The story of the Whacking Bell goes back several hundred years to the days of Kevin the Bold. Kevin, as we all know from myth and rhyme, sought to wrest the Outer Scottish Isles from the Norman conquerors. He sought support far and wide, but was turned from every door by the apathetic citizens who were tired of fighting. He finally arrived at the door of a forest holy-man who told him the legend of a "Whacking bell of finest wrought gold and pure seraphic tone". The sage told Kevin to find this bell and strike it 20 times with his "white and bold brow" and in doing so, the outer Scottish isles would be freed. Kevin the Bold did , indeed, find the bell and carried out the sage's advice. Unfortunately, the outer Isles were NOT freed, and ever after, Kevin was known as "Kevin the Simple".
Of COURSE the Whacking Bell that Uncle Cooper brought home was not THAT whacking bell, but a cheap reproduction made from plastic and purchased in the Loch Chumsum train station. <<<<<