When I was a boy in the 1960's our church had a carillon that was manufactured by this same company. It was actually an automated phonograph with a record changer that played 12-inch 78-rpm records. A very loud horn speaker was in the steeple, and it could be heard all over town. It played one record every day, at noon, and another at 6 p.m. I had the job of loading the machine twice a week after school. I collected old records, and I often thought of loading a Spike Jones record on that machine, but never actually did that. Sometimes, after a power failure, the machine would start in the middle of the night. The pastor, who lived across the street, would come running over to pull the plug. The cabinet containing the machine and all the records was always locked, and only my dad and I knew where the key was hidden.
That’s really funny! A friend of mine grew up with a connection to a similar system. Mixed in with the carillon 78’s was one entitled “The Milk Cow Blues Boogie.” I don’t know if it ever made the playlist.
@@rickruggiero7128 I never heard of that song. Although the bell records were 12-inch, the machine at our church could be adjusted to play 10-inch records as well. This is the record I thought about slipping in, which would have been appropriate because that church was a real joke. ruclips.net/video/_iqeSgBekfg/видео.htmlsi=kGIDzNfBJPZY7KrO They eventually moved to a new building that was also a joke, and switched to the machine that used tape cartridges. At this point I was no longer involved, and I never became an official member. But one day I went to a rummage sale at their new building, and I took a little tour. I chanced upon the new machine, which was housed in the same cabinet. On top of that cabinet was a tarantula that someone left in a glass jar, apparently waiting for it to die. I immediately took it outside and released it behind a bush in front of the building. I put the empty jar back where I found it, with a note that said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself includes bugs, you asshole". I went home and told my mom that I was hoping it would bite one of them in the ass.
Well that would have been interesting to hear echoing across town! I am sorry, though - it sounds as if you were really burned there, and that’s the last thing anyone expects from a church. I hope the years have brought some healing but it can be a slow process.
@@rickruggiero7128 Not burned at all. It's just that they were hypocrites, not at all like Christ, and as a result I never took religious organizations seriously. Some of the most vile people I have ever known go to "church" regularly. ruclips.net/video/pqjPki0E_gk/видео.htmlsi=hnCyhhCtJdKLou6h. My older brother and sister went through confirmation classes and became official members, and proceeded to grow up drinking and sleeping around. But I told my mom I just couldn't see why I should do that, and she didn't make an issue out of it. And of course, all those "christians" took a disparaging view of me. Years later I took an interest in Bible study, and now I can easily prove from scripture how a lot of "church" doctrine is actually christian-veneered paganism -- which of course is an unforgivable sin to them. So yes, it was all a big joke, which I fully understood by the age of 10, and I just walked away.
Well, Carol, you know how I like to go on about some things! 😂 Seriously, there is a lot happening inside these brown cabinets and it’s fun to explain what I can. Glad you’re enjoying it!
Tough question to answer. Small Schulmerich systems come up on eBay from time to time for $500-$1200, but they are generally unrestored, so there can be repair costs involved. Like many things, the value is subjective. I happen to really like these old electromechanical systems!
This is very interesting and informative. Did this particular model have the option for top of the hour Westminster? There’s a Roman Catholic Church in my area that may have had this system back in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was growing up. (I’m 57 now) Thank You.
Hi! Glad you liked the video. My particular system has Westminster Chime and hour strike. It is independently selectable at each quarter-hour interval. As far as I know, the Westminster capability was modular and could be included in any model that contained tone-generating rods. I believe Schulmerich also had a Westminster module that used tape cartridges. I have seen some systems that have the 1/4 hour switches in place, but have no Westminster module inside. I suppose this was done so it could be added later.
Hi Rick! We have and old Carillon at our church that hasn't been used for years It's a model 72 Marion Bells We would like to get it working again Do you have an instruction manual for this unit! Tks!
I don’t have a manual for that unit, but many of the Schulmerich systems are similar. Does the unit power up at all? Do you know what led to it not being used? I’d like to help if I can!
@@rickruggiero7128 From my limited understanding,, years back (probably 20 +, before my time) there was a complaint about the bells being rung on Sunday morning. The pastor had them taken off line (he's long gone). It has been idle ever since. The unit has been kept in a closet in the sacristy and recently I was asked if I could look into seeing if they was still operational. I'm the main go to sound person in the church ,so someone thought I was the best person to ask. I need to pull the unit out and see if it can be turned on. I don't know if it has a plug behind it or it needs to be hard wired. If it it is working, we will need some operating instructions. No one here seems to have a good handle on the unit. Most who may have had detailed knowledge are long gone. So here I am. Basically starting from scratch so to speak. Tks for your quick response!
Let me know what you discover! Keep in mind that it can be a little dicey powering up a tube amp that has sat for so many years. If there is a lot of hum, you probably have bad filter caps and the amp will need servicing. On the other hand, since these old units were built with discrete parts they can be repaired! Most likely the unit has a wall plug, and the connection to the tower speakers is hard wired. My carillon cabinets came from a bank and are labeled “Coronation” and “Arlington.” The Carillon at your church was specifically designed for Catholic Churches with features like Angelus and bell peals. I look forward to hearing more about what you discover!
@@rickruggiero7128 I will look for a plug when I pull it away from the wall. For testing it looks like I can hook it up to an indoor amplifier for testing purposes.
When I was a boy in the 1960's our church had a carillon that was manufactured by this same company. It was actually an automated phonograph with a record changer that played 12-inch 78-rpm records. A very loud horn speaker was in the steeple, and it could be heard all over town. It played one record every day, at noon, and another at 6 p.m. I had the job of loading the machine twice a week after school. I collected old records, and I often thought of loading a Spike Jones record on that machine, but never actually did that. Sometimes, after a power failure, the machine would start in the middle of the night. The pastor, who lived across the street, would come running over to pull the plug. The cabinet containing the machine and all the records was always locked, and only my dad and I knew where the key was hidden.
