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May/June 2007
The clang’s all here

San Francisco cable car bell  

Conductors on San Francisco’s beloved cable cars ring bells to signal the gripmen, whose muscular tugs on the cable-grabbing levers start and stop the cars on the city’s hills. Two clangs: OK to go. Three clangs: Stop immediately. Lots of rapid clangs: Pretty girl ahead. Replicas of the signal bells (11.5 inches top to bottom, $70) are sold at the Cable Car Museum shop. Admission is free. 1201 Mason St., San Francisco, (415) 474-1887, www.cablecarmuseum.org.


Photography by Kevin Candland

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This article was first published in May 2007. Some facts
may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.


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