MYSTERIES UNVEILED

By JOSEPH W. PARKER


Contents


THE 360 PLAIN COURSES

The 14 and 9 columns of Table A show 120 of the even rows with the seventh at home. If the three front bells are transposed as already shown, then the whole of such even rows (360) will result. Therefore, if a PC is pricked from each of 14A, 14B, 14C, 9A and 9C, they will show all the possible PCs. This is so, for, from whichever of the 2,520 even rows a PC is pricked, one of these 360 CEs will appear as a quick six-end. The plain courses follow, slow sixes being underlined:-

Nos.  Plan 14A  Plan 14B  Plan 14C  Plan 9A   Plan 9B   Plan 9C
14      14A       14B       14C        9A        9B        9C
 1       1A       10B       10A       10C        1C        1B
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---
 2       2A       11A       11B        2B       11C        2C
 3       7C       12C        4A        3A        5B        6B
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---
 4       4A        3A       12C        5B        7C        6B
 5      12B        5A        3C        7B        4C        6A
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---
 6       6A        3C       12B        5A        4C        7B
 7       7A       12A        6C        3B        4B        5C
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---
 8       8A       13B       13A        8C        8B       13C
 9       9A       14B       14C       14A        9C        9B
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---
10      10A       10C       10B        1B        1C        1A
11      11A        2A       11C        2B       11B        2C
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---
12      12A        7A        5C        3B        4B        6C
13      13A        8C       13B        8B        8A       13C
        ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---

It will be seen that there is considerable repetition in all six plans. In plan 14A, the well-known repeating sixes show up, the third six being the same as th seventh, and the fifth the same as the twelfth. The remaining plans show repetitions when the seventh is in 4, 5, 6 and 7th places (known as the close sixes). Therefore, as they stand, Plan 14A is the only set of plain courses which can be used as such.

The first four plans each contain twenty true PCs within the sixty. The plans 9B and 9C only contain twelve. It follows then, if sixty true PCs exist, they will be found in three or more of these six plans, and a proof, whether or no, should be possible. The forty already discovered, are twenty from Plan 14A, and twenty with the same relationship as Plan 9A.

It would be presumption on my part to attempt to add to the exhaustive investigations of the writers in the two editions of 'Stedman'. They have shown fully how the falseness is corrected, and how peals in different parts are obtained.

Before proceeding further, the effect of the reversal of blocks should be noted. As a matter of fact, if the blocksin the first four plans are reversed, the relationship of the CEs, one to the others, will be the same as if direct. If, however, the blocks in Plan 9B are reversed, they will have the same relationship as the blocks in Plan 9C direct. Then, whatever results are discovered when using 9B, only similar results, in reverse order, will be got from 9C.

Naturally the first question which arises is, are there any other blocks than those in Plan 14A which have the close sixes free of calls? In a sense there are, but they are disappointing, and need singles at 1 and 10 to obtain peals without six-call sets. They are seen in the 360 PCs. The close sixes before quick in Plan 14B do not repeat with those after quick in 9B. The same also occurs in 9C and 14B. These are all, and they are the reverse of each other, so only one need be dealt with. Only one useful connection at quick and slow is possible and they give the following block:-

 2314567= 9B
 3426175  1C
 3467251 11C
-4732651  4A
 4725316 12C
-7543216  6A
-7532416  3C
-5274316  5C
-5243716 13B
 2351467 14B
 2316574 10C
 3627145  2A
 3674251  7A
-6432751  8A
 6425317

The singles at 1 and 10 are sufficient to give peals in all the numbers of parts. This gives interesting exercise in their formation. For ringing it is marred by a four-bob set in every course. To break the monotony, two singles instead of two bobs may be called at 5 and 6, if it is thought worth while. If this is not done throughout, they must be used at appropriate sixes to avoid falseness.

This course was discovered by the writer in 1907, and a five-part peal was published in the 'Bell News' of August 17th of that year. Many years after, the late Mr. John Carter said he had discovered them, but later withdrew his claim.



This page created by Philip Saddleton

Last updated 01/09/96