They also came on "civilian issue" bikes as well, I'm fixing up a Trek "VW Jetta" with one of these and yes it is dead quiet "back there"...

If you want to sound like a game show.

To give American pedestrians and cyclists a little credit, some of them are finally beginning to comprehend what the sound of a bike bell behind them is supposed to indicate.

I have a 7spd Shimano freewheel and a 7spd Shimano freehub which are both eerily silent.
The ratcheting action can be felt and each of them engage properly when I pedal. They both spin freely when off the bike too.

No idea why or how they are silent, but I love em.

Not necessarily. Most of the time, people totally ignore my horn, so I end up shouting "on your left", which often causes pedestrians to step to their left. The bottom line is, you just have to pretend that all pedestrians are cute little toddlers, unable to think like an adult. On the topic of noisy freewheels, I finally put a new axle & bearings in my spare rear wheel today, followed by the old Suntour Perfect 6-speed freewheel, that I cleaned up about a month ago. It was covered in road tar, but under that, it's practically new. I like these noisy old Suntours, they save a lot of horn honking & shouting.

Instead of shouting, I suppose you can always back pedal if your freewheel is noisy enough. Then combine the clacking of brake levers with skidding sounds from your rear tire. That way you don't need a bell or horn.

My gut response is "make a hole, *******", but I realize that part of my life is behind me.
I HATE bells on bikes.

Top

b^)

My preference is setting inadequate toe-in on my KoolStop brake shoes, so that they squeal like a stuck pig on the lightest application...

In Europe, at least in my limited experience, bells are the norm, and well understood by the intended audience. I used one, during a recent stint in Switzerland, and it seemed to be effective enough that I had more cause to like it than dislike it.
As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, unfortunately, the intended audience in most of North America does not seem to be tuned into the bicycle bell and its significance to them. I guess a few more "bicycle enemas" will be needed, before the bell or something equivalent takes its proper place as a traffic safety device.

Sometimes I think I'd like to hook up one of those old car horns, that goes ah-OO-ga, really really loud. But the extra weight would be a downer.

If it works properly, I'd leave well enough alone. If you're worried that something might be gummed up, unless you really love to crack open freewheels, I'd just give it the ultrasonic cleaner treatment, flush with WD-40, see what noise it produces in that unlubed state, then drizzle oil in while spinning it, until you hear the pawls quiet down.

My IRD was silent until it failed...the replacement where they reinforced everything is crazy loud. Loved that silent one, but it's not worth getting stranded again.

Over the years I've grown accustomed to that certain sound of a well lubricated freewheel. In a way it's soothing. Not too metallic sounding, but not too loud, either.

Usually I gravitate to Reginas and Everests.

How to explain that sound?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meP_Ufwj-FY

Not quite the same effect but you could try an Airzound.
https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Airzound.../dp/B000ACAMJC

I prefer them to be quiet. We used the Phil injector tool to put grease into freewheels without a hassle and that would shut them up nicely, and I still have my Phil tool. To alert riders and pedestrians being overtaken, don't rely on freewheel noise; use a bell.

+1!

I was thinking that the PowerCranks have a silent roller bearing system, and was wondering why freehubs don't do the same thing. Perhaps you have it.

Spit on them a little for full effect.

I don't spend much time on MUPs, but I like to sing a bit of something seasonal in my paralyzed vocal cord-cracked voice, when approaching peds from behind.