Hi Mechanical --  Philippe Rouille wrote in 990706 MMD:

> ... Three men had to turn the handle, one after the other,
> and it was a hard job.

As already mentioned by Robbie, this organ is a Keller organ with the
name "De Poppenspaeler" (Der Puppenspieler).  As typical for German
organs, it's a keyless system.  We've been to the organ festival in
Luebeck and this organ was situated straight across from ours on the
Rathausplatz.  I took my chance as they let people turn the big and
heavy flywheel.

Well, okay, I've been turning our organ for years, so I'm used to doing
so, but nevertheless it was _no_ hard job to play at least one book
manually!  This is also because, as said, the wheel is very heavy, and
when I let my hands off from it, it kept spinning for at least two
times around!  Yet, I am convinced, that turning it a whole day long
is a very hard job and three (wo)men are about a good number to share
that job.

However, when I was finished with the book quite some applause started
around me, which was very surprising to me, as this is very rare when
I turn at my organ, which is -- as said -- about the same job.  Perhaps
this has to do with me keeping an eye on the rhythm and this seemed to
be an exception, in contrast to the others who tried it that day.

Someone came and gave the guy guarding the organ 10 German marks.
The guard seemed to be amazed about this, so he gave the money to me.
I wish this would happen more often at my organ...  ;-)

Later on that day they let a children's ballet dance group dance to
something.  I dunno ... I think it was "Puppenfee" ("Dolls waltz", by
Josef Bayer) or so...

greetings by(e) InK - Ingmar Krause
ERlanger drehORGEL-Trio, Familie Krause, erorgelt@erlangen.franken.de