Help me hang our chimes

[davet]

Our concert band was given a set of pipe organ chimes. I have volunteered to build a frame for them to make orchestra chimes. Any ideas how to mount them at the top so that they can be struck correctly? Each chime has a horizontal hole used to hang it for the organ, so I want to use that hole. Each chime is "plugged" at the top.

The frame and "damper" will be relatively easy.

"hanging materials?" Wire? cord? metal rod?

suspended loosely? suspended on a taut cord or wire?

I welcome any suggestions, even sarcastic, off topic ones!

Dave

[MartyNeilan]

How about fishing line?

[Dan Schultz]

You can restring those chimes with parachute cord that is available at most any Army surplus store. Those holes near the top of the tubes probably originally had rubber grommets in them... to keep from cutting the original cord. When strung tightly with the cord, the tubes will sag just a bit and therefore should self-center between the brackets.

Our community band's chimes are constantly being moved about and it's rather hard on the cord system. So... the last time I reworked them, I ran a solid 1/8" brass rod straight through all the holes (and rubber grommets) and hanging brackets and cut pieces of icemaker tubing to keep the tubes centered. This system works very well and should endure may trips in the trailer and all the rigors of loading and unloading.

Have fun! Chimes are a wonderful addition to a percussion section.

[windshieldbug]

You might ask Tuben about how they're done in situ:
http://coulterorgans.com

[davet]

It's much easier for you to go to a school and look at a set of chimes that to try to interpret a verbal description.

I figured that out after I posted. I made arrangements to check out a local high school set in the morning.


Thanks for all of the replies.

Dave