In MMD 000121, Ingmar Krause made this addition to the group of known
organ builders:

> Somewhere is also a guy building organs like Oehrlein, but with a
> barrel inside.  Organs like "the fairy-tale-organ" or "the voracious-
> dumpling-eater" are well known in the scene.  I think I even met that
> person, but don't ask me for a name.

Ingmar is referring to Hansjoerg Leible, who makes hand-crafted organs
called "Fairy Tale" and "Dumpling Eater" played by a 34-key (24 notes),
7-tune barrel.  The figures are hand-carved with intricate motion.
Siegfried Wendel has one in the entryway to his museum in Ruedesheim,
Germany, and one is also located in the new Musikautomaten Museum
(Collection Dr. H. Weiss-Stauffacher) in Seewen, Switzerland.

Leible also builds a larger and more elaborate "Historic Banquet" paper
roll operated instrument with 118 pipes, accordion and xylophone, plus
noise making gizmos including reed and piston pipes for making noises
such as cow mooing, bird sounds, etc.

There are five highly animated hand-carved figures.  The dumpling-eater
swallows "real" dumplings which are then routed through a mechanism
back to the spoon.  The other figures accompany the music rhythmically.
A man strikes his head with a spoon while at a temple block is struck
at the same time.  A lady noisily places a lid onto a pot while cymbals
clash.  Another lady drums on a pot with two spoons (drumming sound),
Another man strikes his head with a spoon (deeper sound.)

The figures nod their heads in time to the music specifically arranged
for the organ.  About 1550 man-hours of work is required to complete
one -- really something to see.  For additional information contact me
by e-mail, or inquire direct to: Musik & Spiel, Kirchstrasse 2, D-79400
Kandern, Holzen, Germany.

Ralph Schack

 [ See the book review by Bernard Haeberle in 990214 MMD, "Figure Clocks
 [ of the Black Forest", by Herbert Juettemann, which tells more about
 [ the quaint motif, "Der Knoedelfresser"!  -- Robbie