A unique feature of Japanese bells is the fact that there is a significant lip on the lower inside rim. This results in an exceptionally long ring – a feature similar to the externally lipped outer rim of a European bell.

Bell shapes changed over the period of Wadokei production and is an immediate indicator as to the age of a Wadokei. In essence they developed from a very deed rounded bell to a shallow straight-sided bell.

Lantern Wadokei Bell Nuts

The decorative Bell Nuts that secured Lantern Wadokei Bells varied in style over the period of Wadokei manufacture. Butterfly Nuts were used from the earliest period and were the most popular. Initially the Nuts were two-winged and examples have been seen on Wadokei from 1660 to 1790. This was followed by three-winged Nuts seen on Wadokei from 1770 to 1860. Other designs were Knurled from 1750, and Pear Drop from 1770. Like the bells themselves, they provide a means of dating Wadokei, however, as a decorative feature they cannot be used as a firm method of dating.

Shaku-dokei Bells

With the exception of rare early Shaku-dokei that employed miniature Lantern Wadokei, the vast majority of Shaku-dokei employ a simple Going Train mechanism at the top, with their dials operating from the descending lead going weight.

However, during the Late Period of Wadokei the lead weight was substituted with a brass carriage that housed a miniature spring driven Strike Train and Bell.

The movable hour markers of the dial were developed to have extended pins to the rear that would act to release the strike mechanism as the carriage descended. This arrangement provided Temporal Time hour strikes, plus if appropriate half-hour strikes.

The Strike Train was wound through a hole in the front housing of the Shaku-dokei trunk when the carriage was at its upper fully wound position. The existance of a winding hole at the top of a Shaku-dokei trunk is a simple indicator as to whether the original Shaku-dokei had a strike feature.