Botafumeiro out of use for maintenance for unspecified period

[Bradypus]

Something a Facebook friend has just posted. The Botafumeiro has been taken out of use for maintenance work for an unspecified period.

El botafumeiro de la catedral de Santiago, fuera de servicio por labores de mantenimiento

Los visitantes no podrán admirar estos días la pericia de los tiraboleiros

www.lavozdegalicia.es

 

[Vacajoe]

I’m sure it will be back prior to Christmas Mass.

 

[Bert45]

I have read that there are two botafumeiros.
"The current Botafumeiro is made of an alloy of brass and bronze and is plated by a very thin 20-micrometre layer of silver. The current Botafumeiro was created by the gold and silversmith José Losada in 1851. It has a golden sheen." [btw brass and bronze are both alloys themselves.]
and
"There is another large thurible used in the other masses carried out in the cathedral, called La Alcachofa (literally, 'the Artichoke')[7] or La Repollo (literally, 'the Cabbage'). La Alcachofa is a silver-colored metal censer. It was created in 1971 by the sacred art artisans working under the craftsman Luis Molina Acedo." [Wiki]
So can't they use the spare in the meantime?

I should have read the article! I just read the headline and made an assumption. Edited after reading posts 4, 5, and 6.

 

[Bradypus]

So can't they use the spare in the meantime?

If you read the linked article you will see that it is not the Botafumeiro itself which is the problem - the swinging mechanism is to be examined and the ropes are being replaced. The spare would have to be used on the same system.

 

[Flog]

So can't they use the spare in the meantime?

The thurible is only one small element of the botafumeiro, there is the whole pully mechanism and supporting structure, a considerable weight..
If there was any doubt about its integrity, and this would appear to be the case, there would need to be a very thorough inspection of the whole system, it could take some time.

 

[dick bird]

Ropes wear out, as any sailor or bell-ringer will tell you. Replacing the ropes, e.g. bell ropes, is when you have a good look at the mechanism to make sure everything is OK. So this may be a routine shut down lasting a few days. Then again, if they do find a problem the shut down will be longer. Fingers crossed it´s the former.

 

[Hoggy]

There was no bota at Easter.

I asked the Cathedal about this and they are unable to say when it will be back. This is clearly long term

 

[RowenaH]

I was there last night on a tour. They are using the opportunity to get it all checked out and it is taking longer than expected. You can see the two bota in the museum (No pics allowed) and get the latest bota-fix news on a guided tour. The night tour was excellent for this. Fun facts the guide shared: it swings at 70kph / 40mph and has only broken 4 times - and no one has died