Jeannie's Travel Addiction

Brömserhof building, built in 1542, now home to the museum.

December  17,  2016

Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum is  the  most unusual collection I have ever seen,  nor  could I ever  imagined  to exist,  until I saw and heard  them.

This museum’s fascinating  displays  of automated musical instruments is the 1st in Germany.  There are  approximately 350 exhibits, dating from the 18th to the 20th century, all privately owned by one person,  Siegfried  Wendel.   The owner’s hobby in the 1960’s  was to  rescue  (and repair)  these exhibits from becoming scrap metal.

This piece played 8 different musical instruments.

This showpiece played an unbelievable 18 different  musical instruments.

This exhibit, built between 1892 and 1930,  the Hupfeld phono Liszt Violina,   played 6 violins at one time.

Some  musical cabinets were beautiful,

some whimsical,

some with creepy clowns,

and one was  very, very, interesting.

This musical cabinet, built  from 1888 to 1892,  the “Land of the Dolls” featured 27 dolls, each  playing a different instrument.  This is the largest doll automated calliope  ever built.

FYI – Many of these can be seen and heard on You Tube.

The gift shop was as interesting as the museum, as  99 % of the items  for sale, of course, played music.

If you are ever visiting  the town  Rudesheim, Germany,  be sure to visit this museum – you will  be amazed!!!

Thanks for reading!