Tim’s Amazing Yi Bell

Sign up for the Grand Illusions newsletter, at _______________________________________________________________________ This Yi Bell or faith bell was copied from a 2-tone bell discovered in 1978 in the grave of the Chinese marquis Yi from the 5th century BC. It is cast from a newly developed copper-magnesium alloy and possesses a singular physical characteristic resulting from its special shape and the effect of temperature on oscillation damping. At room temperature, the bell only sounds dull and wooden. However, if it is heated for several minutes with an alcohol burner, until it reaches about 100 degrees Centigrade, it produces a beautiful tone. Tim has wanted one of these Yi Bells for a very long time. He finally managed to track down a company that sold them! More data is available here -