Deagan Tower Tube Installations

The first table below shows institutions in the USA, the second shows institutions in Canada, and the third shows other foreign institutions.  Within each table, sites are listed by geographic region (state, province or country), then by city, then by name of institution (either as at the time of original installation or as of the latest status report).  The TONES column shows the number of tones (notes) in the instrument, and the YEAR column shows when the instrument was installed (or when it was expanded to its final size); in some cases initial or intermediate sizes and years are also shown.  A few institutional name changes shown presumably were recorded before the Deagan Company ceased operations in this market.  For instruments relocated by Deagan, these tables show only the final location and installation date.

Most information in the first five columns of each table is either based on or verified by a Deagan Company list posted by Ed Gaida, with a few minor editorial changes.  Information in the STATUS column, together with information in italics in the other columns, was provided by the author of this page based on other sources, including a personal logbook kept by Roy Lofink, one of Deagan's principal tower chime installers.  Status indications for instruments are as follows (count in parentheses):

• Operable (76) = exists and can be used (even if it isn't)
• Dead (78) = exists but needs repairs to become operable
• Partial (4) = exists, some controls or notes usable, others need repair
• Stored (3) = taken down, but still kept by original owner
• Extant (27) = exists but its condition is unknown
• Relocated (13) = was moved (sold or given) to another institution (details not given here, but can be found by following the Status link)

• Removed (6) = was taken down, possibly sold; components may survive
• Replaced (14) = was replaced by a different tower instrument; disposition unknown
• Scrapped (21) = was removed and discarded or sold as junk
• Demolished (1) = was destroyed by human action
• Destroyed (10) = was destroyed by fire or other disaster
• Disappeared (4) = fate unknown, though the building survives
• Gone (19) = Institution or building no longer exists, so instrument is presumed demolished or scrapped

• blank or ? (question mark) = status is unknown
• Other status indications are self-explanatory.

SUMMARY:
More than 200 tower chimes survive, in various conditions.
Approximately 75 tower chimes have been lost for various reasons.
The status of the remaining 150 or so tower chimes is uncertain at this time.

NOTE: Dead instruments can usually be resurrected.  The tubular bells are essentially unaffected by exposure to weather in the belfry.  The timber racks on which they hang are simple in design, and are easily repaired or rebuilt if badly weathered (though that is uncommon).  The mechanical equipment is sturdy, and typically needs only minor adjustment and lubrication.  The electrical wiring and related components are the parts most likely to need refurbishing, but the expertise to do that does exist.  Replacement equipment, additional controls or even complete installations can be obtained using material that was removed from other institutions.  Additional information

Installations in the U.S.A.