Mechanical Music Museum - Rüdesheim

Rüdeshiem also had the marvelous Mechanical Music Museum, one man's 50-year collection of automated instrument players -- like player pianos but more intricate, with discs or rolls, basically the forerunners of punch cards. The builders were trying to get as close to the sound of a real orchestra or chamber group as possible because early phonograph technology created imperfect and scratchy records. The workmanship is astounding; the earliest machine is from before the 1900s. Jan recorded most of them from our tour. Enjoy--especially the violins, a rare piece.