Expert: William J Perkins - 6/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: The string broke on one of my tubular chime tubes. It only has a singular
small hole in the center top of the tube.  Where can I obtain something to
hold a new loops of string in he tube.  I was inking of a small piece of spring
steel shaped like the letter "V" that I could place the string in and then place
it into the small hole where it wold expand and hold the string in place.

Or if you have a better idea let me know.

ANSWER: Use a needle and long thread to do this job.  Put a thread longer than the tube on the needle.  Prepare your suspension cord with a knot on one end.  Drop the threaded needle though the hole in the top of the tube so that the thread extends beyond both ends of the tube.  Tie the suspension cord to the thread exposed at the bottom, then pull through.  The knot on the suspension cord will keep that end from passing through the hole.  Tie the suspension cord to the rack, exactly as the other tubes are tied.  You are done.  Regards wjp

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I just realized my tubular chimes are not hollow (empty) at the bottom.  The
bottom looks exactly the same as the top - a disk with a small hole in it.

Now what can I do?

ANSWER: You still have to do the same thing, only you have to shake the tube around until you get it to come through the hole.  Using a heavy needle might help.  Although I would not reccomend this proceedure often times the plug (disk) you refer to is friction fit and sometimes you can insert a hook and simple yank the plug out.  The danger, is, if you don't know what you are doing you can seriously damage the tube.  That sort of endeavor is best left to people trained for the job.  Regards WJP

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The disk is soldered in and cannot be removed.

Even if I manage to get the cord thru the hole the knot would hang up on the
bottom hole and if not it would have to be 3 feet long or so

Answer
In my 60+ years in this business I have never come upon the situation you describe.  The structure of the tube is one that would normally describe an ornamental attachment rather than a functional chime tube.  If I could only see the thing, particularly to view the other tubes in the set to determine how they were attached.  That not being possible I must admit, You Got me!!!  Perhaps the V spring you proposed is a viable solution.  In any case I am sorry to have failed on this.  I hate failure!  Could I prevail upon you to relay  to me what ever becomes the solution.  My regrets and regards WJP