The Bell Drop Box was created for Vince Johari for use with his Death Toll Spirit Bell.  He envisioned a box that would house a disassembled vintage hotel desk bell, which he would assemble after removing it from the box.  However, Johari desired more than just a storage box…he wanted to unveiling the bell at pivotal moment in his routine where he felt interest may be waning.  He wanted something to reinvigorate his audience, something unexpected!  Something to awaken them!

 

While the idea was straightforward: a box that, upon removal of the lid, would drop its sides…the sides clattering against the table to refocus attention on the forthcoming manifestation. 

 

There may have been an easier way to achieve the desired effect, but if there was, it likely would not have aligned with my typical approach.  There were challenges to be met and I welcomed them!  Initially, I planned to craft the box from Mahogany, as Johari wanted the box to match (at least in color) the other set of three boxes I had previously designed for him.  Unfortunately I found that the Mahogany was not stable enough for some of the construction, and so I switched to using Walnut.

 

Initially, I planned to craft the box from Mahogany, but its instability for thin side panels led me to choose Walnut. Elevating the box slightly prevented an air cushioning effect, ensuring a crisp slam.  To amplify the acoustic impact, I designed the box with an open or screened bottom, allowing the frame to resonate the sound of the panels hitting the table.

 

From the outset, I aimed to introduce a slight delay between the lid's removal and the sides' descent. This delay ensured that all sides dropped and hit the table simultaneously (with only a split-second variance). Adding this delay also added to the element of surprise for those audience members who were paying attention.  Moreover, once the sides fell, they would not fall again!  Instead, they could be raised back into their vertical position, the lid placed back on the box, and if the lid was then removed, northing would happen: the side panels would remain upright!  So the bell could easily be packed away at the end of the performance.

 

Without revealing the secrets behind the Bell Drop Box, I can attest that it operates solely on fundamental physical principles, avoid of mechanics like gears, springs, levers, or mechanical latches. Given its intricate complexity, it's no surprise that this box, along with The Faraday Bell Cage, took almost two years to design and create.