Philp O'Haver, Master Molder of the Liberty Bell?

Question

Where can I look to see if Philip O'Haver was truly a Master Molder of the Liberty Bell? I know it was molded three times, so I would not know which time. His father was Joseph C. O'Haver born in France. Philip probably born early @1700's??

Thanks, [e-mail]

Answer 1

The bell was cast by Whitechapel Foundry, London, in 1752,

the foundry workers involved are not known.

It was recast twice by the same two men, John Pass and John Stow, a second bell was ordered from the Whitechapel Foundry as a replacement, but was not permanently installed, again the individual founders are not known.

Philip O'Haver's name is not mentioned at all in relation to the Liberty Bell.

The bell now called the Liberty Bell was cast in the Whitechapel Foundry in the East End of London and sent to the building currently known as Independence Hall.

John Pass and John Stow, recast the bell twice, once adding more copper to make it less brittle and then adding silver to sweeten its tone.

http://philadelphia.about.com/cs/liberty...

In November, Norris wrote to Robert Charles that he was still displeased with the bell and requested that Whitechapel cast a new one.

Upon the arrival of the new bell from England, it was agreed that it sounded no better than the Pass and Stow bell.

http://www.uaoc.org/fourth/libertybell.h...

In 1852, the bell was removed from its steeple, and put on display in the "Declaration Chamber" of Independence Hall. In the meantime, a "Centennial Bell" replica was given as a gift to Philadelphia in 1876. The bell was cast by Meneely & Kimberly, a Troy, New York, bell foundry in June 1876. A third bell hangs in a modern tower nearby. Cast at the same British foundry as the original, this replica, called the Bicentennial Bell, was given to the people of the United States by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain during a visit to Philadelphia in 1976.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bel...

Bell Originally Cast: Whitechapel Foundry 1752

Bell recast: Pass & Stow Philadelphia 1753 and again later that year

Bell owned by: The City of Philadelphia (not the Park Service)

http://www.ushistory.org/LibertyBell/fac...