Siegfried’s has the largest collection of mechanical music boxes:
Siegfried Mechanical Music Museum, Rudesheim
Rüdesheim is a popular stop on any Rhine River cruise and one of the sightseeing attractions in this riverside town is Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum. This is the first museum collection of automated musical instruments in Germany and holds an impressive collection.
Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum is housed in Brömserhof which was a noble court built in 1542.
Our cheery guide takes us around the museum which covers an exhibition space of more than 400 square metres and has one of the largest and most beautiful collections of mechanical music boxes. There are approximately 350 exhibits of mechanical instruments dating from the 18th to the 20th century – from delicate musical boxes to a gigantic piano-orchestrion. The museum also includes tools and machines for manufacturing barrel organs, cardboard music, piano rolls and musical box plates.
Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum provides an insight into music boxes in the past and its place in society as well as traditional techniques in making the musical boxes and the music rolls. It’s interesting to understand how these instruments work and to be able to listen to its fine music.
Siegfried Mechanical Violins - Rudesheim
A few of the highlights include:
- A snuff box with a musical songbird which was produced in the first half of the 19th Century by J. Bruguier in Geneva. When the mechanism is activated, it opens the oval lid and a tiny bird appears, moving its beak and flapping its wings. The small songbird music boxes were very popular with wealthy people who snapped them up for their collections . The smaller the bird and the more life-like the singing, the higher the prices these “little toys” fetched. The workmanship is amazing for this miniature music box.
- Bernhard Dufner’s band of 27 automatic dolls, each one playing a different instrument. This is the largest Doll Automaton calliope that was ever built. It is almost 4.0 metres wide, 2.80 metres high and 1.0 metre deep and is an impressive example of black forest Orchestrion architecture.
- The Hupfeld phono Liszt Violina are amazing mechanical violins. Because these instruments musically and technically surpassed all expectations they have been described as the eighth wonder of the world.
The museum is open from March to December only and the 45-minute guided tour includes a musical demonstration of some of the instruments.
Museum Shop
After the tour, you can stop at the Museum Shop where you can buy music boxes, modern replicas of machines, antique music boxes, snuff boxes and bird cages. There is also a large collection of postcards, books, CDs and music cassettes.
The museum is located close to Drosselgasse, Rüdesheim’s main thoroughfare.
See Travelsignposts photos on Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum HERE
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Thoroughly enjoyed the museum. Then half way down the Main Street on the right hand side from the the museum, there was a shop that sold clothes, postcards and lovely wooden carvings. Stopped in there on September 22, 2016 mid afternoon and lost a small black change purse with 50 euro. Would love to get wallet back as sentimental value. Keep the money if you need it.
Thanks for your honesty.,please get’in touch. Was on scenic river cruise.
I was at your shop last week and purchased several small Christmas tree ornaments that were small shopping bags that were musical . I would like to know how I can purchase 10 more of these. I purchased the ones that played Silent Night but I will purchased whatever you have.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit at the museum and it was one of the highlights or our trip.
Hello Sharon,
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed your Museum visit as much as we did. However, we are a travel website and not Siegfried Museum. You’ll need to contact the Museum website with your query.
Kind regards,
Helen
Hello Sharon,
I’m glad that you enjoyed your Siegfried Museum visit as much as we did. We are a travel website and not the Siegfried Museum site. You’ll need to go to the Siegfried Museum website and post your query there.
Kind regards,
Helen
We had a private tour on evening of Sept. 2. This wonderful experience will live with my wife and I for ever. Thanks to the owners for maintaining such a vital part of our heritage
Great to hear that you and your wife enjoyed Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum. The place is a treasure for people like yourselves who appreciate the heritage of these unique instruments.
Kind regards,
Helen
Ich mochte gerne erfahren ob Ihr Museum nicht zuffelig Interesse
an einem Polyphon hat, oder filleich kan mir jemand Rat geben.
Schonen Dank
Compelová
Wir sind nicht das Museum website. Bitte wenden sie sich direkt Siegfriend Museum.
http://www.siegfrieds-musikkabinett.de/frame.htm
Schonen Dank
Helen Page
Hi Linda,
You’ve left your query with Travelsignposts and not the Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum. Their url is:
http://www.siegfrieds-musikkabinett.de/frame.htm
Their site is in German only, but if you leave a query with them, I’m sure someone will be able to answer your query.
Next time you see something you like on your travels, get it when you’re there!
Good luck,
Helen
I were at your museum and you showed us a small bird music box. I would like to inquire how to obtain this box.
Thanking you in advance.
Linda Kast