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Unfortunately, I own a set of these bells. I believe the package called them "The Bells Of Christmas" When I saw them I KNEW they were "special" because they were unlike EVERY other bell set I have seen in my whole life. These bells use a solenoid on each clapper and the bells form a C scale +1. This allows them to play all the simple C scale songs like "Jingle Bells", plus an extra whole step so they can play songs with a sharp/flat in them.
When the power supply is plugged in to the "electronics" pack, and turned on, the bells play all 9 notes from high to low, allowing you to check for "dead" clappers. If a clapper is not hitting and releasing, a pair of needle-nose will adjust the stem (?) of the clapper so it strikes cleanly. Turn on again and adjust till it plays clean.
The BOC gets even better. They start out playing individually, as a "gimme", and then the "gotcha" is they break into playing in HARMONY like a HANDBELL CHOIR! They go on to play more than 6, less than 12 songs (can't remember), end on "Auld Lang Syne" (I always hated that) and repeat from the beginning. Every one else in my house goes nuts after 2 times, but I just let them play for weeks.
So why did I start this article with a negitive about the Bells? Because I made my mother purchse them for me. When I was about 13. Now I'm 38 as of April 6th.
I was AMAZED to see these things at Woolworth's Dept. Store. My mother was skeptical because they were made in China, and China had a tech base of a flea. So AFTER X-mass I got her to buy me the last set on closeout. And I guess they were hand made by the smartest man in China in 1983 cause I still play them for at least one month, 24-7 every year. The bells are not just nice, they are chromatically tuned to each other! So while you might get a set at a garage sale, as far as I know you will never be able to buy one at the store.
The Cossack

P.S. I will point out that in my memory from Jan., my BOC have 9 bells. But the ones above have 12. So has some other company made these again? Or were these such a one-off item that the Chinese made various versions during the 1983 production run?

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