Bell Sound Effects
In the Avosound Online Sound Archive you will find a great selection of bell sounds and ringing bells and bell sound effects. The choices include bicycle bells, door bells, cow bell sound effects and sleigh bells, tubular bells, bell plates, and, of course, church bells.
Bell sounds are an everyday sound around the world -- and we often don't even notice them anymore because they are so commonplace (unless you live next door to a church, that is).
But bells are not only found in churches, they traditionally have also been serving other purposes (e.g. signalling and alarms). Maybe bells have been popular throughout the centuries because they are incredibly practical and yet so simple to use.
Bell Sounds - A History
According to archeological discoveries in China, bells date back roughly 3,000 BCE. These ancient bells were made from ceramics and pre-date the cast bells and the ones made of brass. It is said that even the Egyptians used to make metal bells and hang them from ropes in the towers. The sound of these bell plates could be heard many miles away, which made them ideal as alarm signals.
Bells Sounds - Made In China
The high quality of the metal bells hints at considerable metallurgical know-how in the 15th century BCE during the Chinese bronze age. Even back then, bells were cast with a very specific pitch in mind. In China they were used for ceremonial purposes, rituals and ceremonies of state. These bells also found use in temples and shrines outside of China, where they can still be found in great abundance.
Bells in the Temple
Bell sounds find frequent use in buddhist temples. Buddhist temples and monasteries often feature quite a number of standing or hanging brass and metal bells of considerable size that are struck with a wooden bar. Depending on the size of the location, you can find lots of smaller bells or sleigh bells ringing in the wind in stupas or at the top of temples.
Even today these bell sounds and noises can be heard in Myanmar's monasteries.
Bell Sounds - Metal Bells
In the western world, bell sound have traditionally had a strong symbolic connection to the church. To make their sound heard across many miles, the bells were hung in high towers. The mightier the building, the bigger the size of the bells. And the bigger the bell, the deeper its sound. These bells - several feet high and weighing tons - would then be hung in gigantic cathedral spires where they remain to this day, making their unique sound heard across the lands.
Bells were also mounted to public buildings to announce the time. Bells will either ring the time every quarter of an hour or every hour.
Bell Sounds - Church Bells
The sound of church bells differs depending on the size and architecture of the church. Monasteries, for example, tend to use smaller bells, while churches are a little more ostentatious about their oversized bells. Bells can sound individually, in groups, or all together.
In this context, bells have a ceremonial character as well. For festivities, all bells will usually ring at the same time. Sombre occasions might just require the sound of the deepest bell.
Bell Sounds in the Middle Ages
Apart from their religious connotations, bells were used in the middle ages to alert the people and the authorities. The striking of the bell(s) is used to announce the time to this day (much to the annoyance of many neighbours). Some of the more impressive bell towers even featured a glockenspiel––which made them known around the country. Alarm bells would ring whenever there was an attack or a fire. Those banished from the city or village could count themselves lucky if the only thing chasing them was the sound of the shame bell. Because the blood bells would announce an unkindly verdict from the worldly court in town.
Alarm Bells
As bells became easier to manufacture, cities were equipped with bells announcing alarms and storms. Before the constant cacophony of the industrial age, you could still the night porter's bell throughout the city. Bells announcing alarms and storms were equally prominent and their sound would carry from one end of the city to the other. The great benefit of bells was the amount of people you could reach in a short time and without much effort.
Bicycle Bells
To this day, bells play a significant role in our society: bells and sleigh bells can be found on ships; they were used on trains and streetcars before the invention of electrical or pressurised air horns; and, of course, they can be found on almost every bicycle.
