Hurdy-Gurdy Mechanical Musical Instrument Model 3D Wood Puzzle DIY Assembly Kit

Model dimensions: 15.7 x 8.7 x 6.5 in (40 x 22 x 16.5 cm) Package dimensions: 14.9 x 6.7 x 2 in (37.8 x 17 x 5 cm) Number of pieces: 292 Estimated time of assembly: 4-5 hours. Inspired by the art of Celtic and Scandinavian medieval craftsmen and enriched by smart engineering of the XXI century we are introducing - Hurdy-Gurdy - the world's first mechanical musical model and the genuine gem of the collection. It is the most extraordinary mechanical model kit which is all-in-one: model for self-assembly, toy and fully fledged musical instrument. The Hurdy-Gurdy plays dancing melodies, from folk to modern, being the bridge between the medieval times and the present day. The unique blend of the joy of creation, playing music, and engineering and design. Just build it together with your own hands and feel like Stradivari or a popular Hurdy-Gurdy star! About the Hurdy-Gurdy: History The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces a sound resembling one of a bagpipe by a hand-turned wheel rubbing against the strings working similarly to a violin and a fiddle bow. The history of this instrument begins in the 15th century.

One of the earliest forms of the hurdy-gurdy was the organistrum (a portable organ) in Medieval Europe. After some modifications it became a common instrument among traveling musicians in England and went through its renaissance period in the later 17th-18th centuries as more of the noble class musical instrument for the amusement of the rich. Those instruments were decorated by craftsmen with inlays and carving and had the built-in hurdy-gurdy mechanism into the guitar or lute body. Some call the Hurdy-Gurdy music "a medieval rock'n'roll", which we find pretty cool.

It captured us and we decided to create our version of the Hurdy-Gurdy. Idea Based on the 15th Century organistrum, we have created an intricately detailed, fully functional mechanical version of this medieval instrument. The finished model looks remarkably akin to the original 16th century hurdy gurdy, giving it a wonderfully medieval aesthetic. This wooden attractive and educational model has a highly detailed exquisite decor of the body crafted in romantic style and turns the assembly and playing process into an exciting game and brings you hours of pleasure and fun.

Engineering Hurdy-Gurdy The design of this Hurdy-Gurdy is based on the original prototype, therefore it includes the body, front and back decks, gears, crank (handle), wheel, neck, tuning pegs or hitch-pins, strings and tangent box that altogether form a single beautiful instrument. This self-assembled mechanical musical model is super easy to play, creating sound as the hand-turned wheel rubs against the melody and bourdon strings. The Hurdy-Gurdy's tuning pegs have a gear reduction mechanism for finer sound tuning of the melody and bourdon strings. For a more clear sound you can switch off the bourdon string using a little lever in the keybox.

Also we added the gear reduction mechanism into the crank (handle) to increase the number of wheel's rotations. This allowed us to get a smoother and richer sound and preserve the compact size of the model itself. 6 keys are spring-loaded with rubber bands and little cranks in the keybox to ensure softer and more convenient play. Also the Hurdy-Gurdy has a special mechanism to adjust the height of both strings (melody and bourdon string) on the bridge and the beautiful planetary gears mechanism inside the body.

The length of the melody and the bourdon string is 9.8 (from bridge to the nut). The length of the strings between the middle of the wheel to the bridge is 1.2. Assembling Hurdy-Gurdy The Hurdy-Gurdy comes with everything needed for assembly. All the pieces are precut into the plywood boards and are easily removed for assembly following the detailed instructions provided. The only non-wood parts, by necessity, are the two strings that rub against the crank powered wheel and the rosin used to wax it.

Estimated assembly time of the Hurdy-Gurdy is 4-5 hours for beginners and less time for professional builders. Assembles without glue or special tools and without toothpicks. Tuning Hurdy-Gurdy The model has a melody string for playing melodies and a bourdon string for a background sound. 6 keys correspond to 6 notes that are played by pushing the key while rotating the crank. The released keys provide one more, seventh, note. The second (bourdon) string is tuned by tuning the peg in unison to the melody string or in any melodic interval (quart, quint, octave). The construction kit includes pieces of rosin to wax the wheel and improve the sound. Playing Hurdy-Gurdy The Hardy-Gurdy is a full-fledged musical instrument. It's easy to play dancing melodies, from folk to modern. To start the music flowing, the player just needs to crank the handle with one hand to kick off a drone sound from the bourdon and melody strings. Pushing the wooden buttons with the fingers of the other hand changes the pitch of the melody string, as "spring-loaded" wooden blocks essentially shorten the string.

We will include some tablature with the kit to get newbies off to a flying start. The Hurdy-Gurdy brings the unforgettable time of working together on things that are popular among people of any age.

Just put it together and you are ready to throw an original party giving a new spur to whatever music you like - whether it is folk or modern - playing your new unique Hurdy-Gurdy solo, duet, trio or quartet. The item "Hurdy-Gurdy Mechanical Musical Instrument Model 3D Wood Puzzle DIY Assembly Kit" is in sale since Friday, November 3, 2017.

This item is in the category "Toys & Hobbies\Models & Kits\Wooden". The seller is "authents" and is located in Europe. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Gender: Boys & Girls
Country/Region of Manufacture: Ukraine
Features: Kit
Year: 2017
MPN: Does not apply
Brand: Hurdy-Gurdy
Recommended Age Range: 14+