Why do Doorbells go Ding-Dong?

Summary

Who Smarted? - Episode Summary: Why do Doorbells go Ding-Dong?

Episode Title: Why do Doorbells go Ding-Dong?
Release Date: July 9, 2025
Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Duration: Approximately 14 minutes

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of "Who Smarted?", listeners are invited to delve into the fascinating history and technology behind the ubiquitous doorbell. The episode features a playful and informative dialogue between the Trusty Narrator and the resident doorbell expert, Ding Dong Darrell, bringing to life the evolution of doorbells from their inception to the modern smart variants.

---

Meet the Characters

• Trusty Narrator (00:36 - onward): The curious and inquisitive voice guiding listeners through the episode's exploration.

  "Hey, smartypants. I'm here at the home of my friend, Ding Dong Darrell. Pretty crazy name, huh?" [00:36]

• Ding Dong Darrell (01:02 - onward): The doorbell aficionado who provides expert insights into doorbell history and technology.

  "That's because I was in the bathroom. Can a person use the bathroom without some maniac ringing their doorbell over and over?" [01:20]

---

Historical Origins of the Doorbell

The episode begins with the Trusty Narrator arriving at Ding Dong Darrell's home, setting the stage for a deep dive into doorbell history.

• Early Inventions (03:19 - 04:35):

  Darrell explains that the invention of the doorbell cannot be attributed to a single individual. One of the earliest known doorbells was created in 1817 by Scottish engineer William Murdoch, who utilized a system of pipes and compressed air. This early version did not produce the familiar "ding-dong" sound but instead emitted a more mechanical noise.

  "As far as who invented the doorbell, there's no one person... William Murdoch used it in his house." [03:19]

  He further elaborates on the mechanical doorbells of the 1800s, highlighting two main types:

  1. Twist and Pull Doorbells:

     • "Twist bells were attached to the middle of the front door... you just had to twist the key and a bell attached to the other side would produce a bright, sharp ring." [05:32]

  2. Twist and Pole Doorbells:

     • Resembling ropes in old-fashioned homes used to call butlers, these doorbells connected to a bell inside the house.
     • "They sounded kind of like this." [05:33]

---

Transition to Electric Doorbells

Moving forward to the 19th century, Darrell introduces the electric doorbell, invented in 1831 by American scientist Joseph Henry. Although Henry's design was pioneering, it didn't gain widespread adoption until 1913 due to the high cost of battery replacements.

• Electric Doorbell Mechanics (06:01 - 07:06):

  Darrell breaks down the components of a modern electric doorbell:

  "There's just a few components to them. There's the actual doorbell button... the transformer that converts electricity to a lower voltage, and the bell, or chime, that produces the sound." [08:34]

  He explains that the transformer is crucial for safely reducing the voltage from household power to a level suitable for doorbell operation.

  "An electric transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another... powering the light in your living room, or your doorbell." [06:46]

---

The Evolution to "Ding-Dong" Sounds

Initially, electric doorbells primarily produced a buzzer sound rather than the melodic "ding-dong" many are familiar with today.

• Adoption of Musical Chimes (07:25 - 09:36):

  The transition from buzzing to the "ding-dong" was gradual. By the 1930s, doorbells began incorporating solenoids—electromagnets that create the characteristic "ding-dong" sounds through mechanical action.

  "In the 1930s, doorbells became a far more musical time... Solenoids cause them to hit a chime, producing a ding... snap back and hit another chime, making the dong sound." [10:09]

  The Trusty Narrator poses a quiz-like question to engage listeners:

  "When do you think the world finally went from buzzing to dinging and donging? Was it A, the 1920s, B, the 1930s, or C, the 1940s? If you said B, the 1930s, you're right." [09:13]

---

Modern Doorbell Technologies

The conversation shifts to the advent of smart doorbells, highlighting their advanced features compared to traditional models.

• Smart Doorbells Explained (12:27 - 13:58):

  Darrell describes smart doorbells as devices that connect to smartphones and the Internet, integrating cameras and sensors to enhance home security and convenience.

