‘The Musicians of Bremen’ is a sand operated mechanical paper kit by German paper artist Walter Ruffler.
Based on the famous fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, in which a donkey, a dog, a cat and a cockerel decide to become musicians in the North German town of Bremen.
Here we see the donkey tirelessly at the keyboard, as long as the sand keeps running.
This toy is powered by a sand motor. From a hopper in the upper part of the model sand trickles on a lever like an hourglass. As the weight of the sand gets heavier, the lever comes down which makes the forelegs go up. The forelegs and lever are connected by a toothpick as an axle. The sand glides down from the sloping lever and it raises up again.
We have one of Ron’s sand toys in our touring exhibition at El Parque de las Ciencias in Granada.
elizabeth brandt says:
Greetings from Montreal, Canada!
A friend has just shown me her Trapeze Acrobat Sand Toy, given to her kids over 50 years ago & just unearthed in her attic. It’s a simple cardboard box, leaked a bit of sand but still amuses well. No markings anywhere. The little figure is similar to others I’ve seen on the Net – but unfortunately I cannot get any info on him (when/where made, value?) and am wondering – hoping, actually – you may shed some light on it.
thanks and kind regards
eliz
lulugirl says:
I have a trapeze acrobat sand toy, it is in a wood box with a glass front. My grandmother gave it to me when I was a child. It originally had a sticker on it that said “Japan,” but it’s worn off now. Still works like a charm though. I’m not 100% sure where she got it, but my grandmother didn’t go many places but she did go to the Field Science Museum in Chicago and I’m guessing that is where she probably got it originally. I have no idea what it’s worth.
Wade says:
I love the sand automata! I teach Art in the US and would like to teach my students how to create them. Do you have any plans you could share?
Thanks in advance!