Library | Waveform | Filename | add | Description | info | Channels | Duration | ShortID | Category | Subcategory | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bell,Buoy,Ext,Gentle,Clangs.wav | Bell: Bell Buoy Ext Gentle Clangs | i |
1.0 | 1:01 | Bell |
Bell |
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2 | Bells,Tiny,Ceramic,Tingle,Foley.wav | Bell: Bells Tiny Ceramic Tingle Foley | i |
1.0 | 1:44 | Bell | Bell | ||||
3 | Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_6.wav | Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Double Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
4 | Bells,Carillon,Elfs,Alarm 1.wav | Bell: Bells Carillon Elfs Alarm 1 | i |
2.0 | 0:49 | Bell | Bell | ||||
5 | ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Ra.wav | Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour. | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
6 | ChristmasFigurine_S08FO.582.wav | Foley, Christmas, Figurine, Ornament, Pick, Up, Bell, Holiday | i |
2.0 | 0:01 | Bell | Bell | ||||
7 | Tones-BicycleBell-4High-P_1.wav | Tones - Bicycle Bell - 4 High-Pitched Tones Rung In Quick Succession, 2 Quick Rings @ Tail | i |
2.0 | 0:07 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
8 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wi.wav | Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Six O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:42 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
9 | ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC91Hb.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells, Firing The Bells. (St. Clement Dane"s Church, The Strand, London.) | i |
2.0 | 3:00 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
10 | Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_11.wav | Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Multiple Rings | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
11 | Tones-ChurchBells-PragueChu.wav | Tones - Church Bells - Prague Church During Holiday Mass - Medium Distant - Constant Bells From A Variety Of Different Sources, Almost Psychedelic In Sheer Number Of Bells | i |
2.0 | 1:57 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
12 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ag.wav | Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Four O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:37 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
13 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fa.wav | Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Four O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:37 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
14 | ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B9b.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells: Incomplete Cambridge Surprise Maximus, St. Sepulchre"s Church, High Holborn, Known As "bells Of Old Bailey" | i |
2.0 | 4:49 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
15 | Tones-PhoneBell-CU-Sweetene.wav | Tones - Phone Bell - C U - Sweetener Bell For Phone Slam Down | i |
1.0 | 0:04 | Bell | Bell | ||||
16 | Abbeys.BBC.EC91Mb.wav | Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Ringing Down, Bells Stop. | i |
2.0 | 3:06 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
17 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36De.wav | Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Two O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:26 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
18 | ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104e.wav | Bell, Clock: Merton College, Oxford (some Voices And Birdsong) - Bell Strikes 12 | i |
2.0 | 1:19 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
19 | CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_6.wav | Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 4 O"clock | i |
2.0 | 0:49 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
20 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ug.wav | Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Seven O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.) | i |
2.0 | 0:07 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
21 | ChurchHorsmonden.BBC.EC91Ca.wav | Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Ringing. (St. Margaret"s Church, Horsmonden, Kent.) | i |
2.0 | 6:43 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
22 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ti.wav | Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.) | i |
2.0 | 0:53 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
23 | NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pj.wav | Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 10 O"clock St. Mary"s Church | i |
2.0 | 0:39 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
24 | Bell,Hand,Brass,Languid.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Languid | i |
1.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
25 | ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dg.wav | Bell, Clock: Gound Level With Traffic In 1969. Three-quarters | i |
2.0 | 0:38 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
26 | Bell,Church,St James,Hour,12.wav | Bell: Bell Church St James Hour 12 | i |
2.0 | 1:07 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
27 | ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dc.wav | Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 11 | i |
2.0 | 1:23 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
28 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ki.wav | Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Six O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:20 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
29 | Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Stern.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Stern | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
30 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Dc.wav | Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Six O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:46 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
31 | EFX INT Door Bell 04.wav | Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Quick Press, D, Dong | i |
2.0 | 0:06 | Bell | Bell | ||||
32 | BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD90a.wav | Bell, Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells, Pealing, With Distant Traffic - 1972 (2B1, Reprocessed) | i |