  "Smart doorbells are all the rage these days... they connect to the Internet and have a corresponding app on your phone." [12:38]

  Features include:

  • Live Video Feed: Allows homeowners to see and communicate with visitors remotely.

    "When someone rings your doorbell, you can see them on your smartphone and let them in even if you're not home." [12:58]

  • Motion Sensors: Detect movement and notify homeowners of potential intruders or visitors.

    "Smart doorbells have sensors so they can alert you if someone is creeping around on your front porch." [13:12]

  • Customizable Chimes: Despite their advanced functions, smart doorbells can still replicate the classic "ding-dong" sounds.

    "Almost definitely. You can't go wrong with a classic." [13:57]

  The Trusty Narrator experiments with different doorbells in Darrell's home, discovering that wireless doorbells may have different sound patterns compared to wired ones.

---

Interactive Demonstrations and Fun Facts

Throughout the episode, the dynamic between the Narrator and Darrell includes interactive experiments and humorous exchanges that reinforce learning in an entertaining manner.

• Sound Experiments:

  The Narrator attempts to hold down a doorbell button to observe the "ding-dong" mechanism, illustrating how solenoids function.

  "Smartypants, true or false? If you press a doorbell and just hold it, it will only make a ding sound, and the dong won't happen until you let go of the button." [10:34]

  "The answer is true." [10:43]

• Humorous Interactions:

  The playful banter between the hosts adds a layer of humor, making complex topics more accessible.

  "Sorry, I didn't. I can be such a Ding Dong sometimes." [14:12]

---

Key Insights and Conclusions

1. Evolution of Doorbells:

   • From mechanical twist and pull designs to electric buzzers, and finally to the "ding-dong" sounds facilitated by solenoids.
   • Joseph Henry’s electric doorbell laid the groundwork for modern iterations.

2. Technological Advancements:

   • The transition to electric doorbells became feasible with the widespread availability of electric transformers in homes around 1913.
   • Smart doorbells represent the latest innovation, integrating internet connectivity, video surveillance, and intelligent sensing.

3. Cultural Impact:

   • Doorbells have evolved not only in functionality but also in their role within home aesthetics and security.
   • The "ding-dong" sound has become a culturally recognized signal, transcending its practical purpose.

4. Interactive Learning:

   • The episode effectively uses interactive dialogue and real-life demonstrations to foster curiosity and understanding in young listeners.

---

Notable Quotes

• Trusty Narrator on Early Doorbells:

  "The first residential doorbell we know of was invented in 1817 by William Murdoch... it probably sounded more like this." [03:19]

• Ding Dong Darrell on Solenoids:

  "Solenoids are electromagnets... When you press a doorbell button, the current flowing through the solenoid causes it to move and hit a chime, producing a ding sound." [10:08]

• Trusty Narrator Reflecting on Smart Doorbells:

  "What if it was me and I surprised you by dropping off a box of Ding Dongs?" [12:58]

---

Conclusion

"Who Smarted?" masterfully blends humor with educational content, making complex technological histories accessible and entertaining for young audiences. This episode not only demystifies the everyday doorbell but also sparks curiosity about the technological advancements that shape our daily lives. By the end, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of why doorbells go "ding-dong," appreciating both their historical significance and modern innovations.

---

Credits:

• Written by: Phil Jeremy
• Voiced by: Chris Okawa, Adam Knox, Davis Kim, Ding Dong Davis, and Jerry Ding Dong Cherry Colbert
• Technical Direction and Sound Design: Josh Nobody's Home Han
• Associate Producer: Max Chimes Kamasky
• Theme Song: Brian Short Circuit Suarez, lyrics by Adam Tex Davis
• Created and Produced by: Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert

Produced by Atomic Entertainment.

