Tour through Mechanische Klangfabrik - Sun, 20 July, 3 - 4 pm (registration required)

In the Museum Mechanische Klangfabrik [Museum of Musical Automatons] you will be entertained by curious musical instruments, pompous orchestrions, buzzing symphonia, dainty musical clocks, elegant gramophones, original pianos to be carried on the back, lovingly fashioned barrel organs and much more. 150 exhibits from the baroque to the present day impart nostalgia, fascinating technology and the best in musical entertainment. They were collected by the former weaving mill owner Erwin Rechberger of Haslach, and purchased for the museum by the provincial government in 2005.
“That sounds so pretty, that sounds so fine!” – the verses from Mozart’s Magic Flute could fittingly characterise the surprising variety of the special automatons. Once upon a time they supplied music for all walks of life – for parlours, dance halls, coffee houses and pubs, fêtes and fairs. To this day they present a feast for ears and eyes, and it is amazing how they are ingeniously controlled by punch cards and pinned Barrels.
In rooms full of atmosphere the visitor is plied with information on musical history and technical details of these musical marvels, and can immerse oneself into the moods and entertainment situations of former times by means of tongue-in-cheek quotations and selected musical samples. In the course of a guided tour, the instruments are played and their inner life is demonstrated.