Workers will start erecting scaffolding on McGraw Tower at Cornell next week, beginning a planned, 18-month restoration of the tower's belfry and its most important tenant -- no, not the pumpkin -- the Cornell chimes.

The 173-foot clock tower was erected in 1891 to house the original chimes, which were played on the university's first day of operation in 1868 and have been a fixture ever since. After more than a century, the tower is in need of restoration. Mortar and sandstone deteriorate, and, in fact, construction techniques in the 1890s exposed the tower's structure to significant water and wind erosion.

In March, experts will conduct exploratory tests to establish the extent of the structural damage. Then, following Commencement and Reunion this spring, the chimes will be removed from the tower and shipped to Batavia, Ohio, on a flatbed truck to be tuned for the first time in their history. Two artisans there, Bill Meeks and Richard Watson, will use laser technology to shave the outer surfaces of the 19 bells until the correct pitch is reached on each; and two additional bells will be cast.

All 21 chimes will be transported to campus in time for the 1999 Commencement ceremonies. Later that summer, the bells will be returned to the refurbished tower and repositioned so that more of their sound is projected out to the campus. The outside appearance of the tower will not be altered by the project.

Project manager James D. Bucko of the maintenance management unit in the Facilities Management department of the Division of Facilities and Campus Services, says pedestrian traffic will be affected only on days when a crane is in use, after renovation work begins next semester. Bucko estimates that the entire project will cost between $2 million and $3.5 million, depending on how much damage is detected. The project, which has been in the planning stages for several years, was given final approval at this past week's meeting of the university trustees, after a presentation by Phillip Cox, director of facilities management.