"Surely that's not a handbell..."

You're right - it isn't! We play several other instruments as well. Each produces a slightly different sound, and blends with the others differently.

Handchimes

Handchimes are essentially large tuning-forks with clappers attached. They make a purer tone than the bells, so they're useful for making a tune stand out over a bell accompaniment. They're also used to play sustained chords - their sound lasts a long time if they aren't damped. Some teams use handchimes with a specially-designed stand as an alternative to bass bells.

We've got 3 octaves of Malmark handchimes. The design has changed a little since we bought ours.

Four treble handchimes	Treble and bass handchimes in their box
Side view of Malmark handchime

Aluminium bells

Bells are also made in aluminium. Aluminium bells are much lighter than bronze ones, but their sound isn't so rich. They're particularly popular for the bigger bells, where the saving in weight has the greatest effect. There are also children's sets of aluminium bells, painted in colours to indicate which note they are and with simpler clappers.

Belleplates

Belleplates are an alternative to bells. They're shaped rather as if someone took an aluminium bell, cut it from crown to lip and ironed it out flat. So the handle is the same as a handbell's, and they're played similarly - but they're more durable than a bronze handbell, and they're cheaper to buy. Belleplates are often used for teaching children to ring handbells or as a cheap starter set for a group to try; but they can also be used with handbells in the same way as handchimes, to provide a contrast.