one. 843-455-0090

[lrichardm]

Great find.

[ble909]

Great source of info right there.

[thehappycrab]

Great! Now you just gave me one more thing to search on a daily basis. Very informative video-well done.

[Lightwolf333]

Sweet man! 

[moonwalker5058]

I kinda like E-Bells, but EMD bells are the shit!!

[CRQ5508]

I need to scan e-bay more often. These bronze bells are becoming ever harder to find. Good catch!

[martinlumber]

I wish that my bell had a spacer block....

[thestuffz]

very lucky find!

[844jim]

Pretty neat, Matt. I'd find some sort of tarnish remover/polish and make the brass on that bell shine again.

[mafarnz]

@844jim For a bell as nice as this one definitely.