G'day leeneia,

I suspect that your blacksmith wrought the original clapper from two long, ~ square rods ... of the largest cross section at hand. He would have forge-welded them together longitudinally, then forged them into an approximate round shape. If there is no sign of the head being attached, he probably then "bumped it up" in the forge until he had a large enough 'lump' to do the job and then forged the other end down a little and turned it round to make an attachment (ring ... ?).

What he did with his skill and what was available locally has lasted most of 135 years, but it will have failed at the weakest point of the exercise ... the long forge weld of the two bars to make a sufficiently solid shaft. The best repair (unless a really good blacksmith could reforge the shaft without delaminations, perhaps adding some material the strengthen it) would be to replace it with what the original smith would have done ... if he had the heavier material.

If the correct metal rod can be obtained in heavy enough crosssection, a good smith could forge it roughly round, "bump up" the clapper to match the shape and mass of the original and turn a suitable ring for attachment at the other end ... and it ought to last far beyond any of our imagined futures. Obviously, all the real questions have to be asked at your end ... starting with finding a good traditional blacksmith and asking him what he would do ... and how.

Regards,

Bob