1) No doubt hand-operated originally by hand and often described as a 'pair'.
They are commonly listed in wills and inventories and were traditionally made of leather. In 1317 a Halifax man was arrested 'for stealing the tanned hide from 2 bellows in a forge of John Culpon'. Early examples link them to smiths and those playing the early musical organs: 1399-1400 Et in ij corriis equinish emp. pro iiij paribus bellows organorum de novo faciendis 2s 8d, Ripon
1509 Pro ij hides to the smyth bellows, York
1553 a paire bellows, a Stythie, hamers and tonges, Sheffield. The spellings could vary: 1543 twho paire of bellyces, Ripley
1558 a payre of ballys of vs price, Darnall. In 1698, Joseph Brammall, filesmith, had three pairs of bellows and their furniture, Ł7.10s.0d, and in 1734 John Fearnally, trumpmaker, had One Double Belley . In 1724 Bullhides and Cowhides were purchased for the new finery Bellows at Colne Bridge.