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A bicycle bell is a
Pictures and description of internal mechanismVideo clip of internal mechanism
{{Authority control Bells (percussion) Bicycle parts
A bicycle bell is a percussive
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Excl ...
signaling instrument mounted on a bicycle
A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bic ...
for warning pedestrians and other cyclists. The bell
A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an inter ...
is a required piece of equipment in some jurisdictions. They are usually mounted on the handlebars and thumb activated.
History
The bicycle bell was invented byJohn Richard Dedicoat
John Richard Dedicoat (born 1840, Birmingham; died 1903) was the inventor of the pencil-sharpening machine, bicycle bell, and other bicycle related items. Apprenticed to James Watt, he went on to become a bicycle manufacturer and made and sold ...
, and patents for bicycle bells appear as early as 1877.
Types
The most common bells are actuated by a thumb-operated lever that is geared to rapidly rotate two loosely slung metal discs inside the bell housing. Said discs repeatedly rattle and strike the bell to produce a sound not unlike that of anelectric bell
An electric bell is a mechanical or electronic bell that functions by means of an electromagnet. When an electric current is applied, it produces a repetitive buzzing, clanging or ringing sound. Electromechanical bells have been widely used at r ...
. This type of bell comes in left and right handed versions. Left handed versions are mounted on the left side of the handle bars and are used in countries that drive on the left hand side of the road. The right hand is then free to give traffic signals.
Simpler types also exist, with a spring-mounted external clapper that creates a "ding-ding" sound when the clapper is pulled with a finger and released. Some bells, particularly these "ping" types, work poorly in rainy conditions because water drops clinging to the bell damp the vibrations which produce sound.
As musical instruments
Bicycle bells have also been used as musical instruments in such notable recordings as "You Still Believe in Me
"You Still Believe in Me" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album ''Pet Sounds''. Initially conceived as "In My Childhood", it was the first songwriting collaboration between Brian Wilson, the group's ''de facto'' l ...
" on ''Pet Sounds
''Pet Sounds'' is the 11th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on May 16, 1966, by Capitol Records. It was initially met with a lukewarm critical and commercial response in the United States, peaking at number 10 on th ...
'' by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...
and "Bicycle Race
"Bicycle Race" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was released on their 1978 album ''Jazz'' and written by Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury. It was released as a double A-side single together with the song "Fat Bottomed Girls", rea ...
" by Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
and more.
See also
*Bicycle horn
A horn is a sound-making device that can be equipped to motor vehicles, buses, bicycles, trains, trams (otherwise known as streetcars in North America), and other types of vehicles. The sound made usually resembles a "honk" (older vehicles) or ...
References
External links
Pictures and description of internal mechanism
{{Authority control Bells (percussion) Bicycle parts