Transcript

[Adam Gidwitz]

Hi, I'm Adam Gidwitz, host of Grim Grimmer Grimmest. On every episode, we tell a grim fairy tale. Not the cute, sweet versions of the fairy tales that your children have heard so many times. No, we tell the real grim fairy tales. They're funny, they're weird, sometimes they're a little bit scary. But don't worry, we rate every episode Grim, Grimmer or Grimmest. So you, your child, your family, can choose the episode that's the right level of scary for you.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Choose.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Tune in to Grim, Grimmer, Grimmest and our new season, available now.

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for who'sSmarted. Hey, smartypants. I'm here at the home of my friend, Ding Dong Darrell. Pretty crazy name, huh? Everyone calls him that because he knows everything there is to know about, you guessed it, doorbells. I just don't know why he's not answering the door. Could I be early? Nope. 12:38. Right on time.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Hello?

[Trusty Narrator]

Ding Dong Daryl, it is I, the trusty narrator. Right on time. Ah, there you are. I was getting worried for a second.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Trusty, my man. What is your problem?

[Trusty Narrator]

My problem? I was just worried when you didn't answer the doorbell.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

That's because I was in the bathroom. Can a person use the bathroom without some maniac ringing their doorbell over and over and over and over?

[Trusty Narrator]

I didn't think it was that bad.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

And over and over and over and over again, Man.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah, I guess I could see how that could be annoying.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Whoops.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sorry about that.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

It's cool.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, good. In that case.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Whoa. What are you doing?

[Trusty Narrator]

What? I. I thought you loved the sound of doorbells. You'd have to with a name like Ding Dong Darrell.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yeah, yeah, I do enjoy a Ding Donger too, but not a constant cacophony of dings and dongs. I'm starting to wish I installed a chime instead of a bell. But no, I just had to go with the classic Ding dong. That's me, always a purist.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Darryl. I promise not to ring your doorbell again. Instead, I really need to know more about doorbells. Like, who invented the doorbell anyway? And who decided on the ding dong sound? And what's the difference between a bell and a chime? What do you say, Triple D? Are you down to smart with us?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Of course. Come on in. I just opened a box of Hostess Ding Dongs.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ooh, yummy. Well, smarty pants, looks like it's time to ring up another whiff of science and history on who smarted.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Who'S smarted who smart you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. We make smarting lots of fun, but who's smart and. Mmm.

[Trusty Narrator]

These Ding Dongs are delicious, Daryl. I can't get enough of this cream filling. Of course, I have no idea why these little chocolate coated cake snacks are called Ding Dongs. They look more like hockey pucks than doorbells. And speaking of doorbells, who invented it and where was the first doorbell used?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

As far as who invented the doorbell, there's no one person. That's because a couple of people seem to invent it. For example, one of the first residential doorbells we know of was invented in 1817 by a Scottish engineer named William Murdoch and he used it in his house.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh. Did it make a ding dong sound?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

No.

His doorbell produced sound using a series of pipes and compressed air. It probably sounded more like this.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yikes. I think I'd rather people just knock.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yeah, it was a weird sound. But Murdoch's doorbell design was a bit of an anomaly.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, smarty pants. In case you're wondering, the word anomaly means something outside the norm. Or what is considered common. So what were the common sounds for the original doorbells?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Well, you have to remember early doorbells weren't electric, they were mechanical. And there were two main types. Let's see if your smarty pants can guess. The two most common mechanical doorbells were they A, twist and pull doorbells, B, squeeze and press doorbells, or C crank and click doorbells? If you said twist and pole, you're right.

[Trusty Narrator]

Move over, door knocker. Twist doorbells and pull doorbells were all the rage in the 1800s. But what were they exactly?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Have you ever watched an old TV show or movie that takes place in olden times and a person in a fancy house pulls a rope to call for the butler or maid?

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh yeah, that rings a bell.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

It sure does. That's a pool style doorbell. Or a bell pull. Sometimes they were used inside the house, but they were also used at the front door too. They're pretty simple really. Just a cord on the outside of the house connected to a small bell on the inside wall just beyond the front door. They sounded kind of like this. Then there were twist bells. Those were a bit more fun in my not so humble doorbell expert opinion. You see, twist bells were actually attached to the middle of the front door. The part you see on the outside of the door looked like a little key you'd find on a wind up toy.

