Bell Metal

Bell metal, or bell bronze, is an alloy for making bells, cymbals and related instruments. It is a bronze with more tin than most, usually about four parts copper to one of tin, typically 78 per cent copper and 22 per cent tin by mass. The extra tin makes it more rigid and more resonant, and founders vary the tin between 20 and 26 per cent. Historically it was preferred for early cannons. In India it is called kanh in Assam and kansa in West Bengal and Odisha, and kanchu in Kannada, and it is made into cooking and eating vessels. In Assam its utensils have many religious uses, including the bata and banbati, which carry offerings and puja or honour guests.