2.0 | 5:00 | Bell | Bell Cathedral | ||||
33 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qe.wav | Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Two O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:47 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
34 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36La.wav | Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Ten O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:29 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
35 | EFX INT Broken Bell 01.wav | Bell: House, Interior, Broken Electric Doorbell, With Dead Sounding Ding Dong | i |
2.0 | 0:04 | Bell | Bell | ||||
36 | BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25Db.wav | Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing. | i |
2.0 | 1:06 | Bell | Bell Sleigh | ||||
37 | Bell,Church,1948,Large Two Meters,Old Iron,Light Bells Chimes,Clang Very Loud,Four Medium Bell Tolls,Close POV Below Bell,San Carlos,Uruguay,BG Light Town Traffic.wav | Bell, Church: Bell, Church, 1948, Large Two Meters, Old Iron, Light Bells Chimes, Clang Very Loud, Four Medium Bell Tolls, Close POV Below Bell, San Carlos, Uruguay, BG Light Town Traffic | i |
2.0 | 0:38 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
38 | BellsSchools.BBC.ECD32.wav | School, Ambience: Greece: School Playground, Very Noisy With Children Shouting And Playing, Distant Traffic, Bell Rings And They Go In. | i |
2.0 | 2:14 | Bell | Bell School | School Ambience | |||
39 | Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler5.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler5 | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
40 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,3,Messy.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 3 Messy | i |
2.0 | 0:07 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
41 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Scrape.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Scrape | i |
1.0 | 0:01 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
42 | Bells,Fairy,Tinkle,Short.wav | Bell: Bells Fairy Tinkle Short | i |
2.0 | 0:01 | Bell | Bell | ||||
43 | Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Light.wav | Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Light | i |
1.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Hand | ||||
44 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Df.wav | Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Nine O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:55 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
45 | EFX EXT Ice Cream Bells 02.wav | Bell: Bell, Exterior, Ice Cream Truck Bells Jingle, Ring And Sustain | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Jingle | ||||
46 | BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD68b.wav | Bell, Cathedral: Odense Cathedral Bells Carillon | i |
2.0 | 0:23 | Bell | Bell Cathedral | ||||
47 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qj.wav | Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Seven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:58 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
48 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lg.wav | Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Four O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
49 | EFX EXT Old Bike Bell 60ft 01.wav | Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings From 60 Feet | i |
2.0 | 0:29 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
50 | ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Db.wav | Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Ahead. | i |
2.0 | 1:10 | Bell | Bell Ship | ||||
51 | Bell,Antique,1800s,Polar POV,Hit,Chaotic,Many.wav | Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Polar POV, Hit, Chaotic, Many | i |
2.0 | 0:29 | Bell | Bell Antique | ||||
52 | SchoolsBells.BBC.ECD94b.wav | Crowd, School: Electric School Bell - 1980 (3C9, Reprocessed) | i |
2.0 | 0:15 | Bell | Bell School | ||||
53 | Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Dist,Med.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Dist Med | i |
2.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
54 | Tones-SchoolBell-Interior-M.wav | Tones - School Bell - Interior - Medium - Long Ring In Hall | i |
2.0 | 0:10 | Bell | Bell School | ||||
55 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,1 1.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 1 1 | i |
2.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
56 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Slo,2.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Slo 2 | i |
2.0 | 0:06 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
57 | Bells,Fairy,Short,Gliss Up.wav | Bell: Bells Fairy Short Gliss Up | i |
2.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell | ||||
58 | Bell,Boxing,Ring,3x.wav | Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 3x | i |
1.0 | 0:16 | Bell | Bell Boxing | ||||
59 | Bells,Small,Jingle,Quiet,Long.wav | Bell: Bells Small Jingle Quiet Long | i |
1.0 | 0:08 | Bell | Bell Jingle | ||||
60 | Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_1.wav | Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:04 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
61 | Bell,Salvation,Fast,High,Sharp.wav | Bell: Bell Salvation Fast High Sharp | i |
1.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell | ||||
62 | ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sb.wav | Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Five O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:33 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
63 | BellStoreClerk_S08FO.124.wav | Foley, Bell, Store, Clerk, Hotel, Ring, Ding | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell | ||||
64 | Tones-BicycleBell-2High-P_3.wav | Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings | i |
2.0 | 0:06 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
65 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wh.wav | Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Five O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:38 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
66 | BellsPembroke.BBC.EC91P.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire.) | i |
2.0 | 3:03 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
