“Bells and whistles” refers to non-essential but useful add-ons and upgrades in high-end products. It can also refer to negotiating for extra features in cars or homes. The origin is unclear, but it may have come from streetcars, naval warning devices, or ornamental carnival calliopes.
Sometimes it seems that everything comes in three flavors: basic, advanced and “bells and whistles”. In marketing terms, a product that comes with all the bells and whistles usually denotes top of the line, packed with all kinds of non-essential but useful add-ons and upgrades. The term is often used to describe high-end electronic products designed specifically for customers who can afford instant upgrades. These extras can be features with limited but useful applications, such as an improved sound system or increased memory capacity for a high-end personal computer.
Sometimes the term “bells and whistles” can be heard while buying a new car or house. The vehicle on a car dealership lot, for example, may only be equipped with the manufacturer’s standard features. The customer may wish to negotiate with the dealer to get a similar vehicle with all the extra features available. That could mean adding power windows and door locks, a sunroof, a rear spoiler, a CD player, cruise control, or even heated cup holders. A new home can come complete with bells and whistles, such as an alarm system, central control unit, state-of-the-art kitchen equipment, or a heated driveway. These may not be strictly necessary, but they serve as attractive gimmicks to entice consumers.
The origin of the phrase appears to be American, although few sources agree on the original device that inspired it. Some believe it literally refers to the bells and whistles found on 19th-century streetcars and passenger locomotives. Having both as warning devices may have seemed like overkill, but some passengers and passers-by might have felt safer knowing all those devices were present.
It is also possible that the phrase has a military origin, as in the naval tradition of boarding visitors and using bells as warning devices. More likely, however, the earliest bells and whistles belonged to carnival calliopes or theater organs, both of which featured a number of others that were rarely used but still quite ornamental and attractive. The idea of going overboard with expensive or largely ornamental accessories may have been inspired by the gaudy sight of a fully equipped theater organ or calliope.
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