Plenty of companies will sell or install a digital bell system, but only two manufacturers actually engineer them from the ground up: Schulmerich and Chime Master. If you’re comparing digital carillon options, understanding how these two differ — in ownership, control systems, and approach — is more useful than comparing installer brochures.
Quick Overview
| Schulmerich | Chime Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1935 (Sellersville, PA) | 1961 (Ohio) |
| Ownership | Acquired by The Verdin Company in 2014 | Independent, family-owned |
| Claim to fame | Pioneered electronic bell amplification and the electro-mechanical carillon | The one significant manufacturer in this category not owned by Verdin |
| Control systems | Proprietary Schulmerich control platforms | Libertas AX/LX control systems |
| Automation | Scheduling and ringing automation built into its platforms | IntelliSwing automation technology |
History & Ownership
Schulmerich has the longer history in electronic bells by a couple of decades — it’s widely credited as the company that pioneered electronic bell amplification in the first place, effectively creating the category. It was acquired by The Verdin Company in 2014, but continues to design, sell, and support systems under its own brand rather than being folded into Verdin’s general product line.
Chime Master has been in business since 1961 and remains independently, family-owned — it’s the one manufacturer in this specific space with real engineering depth that isn’t part of the Verdin family of companies. For parishes who specifically want to work with a company outside that ownership structure, Chime Master is effectively the only option with comparable engineering credentials.
Control Systems & Automation
Both manufacturers offer their own proprietary control platforms rather than off-the-shelf hardware, which is part of why cross-brand service is hard to find — a technician trained on one system generally isn’t automatically qualified on the other. Chime Master’s current platforms are its Libertas AX/LX control systems paired with IntelliSwing automation for ringing schedules and swinging-bell simulation. Schulmerich has its own parallel line of control and automation platforms built around decades of refinement since its original electro-mechanical systems.
Which Should You Choose?
- Does it matter to your committee whether the manufacturer is independently owned, or part of a larger foundry group?
- Do you already have a Schulmerich or Chime Master system installed that you’re looking to service, expand, or replace rather than starting from scratch?
- Is this purchase bundled with a broader project — a new tower, a bronze bell, or a full campus renovation — where a single vendor relationship (which favors Schulmerich/Verdin) might simplify things?
- What does local installer and service availability look like for each brand in your region?
In practice, both companies have long track records and are reasonable starting points for a quote. The honest answer for most parishes is to request quotes from both and compare them on the specifics of your tower, budget, and desired features — company history alone rarely settles the decision.
This page is independent, editorial content and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Schulmerich Carillons, Chime Master, or The Verdin Company. All company and brand names are the property of their respective owners.