Oh, cool.

[Trusty Narrator]

I love those.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

You just had to twist the key and a bell attached to the other side would produce a bright, sharp ring. Yeah, like that. The more you twisted, the more sound it made. Enough. Anywho, the electric doorbell, very similar to what we use today, was invented in 1831 by an American scientist named Joseph Henry.

Ooh.

I was also the first ever secretary.

[Trusty Narrator]

Of the Smithsonian Museum's.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yaaa.

[Trusty Narrator]

Uh, was that Joseph Henry's ghost?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yeah, he shows up whenever I mention him. Anyway, even though Joseph Henry invented the electric doorbell in 1831, it didn't become widely used in homes until 1913. That's because initially it relied on batteries, which were expensive to replace. But after 1913, electric transformers were commonplace in residences, so the doorbells could run on the same system that powered the lights.

[Trusty Narrator]

Slow down a minute. Ding dong. Darryl, did you say transformer?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

No, not those transformers. An electric transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another. In simple terms, you're taking electricity from the power grid and transfer. Transferring it to a way lower voltage that's more appropriate for, say, powering the light in your living room. Or in this case, your doorbell.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha. Wow, smarty pants. Who knew you could learn so many different things? Talking about doorbells. Okay, so I'm guessing after 1913, every house on the block was digging and donging with doorbells, right?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Not exactly. I'd say every house on the block was a buzz.

[Trusty Narrator]

A buzz? I don't follow.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Those first electric doorbells didn't make a ding dong sound? Nope. Most of them made a buzzer sound.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh my. That's not very pleasing to my ear. That's almost as annoying as Murdoch's.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

My thoughts exactly.

[Trusty Narrator]

So when did the dinging and donging happen? And how did these electric bells work anyway?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Those are great questions, trusty.

[Trusty Narrator]

The answer is coming right up after this quick break and a word from our sponsors. Now back to whosmarted.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Excuse me, that's the Amazon delivery person with my package.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, it's nice to have a doorbell to alert you when someone is at the door. Before doorbells, people had to pound on the door or just yell, hello.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Anyone home?

[Trusty Narrator]

I've got a package for you.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Hello.

[Trusty Narrator]

But as it turns out, smarty pants, the original doorbells didn't ding dong. They buzzed. Oof. Not fun. So when did ding donging doorbells become a thing? And how do they work? Ding dong. Darryl, care to explain?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

It took a while for the ding dong to grace us with its dulcet tones, but the way electric doorbells work is fairly straightforward. There's just a few components to them. There's the actual doorbell button. You press some wiring, the transformer we mentioned before that converts electricity to a lower voltage, and the bell, or chime, that produces the sound.

[Trusty Narrator]

So what you're saying is when a smarty pants goes to visit a friend or relative and they press the doorbell button, the electric current flows through the transformer and activates the bell, which produces the sound. Except it wasn't initially A, it was A.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yes, and fraid so, smarty pants.

[Trusty Narrator]

When do you think the world finally went from buzzing to dinging and donging? Was it A, the 1920s, B, the 1930s, or C, the 1940s? If you said C, I'm afraid you're wrong. But if you said B, the 1930s, you're right.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yep, the 1930s became a far more musical time for doorbells.

[Trusty Narrator]

But who came up with the ding dong? That I have to know.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Well, no one really came up with it. It's kind of just a function of how most doorbells work.

[Trusty Narrator]

What?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yep. You see, it's all thanks to these little things called solenoids. Solenoids are electromagnets. Picture a tightly coiled copper wire wrapped around a little metal bar like a Tootsie Roll, except the wrapper is made of copper coils. That's a solenoid.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay with you so far?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Well, most doorbells have these solenoids inside them, and the electric current flows through the solenoid. So when you press a doorbell button, the current flowing through the solenoid causes it to move and hit a chime, producing a ding sound. Then, as soon as you let go of the button, the current stops flowing, causing the solenoid to snap back and hit another chime, making the dong sound.

