Size

The range of bell sizes is considerable, from 150mm diameter at the mouth and weighing 3 or 4kg up to 3m in diameter and weigh almost 20 tonnes.

Uses

The principle use of any bell is as a signal, be it a warning of danger, celebration or merely passing time. Thus bells have in the past been used in factories and continue to be used in schools to indicate commencement or ending of a working shift or teaching session.

In Churches they indicate a call to prayer, as an indication that a Service is about to commence at the Church or when rung on a regular basis to indicate to the faithful whilst at work or play their divine creator. Clocks on public buildings provide a visual indication of time and are very often accompanied by a bell to strike the hour and with additional bells to give musical accompaniment at the quarter hours.

The sizes of the bells employed will, in most cases, be determined by the size and nature of the building constructed to house them.