Dumbbell installation examples.

Currently Commercially available Dumbbells and fittings & their suppliers

Matthew Higby - he supplies dumbbells mainly for installation in bell towers, made from steel, they are very heavy and expensive https://www.bellhangers.com/services/training-dumbbells

Saxilby simulator (David Horrocks)  These provide a realistic small bell experience - especially with additional weights, and are very nicely made.  It incorporates a stay system.  A number of people have made home-made versions of this design. 

John Norris dumbbell  These are smaller than the Saxilby simulator, but having no stay system they can be rung through far more than a circle and so have the feel of a larger bell.  The design is available on the website for anyone who wants to make their own version.

Maypole dumbbell  (Trevor Arnold).  This system, based on a 26 inch

bicycle wheel, has the dumbbell sitting safely on the floor, with the rope carried upwards via a system of pulleys onto a gantry.

Sensor systems

Single/dual point sensing.  Most sensor systems are of this type.  Saxilby simulators normally use dual point sensing at approximately 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions.  This means no delays is needed between sensor action and bell strike.  However if a sensor misses, it results in a bell strike at the wrong time in the stroke, normally resulting in ringing having to terminate.  Therefore a single bottom dead centre sensing point is recommended for distanced ringing..

Commercial  dumbbells usually come with a sensor system already supplied.  Magnet based sensors may need to use stronger/longer magnets to work satisfactorily for distanced ringing.

John Norris supplies individual  sensors.

David Bagley (http://www.bagleybells.co.uk/) supplies sensor packages suitable for putting sensors on a complete ring of bells, with each bell providing a character to the serial port.  (Current versions of the interface can only support one bell per port, but if there is demand support for multiple bells using the Bagley system can be added.) . 

Home made sensor systems of different sorts are also possible, as described on the Abel website, but these designs typically use obsolete components. 

Dumbbell Installations

List of sort of information to include when writing about one

"Tyes" Dumbbell at Plymtee, Devon, Richard Johnston  Tyes is a mini-bell dumbbell.

Photographs of installations:

Milica Reardon: Maypole dumbbell, installed in a conservatory:

Monica Hollows: John Norris derived dumbbell attached to landing bannister rail:

Ben Johnson: John Norris derived dumbbell on a frame that can be dismantled and reerected at public events:

Tom Farthing: Home designed and made heavy dumbbell, of similar concept as the Maypole, and so large that it has to be set up and rung in the open air

Nick Elks/ Sue Marsden: A reduced scale version of the Saxilby simulator installed in a bathroom, and rung from the room below

Richard Johnston: home made design dumbbell based on a bicycle wheel installed within a Velux window light well (this picture shows the bell; with the front cover removed):