55 Steps in Refurbishing

Administrative Process
1. order entry
2. return labels prepared; paperwork processed
3. orders sent to shipping department; appropriate cartons sent to you to pack your instruments
4. upon arrival of return shipment, confirmation made of order to shipment; order tagged for identification
5. order number is assigned to enable tracking through upcoming processes

Case Refurbishing
6. cases inspected, noting suggested repairs
7. all cases vacuumed, missing note decals replaced if needed
8. outer vinyl covering cleaned & polished
9. hardware replacement and any other repair is done with your approval (this is not included in the refurbishing, nor is there a lifetime warranty on the cases)

Handbell Audio/Visual Evaluation; Charting 7 Pages of Notes
10. your handbells rung, castings marked with removable marker to identify note
11. undesirable changes noted in general tonal quality
12. development of strong overtones noted
13. development of fast vibrato noted
14. pitch checked, changes noted (pitch change can occur to inherent changes in stress, or outer stressors such as excessive or large nicks or over-zealous, unauthorized machine polishing)
15. nicks (especially if deep or on the mouth of the casting predisposing your bell to cracks) are noted
16. scratches (severity may prevent removal) listed
17. exposure to fire and/or water determined
18. staining & etching noted
19. evidence of machine polishing not performed in the Malmark facility determined

Handle Evaluation and Performed Work
20. handles inspected
21. missing hardware
22. “fogging” of note denotation and/or inscriptions are noted
23. cracked handles noted
24. handbells disassembled; parts sent to respective departments
25. handles disassembled
26. brass handle blocks replaced with black or white nylon blocks (customer may request they keep the brass and pay an extra charge for cleaning the brass)
27. handle screws polished
28. handle straps cleaned
29. handle straps replaced as determined by inspection, then reassembled

Clapper Evaluation and Work Performed
30. clapper style, materials inspected, determining age
31. extraneous noises from clapper noted (prior to disassembly of the handbell)
32. inspection of yoke/coupler assembly
33. bearings checked
34. clapperheads inspected, cleaned, or replaced if needed
35. replacement of lower octave clapperhead felts performed
36. bushings inspected
37. indexing spring and detent pin inspected
38. brass shafts and clapperhead brass machine cleaned and polished
39. lint & dirt removed from entire assembly
40. restraining springs and screws replaced
41. lubricant reapplied to cleaned, specific areas
42. clappers reassembled and adjustments made to bearing screws

Casting Evaluation and Work Performed
43. bronze castings machine buffed inside & outside with caution as to not detune the casting
44. warranty status confirmed, you are notified by telephone of progress on your order as well as any possible non-warranty covered work suggested
45. upon your approval (or disapproval) of suggested work, all evaluations & work performed by our trained handbell artisans are combined, giving us a detailed handbell health/repair history

Reassembly of Your Handbells
46. castings hand polished inside
47. handbells reassembled
48. restraining springs adjusted to proper resistance
49. handbells revoiced, assuring changes have improved and not compromised tonal pitch, quality and matching of your set
50. if changes cause mis-matching and a new response point cannot be found, said castings replaced at no charge
51. old scribe removed if new strikepoint found
52. handbells hand-polished outside
53. final inspection made
54. refurbished handbells packed in refreshed cases
55. return shipment to you