Cool.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smartypants, true or false? If you press a doorbell and just hold it, it will only make a ding sound, and the dong won't happen until you let go of the button.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

The answer is true.

Whoa.

[Trusty Narrator]

That is so cool. I don't think I've ever done that. I'm gonna go try it. You should, too, smarty pants. Let's see, let's see. Which one should I press? Your house is full of doorbells. Ding dong. Darrell.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Hmm?

[Trusty Narrator]

I'm gonna go with this one. Holding.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Holding.

[Trusty Narrator]

And now.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Wow, it worked.

[Trusty Narrator]

I want to try again. This one? Uh, okay. That's kind of a fun tune. But it didn't follow the ding dong rule. It played the whole jingle as soon as I pressed it.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

That's because this doorbell is a wireless doorbell. Instead of a solenoid hitting a bell, doorbells like these are battery powered and have radio transmitters. When the receiver picks up the radio signal, it plays a chime. In this case, the chime sequence you heard is called Westminster Quarters, and it's one of the most popular non ding dong sounds for doorbells.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. So earlier when I showed up at your house and kept pressing your doorbell, that's what you meant when you said you wish you had a chime instead of a bell? Because you can't just keep pressing this type of bell like you can the ding dong Kind of.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Exactly. It's so much less annoying.

[Trusty Narrator]

Really? Because I can just press it again as soon as the chime stops.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Aight, enough. Congratulations. You proved you can be annoying trustee.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, it's not my fault you're an expert in something so noisy. Speaking of, what's the deal with smart doorbells? How do those work and what makes them so smart?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

As you in the smarty pants are proudly aware, smart doorbells are all the rage these days. And while they're not as fun as a twist doorbell, they do have many more features.

[Trusty Narrator]

So how exactly would you define a smart doorbell?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Well, it's a doorbell that works with your smartphone. It connects to the Internet and has a corresponding app on your phone. And smart doorbells aren't just bells. They also have cameras. That means when someone rings your doorbell, you can see them on your smartphone and let them in even if you're not home.

Cool.

[Trusty Narrator]

But wait, why would I want to let someone into my house if I wasn't home?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Well, what if it was me and I surprised you by dropping off a box of Ding Dongs?

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, yeah, I could definitely let you in then. Just don't let my cat out.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Meow.

Smart doorbells also have sensors so they can alert you if someone is creeping around on your front porch. And some smart doorbells are so smart, their cameras can even tell the difference between people, pets and packages.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sweet.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yep, we've come a long way from William Murdoch's pipe and air contraption. We've plowed through the unpleasant era of buzzer sounds. We welcomed in all sorts of fun chimes, and now doorbells can even sense when a raccoon shows up at your door.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's great, Darrel. But I do have one more very important question. If I get a fancy smart doorbell that recognizes my cat and stuff, can it still make a classic ding dong sound?

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Almost definitely.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whew. You can't go wrong with a classic. Hey, what sound does this doorbell make? Uh oh, it won't stop.

[Ding Dong Darrell]

Yeah, that's because it's broken. Did you not see the do not press sign next to it?

[Trusty Narrator]

Sorry, I didn't. I can be such a Ding Dong sometimes. Oh, well, Gotta go. A super shout out to super smarty fan Nolan in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada. Thanks so much for smarting with us and. And we're so glad to hear you. Love to listen and learn while you fall asleep. Here's to waking up smarter every day, Nolan. This episode Doorbells was written by Phil Jeremy and voiced by Chris Okawa. Adam Knox Davis Kim Ding Dong Davis and Jerry Ding Dong Cherry Colber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Nobody's Home Han. Our associate producer is Max Chimes Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Short Circuit Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis who Smarted was created and produced by Adam, Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.