67 | Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int-C.wav | Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:01 | Bell | Bell Brass | ||||
68 | Tones-ChurchBells-KrumlovCh.wav | Tones - Church Bells - Krumlov Church Bells - Medium Distant - Pedestrian Movement And Walla Throughout, 3 Bells, All Bells Seem To Ring From Different Distances | i |
2.0 | 2:05 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
69 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Al.wav | Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Twelve O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:36 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
70 | ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wi.wav | Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 9 O"clock. (All Saints Church) | i |
2.0 | 0:24 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
71 | BellsPre-Reform.BBC.EC2B7a.wav | Bell, Church: Church Bells: 5 Bells, At Random, Pre-Reformation Style, From Interior, St. Mary And St. Andrew"s, Whittlesford, Cambs. | i |
2.0 | 3:29 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
72 | Tones-FightBell-CU-FirstTwi.wav | Tones - Fight Bell - C U - First Twice Then Singles | i |
2.0 | 0:59 | Bell | Bell | ||||
73 | ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151d.wav | Bell, Church: Single Bell Ringing, English Village Church. | i |
2.0 | 3:21 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
74 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dj.wav | Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Seven O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:38 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
75 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bj.wav | Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Three O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:51 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
76 | CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_11.wav | Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 10 O"clock | i |
2.0 | 1:08 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
77 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ti.wav | Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.) | i |
2.0 | 0:10 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
78 | ChristChurch.BBC.EC91B.wav | Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Peal Of Six Bells. (Christ Church, Kilndown, Kent.) | i |
2.0 | 6:46 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
79 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Th.wav | Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Eight O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.) | i |
2.0 | 0:49 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
80 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Je.wav | Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Two O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:10 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
81 | Bells,Noon,Prague,Crowd,2.wav | Bell: Bells Noon Prague Crowd 2 | i |
2.0 | 0:25 | Bell | Bell | ||||
82 | ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104b.wav | Bell, Clock: French Clock (late 19th Century) - Strikes 12 | i |
2.0 | 0:21 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
83 | Bell,Church,Old,Hollow,Mid.wav | Bell: Bell Church Old Hollow Mid | i |
2.0 | 0:09 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
84 | ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14c.wav | Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming Half Past The Hour. | i |
2.0 | 0:20 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
85 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kh.wav | Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Five O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:19 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
86 | Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Dist1.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Dist1 | i |
2.0 | 0:06 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
87 | Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3 1.wav | Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 1 | i |
2.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Bicycle | ||||
88 | Bells,Clothes,Harness,Santa.wav | Bell: Bells Clothes Harness Santa | i |
1.0 | 0:13 | Bell | Bell | ||||
89 | Bell,Boxing,Hits,Steady,Fast.wav | Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Steady Fast | i |
1.0 | 0:13 | Bell | Bell Boxing | ||||
90 | Bells,Sleigh,Slow,Jingle,Short.wav | Bell: Bells Sleigh Slow Jingle Short | i |
1.0 | 0:05 | Bell | Bell Jingle | ||||
91 | Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_18.wav | Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Double Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:03 | Bell | Bell Door | ||||
92 | Bell,Metal,High,Jingle,Light.wav | Bell: Bell Metal High Jingle Light | i |
1.0 | 0:04 | Bell | Bell Jingle | ||||
93 | ClocksChiming.BBC.ECD104b.wav | Bell, Clock: Bracket With St.Michael"s Chimes - Strikes 12 | i |
2.0 | 0:28 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
94 | Sleigh,Bells,Short,Fast.wav | Bell: Sleigh Bells Short Fast | i |
2.0 | 0:04 | Bell | Bell | ||||
95 | Tones-Bells-SleighBells-C_2.wav | Tones - Bells - Sleigh Bells - CU - Jingling | i |
2.0 | 0:08 | Bell | Bell Sleigh Bells | ||||
96 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Cc.wav | Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Three O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:27 | Bell | Bell Clock | ||||
97 | BellsLiverpool.BBC.EC91K.wav | Bell, Church: Churc H Bells, Eight Bells Ringing. (St. Peter"s Church, Woolton, Liverpool.) | i |
2.0 | 3:02 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
98 | Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_5.wav | Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring | i |
2.0 | 0:02 | Bell | Bell Brass | ||||
99 | Tones-ChurchBells-CzechVill.wav | Tones - Church Bells - Czech Village Strba Church Bells - MCU - Interesting Resonant Characteristics With These Bells, 3 Tones Played In Different Combinations, Light Reverb | i |
2.0 | 1:40 | Bell | Bell Church | ||||
100 | ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Aa.wav | Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking One O"clock. | i |
2.0 | 0:10 | Bell | Bell Clock |