Have you seen Strassenorgel in your country?

@thelme55 (76476)
Germany
October 29, 2017 6:08pm CST
As I have told you yesterday, there was a trade fair this weekend in our city. I went there this afternoon and the city promenade was full of people from Germany and our neighbouring country Holland. It was a very interesting trade fair. There were not only things for adults but also for the kids. There was a ferris wheel made of woods besides other things like handicrafts, selfmade marmalades and jams, bread baked in an old fashion oven, Christmas decorations made of woods and metals and many other handicrafts which were for sale. The best thing for me to see was the Dutch Strassenorgel (street organ). The music was old and beautiful. The puppets move depending on the sounds. The owner saw me taking videos and photos and he showed me the mechanics of the Strassenorgel. At the back of the Strassenorgel, the owner opened the cupboard of it. Then when the music was finished, he changed the kind of book with a new one. That book has holes in it and the pages of that book was pulled by a mechanical wheel and it continued playing. Have you seen something like that before? It is very hard for me to explain as I have not Googled about it, yet. I will post the video that I took in my YouTube channel as soon as possible. Anyway, it was a great and interesting day for me at the trade. I hope you are all well. Have a great week ahead.
11 people like this
10 responses
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
30 Oct 17
Yes I've seen that sort of thing, but not for years.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
31 Oct 17
@thelme55 They would just be in funfairs or museums.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
1 Nov 17
@jaboUK I see. Well, we can still see these Strassenorgels when there is an event in our cities.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
Don´t you have that there in England @jaboUK ?
2 people like this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
31 Oct 17
Yes, I've seen them in foreign countries on my travels. They are beautifully made.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
1 Nov 17
Yes, they are beautiful @DianneN. That one in the photo is 42 years old as what the owner told me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
30 Oct 17
Yes, we call them "organetti" in Italy. It is a very old southern tradition, some are beautiful.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
31 Oct 17
@thelme55 Surely there are in Florence because it is a tourist city, but the best are in Sicily, very decorated.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
1 Nov 17
@LadyDuck Really? That would be nice to see it there but it is not in my plan to visit Sicily
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
Yes, I remember to see that Organetti somewhere in Italy. I think that was in Florence if I am not mistaken @LadyDuck
2 people like this
@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
19 Nov 17
Just found your video too. I think this is what we call a barrel organ. There are still a few of them around and we see them at street fairs and other festive events.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
20 Nov 17
I see. So barrel organ is it called in the UK. Thanks @Flexural.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325755)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Oct 17
I have seen these types of organs and also organs powered by steam. I found it is very interesting to view the mechanics even if I didn't really understand it very well.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
Yes, it was very interesting to watch the mechanics of the Strassenorgan @JudyEv. Every time there is an event in the city, a Strassenorgan is presented but it was the first time I saw the mechanics behind it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325755)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Oct 17
@thelme55 In one museum in England we saw one of the very first juke-box type machines. It selected from a dozen vinyl records and placed them on a turntable. It was fascinating to watch.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
1 Nov 17
@JudyEv Wow! That's awesome. I can still remember in my childhood when I went to a restaurant with my parents and then I put coins in a Jux box and played the music I love.
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20261)
30 Oct 17
We got some simple toy which made music based on that principle. The kids broke them all.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
What a pity the kids broke them @YrNemo
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
1 Nov 17
@YrNemo I can understand that. They were curious kids and it is good.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
31 Oct 17
@thelme55 They wanted to find out the mechanism behind the sounds!
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
31 Oct 17
This is a beautiful specimen. I know the simple ones which are worked by hand.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
1 Nov 17
Yes, it is indeed beautiful @MALUSE.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
30 Oct 17
magical. does it look like the bamboo organ of Las Pinas?
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
No, it´s not @ridingbet . It´s made of wood. I have seen that one in Las Pinas and it was beautiful-
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
30 Oct 17
I am glad you had a good day.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
Yes, me too @andriaperry. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53679)
29 Oct 17
I would love to hear the kind of music which that street organ produces. Seems to be an interesting trade fair.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
30 Oct 17
Here is a link to a Strassenorgel from you tube so you can see. @Kandae11. This link is almost the same as what I have seen.
playing "Entry Of The Gladiators" in Winterthur / CH