By N.L. CHRISTENSEN Herald Editor Emeritus Breathes there a loyal Brigham Young University fan who doesn’t experience a ift of tgairit. at the “clanging” of the ld ‘Y’ Bell? Tolling of the bell is a hallowed traditlon almost as old as the school itself. (Actually we should say “bells” slnce it is, known there have been three plus a couple of substitute devices.) Their maln role in earlier years was to signal the start and inish of classes and, for a time, to give graduating seniors a resoundir;5 farewel. When the bell peal the end of World War 1, it is said, the fire department misread the reason and hurried to the Lower Campus looking for a blaze. Ringing the bell to celebrate Cougar athletic victories became the prime function in recent decades, The clcar-voiced nickel bell of today – mounted in an ‘topen arch tower” just southwest of the Marriott Center – was an old friend of the community long before it became a BYU symbo in 1919. Made by McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore in 19117. it origina y was mounted in the tower of the Provo Meeting House 10ld Tabernacle). Ita functions in those days were to call the people to worship. toll the 9 p.m. curfew. and “ring in” such celebrations as the Fourth of July and Pioneer Day, When the Old Tabemacle was razed in 1918-19, the Utah Stake Presidency donated the McShnne nickel bel to BYU, This was to become the ‘Y’ Bell of destiny albeit a precarious destiny at times. In these past six decades the bell has been cracked. miraculously welded, stolen, recovered, broken and repaired again. it still rings with undimm spirit. Here’s a glimpse of earlier Old ‘Y’ Bells; The first one tolled at Brigham Young Academy’s lnitial home,the bewis Building at Third West and Center. it was destroyed along with the building in the fire of Jan. 27, lllbl. According to Karl Miller. longtime BYU physical plant staffer and ‘Y’ history buff, batterypowered “electrlc bells” designed by facultyman James E. Talmage were used for a time during the eightuyears the BYA occupied the C I Warehouse at Sixth South and University Avenue. Also serving as a ‘bell” in that period and continuing when the school moved to the new lnwer Campus at Fifth North and University in 1H2 was a resonant steel triangle. sounded by a “ball disciplmarian.” BYA became Brigham Young University in 1909. As the schoo grew, the need for a bell increased. Faculty minutes of Oct. 3. 1912 show that E. D. Partridge. William H. Boyle and Joseph B. Keeler were appointed to obtain one. ‘Yes, We 1-fave a Bell,” announced the White and Blue. campus newspaper, on Nov. 19. But that cast iron instrument. a product of the American Bell oundry of Nortbville, Mich., failed to excite students and faculty as hoped. lu tone was described as ”muffled.” “leaden.” and “thud-like.” Thus a new chapter in the Old ‘Y’ Bell legend was welcomed in 1919 when the present nickel bell was moved from the Old Tabernacle to the Academy Building vlater known as the Education Building). The cast iron bell of 1912, purchased for $60 of student money according to some reports. was stored for a time. then donated to the Boy Scouts. Today it ls mounted outdoors at Camp Maple Dell in Payson Canyon. The new ‘Y’ Bell qulckened the hearts of campus devotees. it since has inspired a couple of songs, and its to ling came to stand for honor. achievement and school spirit. Until 19N the bell was rung by specially-assigned students who pulled a rope extending from the elfy. One such student was Miller, who helped this writer with the research. Then J. W. Sauls made a set of gears to ring the hellgyj electric motor. But after a B basketball victory over Utah Unlversity in 1949. over-exuberant students overlooked the electric switch and tmunded the bell so vigorously t tl1ey opened an ugy crack in the cod nickel surface. The Old ‘Y’ Bell was rendered voiceless! Mute until 1954, it was successfully repaired that year through an intricate welding rocess. As recounted by Miller, BYU employee Richard Bradshaw knew a Frenchman named John Champaux of Oxeyweld Company which assisted Union Paci ic Railroad with its weldingmneeds. rough Champaua, the services of machinist-welder Frank Heminway were obtained. A special cupola was built in the Central Heating Plant shop where Miller was foreman. The bell was heated and welded under Champaux’ watchful eye. The operation succeeded beyond hopes, With its voice restored. the bell was mounted on a trailer so it could follow Cougar athletic events. in that portable condition it was stolen in 19511, to be discovered six months later in a Springville field. The incident prompted construction of an open steel tower for the bell on the U per Carnus overlooking the (george Albert Smit.h Fieldhouse. T e Intercollmate Knights, Blue Keys, ‘te Keys and Y Calcares sgsarheaded the fund drive. T tower was dedicated at BYU Homecoming in 1959. The bell’s last brush with misfortune came Feb, 3, 1973 after another Cougar-Ute game when the mounting at its crown was broken. it was electricallywelded in the BYU maintenance shgpmwith no effect on the tone. instrument was moved for the last time a few years ago to the Marriott Center location. it is ning after BYU basketball and football victories by the lntercollegiate Knights. who control the lock to the pull chain. And with each tolling. another link is forged in the long tradltion of the Old ‘Y’ Bell.