bigo426 posted:For layout size sounds why not consider the mechanisms from the prewar Lionel 69 bell or the 76 ringing bell shack for continuous ringing and the mechanism from the 155 for the slower rate? All of these are on eBay frequently in various conditions where removal of the bell mechanism wouldn't hurt any value.
Good question - I started out thinking about doing exactly, but these don't show up on Da Bay too often (e.g., there are only 3 or 4 #155s on there now) and are typically in the $30-$45 each price range. So I started to explore cheaper solutions. I can now do the continuous ringing per my post for around $12 each (although the bell is a bit large to incorporate into something on the layout) but it's turning out to be difficult to replicate the #155's "one ring, once a second" action electromechanically. It seems that the design Lionel implemented on the #155 (with a motor that actuates a hammer periodically) is the easiest way to accomplish same. Rigging up a geared-down motor and associated hardware is probably more time than is worth - so I may just get one or two #155s (or their Marx equivalents) and be done with it. But I was hoping someone sold a cost-effective, ready-made solution.
