Deeds Carillon

*Location:

   Deeds Memorial Tower
   Carillon Historical Park
   South Patterson Boulevard at
     Carillon Boulevard
   Dayton, Ohio, USA
   LL: N 39.73097, W 84.19760

   Elevetor to playing cabin

Site locator map

*Carillonist:

   Alan Bowman   (C)
   E: abowman@daytonhistory.org

   1988-2024 Larry Weinstein   (C)

*Contact:

   Dayton History
   Brady Kress, President
   1000 Carillon Boulevard
   Dayton, OH  45409-2023
   T: 937-293-2841   F: 937-293-5798
   E: bkress@daytonhistory.org

*Schedule:

   3pm every Sunday during open season
   (May 1 - Oct 31) for
   Carillon Historical Park
   (free--open 10-6 Tues-Sat,
   1-6 Sun & holidays)

*Remarks:

   Original carillon was the only one by
   Meneely of Troy; with it were 9
   non-speaking bells (later 8) not tuned
   to the carillon.  Old bass bell
   remains on display near the tower.
   Newest trebles were originally part of
   MECHANICSBURG - 4,  USA - PA  (see
   under 'Former Carillons' below).
   Aug.2005: Carillon Historical Park
   merged with Montgomery County Historical
   Society to form Dayton History.
   Electric action added to 32 notes
   in March 2010, instead of repairing
   the elevator (which was done later).

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 57 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is A# in the bass octave
   Keyboard range:     A#G   /    A#C 26
   Transposition is nil (concert pitch)
   There is one missing bass semitone
   There is a non-identical practice console
   The instrument was enlarged in 1992
     with bells made by Petit & Fritsen
   Prior history:
     In 1988, the present instrument was begun with 50 bells
       by Petit & Fritsen
       Keyboard range was:     A#C   /    A#C 26
     In 1973, the instrument was enlarged to 32 bells
       by vanBergen   
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     C G   /    NONE  
       Transposition was down 2 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A#
       There were two missing bass semitones
     In 1964, some bells were retuned
       by vanBergen   
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     ----  /    NONE  
     In 1942, the instrument was begun with 23 bells
       by Meneely/Troy
       (0 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     C C   /    NONE  
       Transposition was down 2 semitone(s), i.e., from C to A#
   Auxiliary mechanisms: E32   
   Tower details: 
     Height of console:                 27 meters above ground
     Height of lowest level of bells:   32 meters above ground
     Height of highest level of bells:  38 meters above ground
     Belfry openness:  99%
   Year of latest technical information source is 1992

The Park Website can alse be reached through the Dayton History Website.  It includes some tiny photos and a very small amount of information about the carillon.

News article on the new carillonneur

Publicity article, with video (1:15) and some interesting historical photos.  Unfortunately, the autoplaying video merely repeats photos with subtitles from the text, and the choice of bell music as a background is very odd.

Stock photo, aerial view of tower, park and vicinity

Waymarking page, with tower photo

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Troy) bellfoundry.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the vanBergen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the third phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the vanBergen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the fourth phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by weight.
Ranking among all North American traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American concert class carillons by year of completion.

Other concert carillons with similar keyboard ranges.

Why the first instrument in this tower was a milestone in North American non-traditional carillon history (1942).

Index to all traditional carillons in OH.

Index to all tower bell instruments in OH.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2024/08/12
   and on technical data last updated on 2012/03/17