During my trip to Matsushima last week there was a man playing a hand-crank organ outside in the park. He would open up the back of the organ, feed in one end of some wood with holes in it, then turn the crank. The taped-together wooden planks would then feed out the other end and arrange themselves in a neat pile. It was a pretty amazing mechanical feat.
Apparently the town of Matsushima has an organ museum with almost 100 antique organs from Europe. I didn’t have a chance to go, but it might make for an interesting side trip someday.
Click the photo to listen (stereo, 2.0MB – MP3, 1 minute 47 seconds)
That’s so cool, Jeff! I got to listen to it on my computer at school. (All that’s missing is a monkey!) :o)
Ah, yes–the old Japanese favorite, “I’m on the top of the world looking down on creation!” That was NOT the type of tune I was expecting, but it sure is a neat instrument. (I can’t get this at school–our filter blocks all MP3 stuff.)
Awesome!