The forum has discussed the "bell issue" at least once before, with citations. It appears that either the 1-3-1 or the 1-1-1 is a time honored practice.
Collectio Rerum Liturgicarum of Rev. Joseph Wuest, C.SS.R. (first Latin edition 1889) translated into English as
Matters Liturgical by Rev. Thomas W. Mullaney, C.SS.R., eight edition edited by Rev. William T. Barry, C.SS.R., S.S,L., 1956:
160k) At each Elevation after the Consecration the altar bell shall be rung either three times or continuously. This rubric is variously interpreted. But a widely accepted practices is to ring the bell, at the genuflection before the Elevation, at the Elevation itself, and at the genuflection after the Elevation.
Father Lasance My Prayer Book (1953) says that after each consecration:
The priest kneels, then raises the Sacred Host / chalice (the bell is rung).
Blessed Be God (1925):
At the elevation of the Host the bell is rung thrice. At the elevation of the Chalice the bell is rung thrice.
St. Joseph Daily Missal (1951):
After pronouncing the words of Consecration, the Priest genuflects, and adores the Sacred Host. He then rises, elevates It, and replaces It upon the corporal, genuflecting once again. The bell rings once for each act of adoration.
After genuflecting and adoring the Precious Blood, he rises, elevates It and replaces the chalice on the corporal, genuflecting once again. The Bell rings once for each act of adoration.
St. Joseph Daily Missal (1961) shows three bells at the elevation of both the Host and the Chalice.
The St. Andrew Daily Missal (1962) does not mention bells at all.
And now, for Fortescue: Fr. Adrian Fortescue’s The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described” (First Edition 1917) citing the Eleventh Edition 1960):
At each Elevation he holds up slightly for a moment the end of the chasuble in his left hand, and rings the bell with his right, either continuously or three times. He may arrange this so that he ring once when the celebrant genuflects, once when he elevates, once again when he genuflects. Since there are two elevations the bell will be rung altogether six times.
However, in the section on a High Mass (sung Mass with incense) he says about the Elevation:
The thurifer (or M.C.) incenses the Sanctissimum, kneeling on the lowest step at the Epistle side. He makes three double swings of the thurible at each elevation (in practices, one each time the bell is rung), bowing before and after.
One might conclude from Fr. Fortescue that an older practice may have been to ring the bells three times at the elevation, but no bells at the genuflections. When bells at the genuflection became a common practice (rather than an official addition to the rubrics) is perhaps when it became 1-3-1. In any case it appears the church allows some divergence in practice, and both Wuest and Fortescue mention situations where ringing the bell is not strictly required. It does seem the silliest of things to worry about. It makes a lot of sense to me for there to be three bells at the elevation, as that is distinctively a more solemn moment than the genuflections, and incense is offered at the elevations (3 doubles, fits with 3 bells) but not at the genuflections.
Another gem from Fr. Fortescue from the above cited book: “
As a general rule … not more servers should attend than those really needed, who have some office to perform. It does not add to the dignity of a rite that a crowd of useless boys stand about the sanctuary doing nothing.”
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