Frank Carlson, age 11, of Rock Island, I11., for his question:

WHEN WERE BELLS FIRST MADE?

We don't know exactly when the first bell was made, but we do know that like many other musical instruments, bells originated in Asia. They were known in China in the 800s B.C. In addition, archaeologists have discovered richly ornamented Assyrian bronze bells that were used for ceremonial purposes and these date from the same period.

In ancient Greece, bells would ring to announce that freshly caught fish had arrived at the market. And in war times, bells rang to warn that enemies were approaching the city gates.

In Rome, bells called the faithful to worship in the temples. Bell ringing also accompanied the funeral services of the emperors.

Later, Celtic tribes, who were famous for their metal casting techniques, brought bells from Asia to Northern Europe.

Bells were introduced into France in A.D. 550 and into England about 100 years later. One of the oldest bells in Great Britain is the Bell of Saint Patrick's Will, at Belfast. It is just six inches high and five inches across. Legend says that it belonged to St. Patrick.

Bellmakers often put the year the bell was cast on the bell. A bell in Drohndorf, Germany, dates from 1098 and one in Pisa, Italy, is dated 1106. Fontenailles, France, has a bell with a 1202 date on it while one in Claughton, England, is marked 1296.

During the 1400s, the size of bells increased greatly.

Since the 500s, Christians have used bells to summon worshipers. Church bells often toll to announce a death. It became a custom in the 1200s to hang church bells in special towers. A metal rod struck the bell to sound it. And sometimes the bell was swung to make a metal clapper strike it.

A bell tower usually formed a part of the church building, but sometimes stood apart. Most of the bell towers in Italy, called campaniles, stand apart.

In England during the Middle Ages, a bell rung at evening announcing the curfew. And for many years, town criers rang bells to attract attention to their announcements.

In many countries, people used bells in case of fire, to call city council meetings and to remind citizens of tax deadlines. In pioneer days in America, bells were used to warn of Indian attacks.

At sea, floating markers clled buoys sometimes still carry bells to warn ships off dangerous coasts.

Bell sounds also mark the time on board ship.

For many years, bells have also been used in musical compositions. Many famous composers, including Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, wrote parts for bells tuned to a specific pitch into their works.

Real bells are usually too unwieldy and costly for orchestral uses, so they are often replaced by long metal tubes suspended from a frame and hit with a hammer.