That’s really funny! A friend of mine grew up with a connection to a similar system. Mixed in with the carillon 78’s was one entitled “The Milk Cow Blues Boogie.” I don’t know if it ever made the playlist.
@@rickruggiero7128 I never heard of that song. Although the bell records were 12-inch, the machine at our church could be adjusted to play 10-inch records as well. This is the record I thought about slipping in, which would have been appropriate because that church was a real joke. ruclips.net/video/_iqeSgBekfg/видео.htmlsi=kGIDzNfBJPZY7KrO They eventually moved to a new building that was also a joke, and switched to the machine that used tape cartridges. At this point I was no longer involved, and I never became an official member. But one day I went to a rummage sale at their new building, and I took a little tour. I chanced upon the new machine, which was housed in the same cabinet. On top of that cabinet was a tarantula that someone left in a glass jar, apparently waiting for it to die. I immediately took it outside and released it behind a bush in front of the building. I put the empty jar back where I found it, with a note that said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself includes bugs, you asshole". I went home and told my mom that I was hoping it would bite one of them in the ass.
Well that would have been interesting to hear echoing across town! I am sorry, though - it sounds as if you were really burned there, and that’s the last thing anyone expects from a church. I hope the years have brought some healing but it can be a slow process.
@@rickruggiero7128 Not burned at all. It's just that they were hypocrites, not at all like Christ, and as a result I never took religious organizations seriously. Some of the most vile people I have ever known go to "church" regularly. ruclips.net/video/pqjPki0E_gk/видео.htmlsi=hnCyhhCtJdKLou6h. My older brother and sister went through confirmation classes and became official members, and proceeded to grow up drinking and sleeping around. But I told my mom I just couldn't see why I should do that, and she didn't make an issue out of it. And of course, all those "christians" took a disparaging view of me. Years later I took an interest in Bible study, and now I can easily prove from scripture how a lot of "church" doctrine is actually christian-veneered paganism -- which of course is an unforgivable sin to them. So yes, it was all a big joke, which I fully understood by the age of 10, and I just walked away.
Love the in-depth explanations!
Well, Carol, you know how I like to go on about some things! 😂 Seriously, there is a lot happening inside these brown cabinets and it’s fun to explain what I can. Glad you’re enjoying it!
Didn't know this was an instrument
It’s kind of a fun one. :)
Where is the bell sound coming from? Is it electronic?
The sound is generated by a small, tuned metal rod, which is struck mechanically. The resulting sound is amplified electronically.
We still have a few parts left from our old church Schulmerich that haven't yet been sold off.
What kinds of parts?
dibs 4 that amp
What is something like that worth
Tough question to answer. Small Schulmerich systems come up on eBay from time to time for $500-$1200, but they are generally unrestored, so there can be repair costs involved. Like many things, the value is subjective. I happen to really like these old electromechanical systems!
Hi my friend. Do you know to programm automaticlly with clock and pins??
This is very interesting and informative. Did this particular model have the option for top of the hour Westminster? There’s a Roman Catholic Church in my area that may have had this system back in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was growing up. (I’m 57 now)
Thank You.
Hi! Glad you liked the video. My particular system has Westminster Chime and hour strike. It is independently selectable at each quarter-hour interval. As far as I know, the Westminster capability was modular and could be included in any model that contained tone-generating rods. I believe Schulmerich also had a Westminster module that used tape cartridges.
I have seen some systems that have the 1/4 hour switches in place, but have no Westminster module inside. I suppose this was done so it could be added later.
Can you please play the Westminster chimes from this carillon?
Certainly! I’ll do my best to post a video in the next day or so.
Hi Rick! We have and old Carillon at our church that hasn't been used for years It's a model 72 Marion Bells We would like to get it working again Do you have an instruction manual for this unit!
Tks!
I don’t have a manual for that unit, but many of the Schulmerich systems are similar. Does the unit power up at all? Do you know what led to it not being used? I’d like to help if I can!
@@rickruggiero7128 From my limited understanding,, years back (probably 20 +, before my time) there was a complaint about the bells being rung on Sunday morning. The pastor had them taken off line (he's long gone). It has been idle ever since. The unit has been kept in a closet in the sacristy and recently I was asked if I could look into seeing if they was still operational. I'm the main go to sound person in the church ,so someone thought I was the best person to ask. I need to pull the unit out and see if it can be turned on. I don't know if it has a plug behind it or it needs to be hard wired. If it it is working, we will need some operating instructions. No one here seems to have a good handle on the unit. Most who may have had detailed knowledge are long gone. So here I am. Basically starting from scratch so to speak. Tks for your quick response!
Oh, my unit says "Marion Bells" on the front like yours above.
Let me know what you discover! Keep in mind that it can be a little dicey powering up a tube amp that has sat for so many years. If there is a lot of hum, you probably have bad filter caps and the amp will need servicing. On the other hand, since these old units were built with discrete parts they can be repaired! Most likely the unit has a wall plug, and the connection to the tower speakers is hard wired. My carillon cabinets came from a bank and are labeled “Coronation” and “Arlington.” The Carillon at your church was specifically designed for Catholic Churches with features like Angelus and bell peals. I look forward to hearing more about what you discover!
@@rickruggiero7128 I will look for a plug when I pull it away from the wall. For testing it looks like I can hook it up to an indoor amplifier for testing purposes.
Excellent! You can play the Westminster Chimes on there!
3 5 4 2
3 4 5 3
5 3 4 2
2 4 5 3
Then the gongs... 1 1 1