Cazalea invites readers on a captivating virtual tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Music Museum in Ruudesheim, Germany, showcasing an extraordinary collection of antique music boxes and clockworks. This installment, rich with video content, highlights the intricate artistry and historical significance of these mechanical marvels, offering a unique glimpse into the origins of automated musical instruments.
This is the seventh in a series of reports on my tour and Rhine River cruise through Dutch/French/German/Swiss towns on a quest for clockwork music items. This particular report is video-heavy, and I encourage you to take 10 minutes and watch the instruments which we found at Siegfried's Mechanical Music Museum in Ruudesheim. If you don't like chirping, tooting or soft piano music, enjoy the still images.
Here's the first video, the rest are at the end of the post.
Wacky instruments of all kinds
The son of the founder of the the museum...his dad collected for 50 years and filled this 450-yr old house with one or more of virtually all kinds of mechanical music devices. I suspect the poor fellow is doomed to hear them til the day he dies. But I did notice him tapping his toe to some ... he must have his favorites.
The house from outside
The workshop (historical) where they can make new music
Almost all the instruments play but I don't recall him paying the banjo.
There are animated figures in many of the instruments.
If these walls could talk ...
The house is a trip too! The electric bill must be enormous - there are dehumidifiers in every room.
Let's move on to the videos.
Organ Grinders
Mechanical Pianos
Mechanical Violins
Bird Music Boxes
Yes, you can buy these today both new and used (fully restored)
Please come back for Part 8 on Tower Clocks and Spires
Cazalea
