Conventional Canon

Note, in this directory all conventional canons are listed as "Yes" in the canon section.
Conventional canons are the most common type on church bells. They consist of either 6 or sometimes 4 loops which are curved.
On 6 looped ones, there are 2 that go from left to right perpendicular to each other and one that goes up and down. All the loops meet in the middle on an argent. The argent is made thicker that the 6 or 4 canons. This is because the argent has to made to support 4 times the amount of weight of the bell itself due to the bell throwing its weight outwards when being rung full circle.
From above they loop like this: ‡

On 4 looped ones, it's the same principle as the Doncaster head but the top is curved instead of flat.
From above they are shaped like this: +
On some bells the loops are either blank but some have patterns on them and even small faces.
This canon is attached to the headstock with metal straps.
You will see these type on many bells pre 20th century as bell founders did not have drills strong enough to be able to go through the crown of the bell to bolt it to the headstock so the only of attaching them was with loops you could tie the bell to the headstock.

Exeter, St Petrock; John Taylor & Co Bell Foundry; John Taylor & Co Bell Foundry; Offham, St Peter.