Usage
The Bell Ringer's Knot is traditionally used to keep a rope off of a belfry deck when the bell is not in use. Nowadays the knot is used to shorten a rope or take up slack where it is desirable to keep a hanging rope up off of the ground.
History
As per Ashley, The Bell Ringer's knot is mentioned in "Hutton's Dictionary" of 1815 as "a knot of considerable antiquity". Elsewhere in the Ashley Book of Knots, Ashley attributes the Bell Ringer's to "Hutton Mechanics" (1815). I have not been able to find other references to these publications but have found that Charles Hutton published a two volume, illustrated encyclopedia in 1796 called "A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary" Despite differing publication dates, I suspect this is the work Ashley was referring to. As the name suggests, the books cover varied philosophical and mathematical subjects including mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy and engineering. Other topics covered are knots, magnets, and the Moon. Charles Hutton was from Newcastle, England and rose to become professor of mathematics at the Royal Military Academy and foreign secretary of the Royal Society.
Also known as
ABOK
Structure
The Bell Ringer's knot is the first half of a
Sheepshank. It is a component of the
Truckie Hitch and the Span Loop.
Strength/Reliability
The Bell Ringer's knot can be made more secure by adding an additional half hitch loop below the first, aka the Double Bell Ringer's knot.
