Ginés Donaire I Jaén, (EFE).- Bell manufacturers maintaining the tradition of three centuries ago is the vocation of Campanas y Relojes Rosas, from Torredonjimeno (Jaén), the only foundry of its kind in Andalusia.
The Tosiriana firm, in which 12 people work, settled in the Jaén municipality in 1880. It was the heir to the company founded in the Levantine lands in the 17th century by Vicente Roses Soler.
“Our most singular element is that we maintain the artisanal essence in the manufacture of bells and, upon request, in the ornaments and engravings,” Alberto Damas assures Efe. He is one of the four partners that manages this foundry located in the Mirabueno de Torredonjimeno industrial estate.
The annual production of this company oscillates between 8,000 and 12,000 kilos of bells. Its main customers are parishes, brotherhoods and also town halls. They distribute bells throughout the national territory and reserve 15% for export, especially to Latin American countries.
Exclusive shapes of the bells
“The shape of our bells is exclusive, making them reproduce a high quality, pure and very peculiar sound”, adds Alberto Damas.
Manuel José Ortiz, technical manager of the company, explains that the manufacture of the bells begins by creating a mold with a tool called a die, which is what will define the kilos that the bell will weigh once it is finished. Subsequently, the bricks glued with mud are incorporated and adjusted so that they remain within the interior perimeter marked by the thread.
Little by little, the main structure of the bell is shaped, which will withstand the different layers, giving it strength and consistency. And so on until the mold begins to cook, achieving a strong texture similar to ceramic.
The decorations, explains Ortiz, is the most creative part of the mold. The inscriptions on each bell are made at the request of the person who commissioned its construction. Ornaments that are made with virgin beeswax. And at the end is added the peculiar and recognized seal of the company, the lizard, symbol of fire.
Public address and artistic lighting
For 40 years, the company has also incorporated watchmaking, specializing in antique and museum watchmaking machinery.
“Thanks to our experience, we offer exclusive, standard, classic or avant-garde designs in the manufacture of dials and hands,” says Alberto Damas.
Another novelty is that the company also offers indoor or outdoor public address equipment for temples and auditoriums with highly qualified personnel in the sector of the prestigious Italian brand ‘alphagrup’.
The services portfolio of the Jaén firm is completed with artistic lighting products for indoor buildings, with LED technologies, lighting for towers and bell towers, heating buildings and terraces by means of infrared radiators and electronic lamps. EFE