September 2003 Renovations
A $450,000 gift from the Estate of Larry A. Webb of St. Augustine, FL, made possible major upgrading of the carillon in 2002. Webb directed his gift to the repair, replacement and maintenance of the carillon. The renovation, carried out by Koninklijke Eijsbouts (Royal Dutch Bell Foundry) of Asten, The Netherlands, was completed just in time for the 9/11 memorial of 2003. The generous gift from Webb funded the installation of 12 additional treble bells, bringing the total number of bells to 61. The compass of the instrument is now 5 octaves with only the lowest C sharp omitted.
The carillon also received a new playing clavier and new radial transmission playing action. The recently installed clavier employs new materials for bushings, baton pads, and radiating pedals bringing the lowest and the highest pedals closer to the player. Five bells plus the bourdon are equipped with electric action and are connected to a newly installed computer system that plays the quarter and hourly strikes. Eijsbouts also provided a new electronic practice clavier and computer that can produce touch-sensitive sounds from four, different sampled bell tones. With the available MIDI, the practice clavier provides an excellent teaching aid and enables the student to record and playback.