Ringing Technology

History – Full-Circle, The Exercise & Dumbbells

Many early bells were chimed with a rope on a lever or a half-wheel.
After The Reformation ringers discovered that, if they used fully circular wheels, bells could be rung full circle so the speed of ringing could be controlled. This enabled the sequence of bells to be changed, so change ringing was developed and spread rapidly in C17th.
Click here for the history of ringing in greater detail.

In the C17th, ringing was the fashionable past-time for young gentlemen and was called The Exercise because, as well as being a social and enjoyable activity, it exercises the muscles.
Some affluent ringers put Dumbbells – silent (dumb) bellringing apparatus – in their homes so that they could simulate ringing to exercise at home.
Modern exercise dumbbells took their name from the early ringers’ dumb bells.

Modern Technology

Ringers still use dumbbells today, but not necessarily the type found in gyms!
Modern ringers’ dumbbells have sensors so that they ‘ding’ on a computer with ringing simulator software, and can be used to practice methods.

Smaller dumbbells can be installed in homes, and larger ones can be installed alongside full-sized bells in towers, so that ringers can practise ringing on more bells than the actual number of real bells in the tower.
The are 2 dumbbells The Gordon Halls Ringing Centre at Eckington so, with the 8 bells, 10 bells can be ring using the simulator.

18 towers in Derbyshire have simulators, some with dumbbells too.

The DDA owns a Wombel, a large mobile dumbbell with a simulator, which is taken to events such as country shows, fetes, and even Scout and Guide camps.
The Wombel is so realistic that people can be taught to ring on it.

CCTVs can be found in some towers, so the bells can be seen ringing from the ringing chamber, or even from inside the main church.

Mobile Belfries

Mobile Belfries and portable Mini Rings are often seen at events such as country shows and fetes.
They are a great introduction to ringing, as people can see the bells working, as well as have a go on them.
With modern engineering technology, they are becoming more commonplace.