Thanks for all the comments.
I've been away from computer for 3 days so I've only just seen these.
I'll respond to as many as I can when I get time. I thought I had referred to all of the 'variants' that appeared in oral tradition but if not I'll check back and correct that.

Supper bell sounds logical to me, Joe. I'd be surprised if they didn't exist on the farms on the wolds near us as conditions here were similar to those in parts of Scotland.